The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-05-30
A DETECTIVES LUCK.

n DElEOlIVE y LUOA,
If had the selection of a corps of de-
tectives should pick out men who are
known as lucky, Certain men are thus
characterized, and the term properly be-
longs to them, Certain men are unlucky,
and theterm also properly belongs to them.
have worked alongside officers who were
as sharp and keen as men ever became,
who were persevering and tireless, who
had the pluck of a warrior and the re-
lance of slave, and yet they were
"down on their luck" as the saying
goes; that is, the big things passed them
by and fell into the hands of others. In
detective work one must have courage
and judgment. He must know human
nature pretty well. He must be fairly
shrewd and sharp. If he is working a
blind trail the rest must be left to luck.
And the luck and ill-luck of detective
life is something wonderful. The luck
we hear of every day. The ils-luck is
suppressed as much as possible. In the
month of June, 1867, l was spending a
few days with relatives of mine on farm
near Oberlin, Ohio. | had been in de-
tective business about five years. We got
no newspapers at the farm, and l had not
received letter for ten days, and had not
heard the least bit of news from the out
side world, when uncle and drove into
the town one day. On the way in l got
out of the wagon and picked up copy OF
Cleveland paper which was lying on the
highway. The first thing l saw was an
account of a murder at Peru, Indiana,
several days before. An old man had
been murdered and robbed of large
amount of money. Not the slightest clue
of the murderer had been discovered No
one could say whether he was old OF
young, white or black, or which way he
he had gone. 1t seemed a hopeless case,
and felt bit sorry for the two Chicago
officers who had been sent for to work
the case out.
The first call ] made after reaching
Oberlin was at the Postofiice. | then
visited barber shop, but the two chairs
were occupied, and l had to wait about
ten minutes. Having nothing to occupy
my mind, looked the two BARRIERS ovel
in detail, and then turned my attention
to the customer in the nearest chair.
began at his feet first. He wore No.
CATERS, and they were "a new pair; in
deed, they had never been blackened.
His trousers were frayed about the bot.
tom, and, as came to look closer, | saw
that they were old and threadbare. Or
the left leg, which was nearest me, be-
tween the knee and the ankle, were severa
stains. They might have been made by
either blood Or acid. When the man sal
up straight after his shave / saw that hi.
coat was also old; and looked over to hi
hat on the hook to find it very rusty. The
BARRIERS were not speaking to either of the
men, so that both must be strangers il
the town. My man had reddish hair
which he had had clipped close before
came in. His neck was sunburned and
dirty, and, after looking him over from
toe to crown, l said to myself:
'This chap has all the looks of a pro.
fessional tramp. That suit was probably
given him, but ten to one he stole those
CATERS. Wonder if he can scrape uE
enough to pay the barber"
The bill was thirty-ive cents. The
man gave me a furtive look as he got out
Of the chair, and while being brushed hi
felt in his pockets for change. He haG
two ten-cent shinplasters, but as thest
were not enough he half turned from mt
and fished greenback out of his pocket
The barber had to go out to change it
and the man was so impatient and ner
vous that he could not stand still. Wher
the barber returned he had the change fol-
a twenty-dollar note. He began to count
1T out, but the stranger muttered his con-
fidence that it was all right, and reached
out for the pile and crammed it into his
vest pocket. He was about to go, wher
rose up and said:
"My friend, I want to have few
words with you, if you are not in bis
hurry.
"But ami" he replied, trying to pusf
past me without looking me in the face.
'But you'll have to wait just the same
want to know who you are"
"There was back door to the shop
He wheeled and sprang for it, but it wa.
locked. As he turned on me again b,
pulled revolver from his bosom ani
leveled it on me, and fired a shot which
went over my head and through the win
dow. Before he could fire again 1 hat
him jammed against the wall, one hant
hold of the weapon and the other on hi
throat, and choked him until he sanl
down in heap. Who did he turn gu
to be2 The Indiana murderer who hat
been lodging about the country for 81,
days, and who had run the gauntlet of
hundred officers. It was blood on hi
trousers, though we did not have t
prove it, as he made full confession.
was simply my good luck. 1t was simpl
the i'll luck of two Cleveland detective
who reached Oberlin two hours too late.
About fifteen years ago, while cor
nected with the force in Chicago,
jewe]ry house on State street was robbie
of $4,000 worth of jewelry. Asid
from this there was package of Govern
ment bonds amounting to over SIT ,00C
which had been deposited in the safe fc
security. The robbery was committe
by professional cracksmen, who left the
tools behind but no clue. / was at TIL
time at Bowling Green, Kentucky, after
counterfeiter, and read an account {
the robbery in Louisville paper.
u A.
particular thought. l had traced a M
torious counterfeiter down into Ker
lucky and located him at Bowling Greer
At least, 1 traced him to that town, bu
there lost the trail for few days.
got false clue, which led me down
Franklin, and when started to return
took an accommodation train. 1t was
night, and there was but one coach Q