Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-14
lifOE MENINGITIS TRAIL.
One Of Pinkerton's Men Tells Story.
New York Sun.


months before, and / had been on the
case two months when I finally ran him
down. He was a machinIst by trade, and
was then working in shop. proved
him to be an old crook and dangerous
one, and was satisfied that he went into
the shop to battle pursuit: but 1t seemed
to strike others differently. The report
ers wrote him up as one anxious to
reform, and they wrote me down as
bloodhound hanging to his trail, and so
considerable pubic sympathy was
aroused for him. | then had proofs of
four other crimes committed by him, any
one of which would send him to prison,
but had to keep silens aud take public
criticism. Ny man got sentence of five
years, and he had scarcely departed for
prison when | received note through
the mail reading:
"You have by money and perjury sent
an honest man 20 prison. You know he
was honest ard Woodworking. You want
ed to glorify yourself. The poor fellow is
a friend of mine, and | have sworn to
revenge him. Take notice that | will
HAYS your life on the first opportunity"
There was no signature to the letter,
but / knew at a glance that the writer
meant business. It was q plain, bold
manu. hn0 diL6E hdlL III uOuI 5tuGJ l.
made these deductions:
/. It was written by a crook.
2. It was written in prison.
3. The writer WAS in dead earnest.
4. He was large, muscular man, with
light hair, blue eyes, and fair complex
ion
3. He would wear silk hat and darkish
clothes.
6. He would aim to either throttle me
or strike me down with club.
How did | reach these conclusions?
Well, the average detective catches on to
crooks chirography by instinct. It was
written on a half sheet, and the pen and
ink were poor. The paper was creased
and soiled, and I felt certain that the
writer had passed it to the prisoner about
to be discharged. The latter had mailed
it 60 me In an envelope addressed to him
self. Tho chirography of the letter was
bold and earnest. Large men gre more
sympathetic than small ones Large men
who betray this sentiment are of san
gGine temperament. They are also vain
and dress we'll and In taste. Large men
seldom ambush a victim. They depend
on their strength.
That is about the way / figured it out,
and I was so firmly satisfied that l was
right that | founded my programme ac
cordingly, and permitted no change to
creep in. | further believed that the
writer would not be out of prison under
g month, and I had time TO set ready
for him. Had hs been out he would not
have written. IL he had several months
to serve he would not have written.
was a bachelor then, having room on
State street, and taking my meals at a
NJ cd nv
private stairs, and l alone had a key to
the street door. From a side window in
my room to side window in a real es-
tate office was only distance of five
feet. As there were bars on the other
window I had left mine unguarded. 1
now had them put on, and there was no
way to reach me in my room except to
open the street door and come up stairs,
| had the inside of the door covered with
sheet iron and arranged a spfing gun for
the stairs.
Was | afraidf No. l had plenty of
confidence in myself, and L wanted to
get the drop on the stranger first. He
had pitted his wit, nerve and courage
against mir e, and my professional pride
was aroused. He had the advantage OF ple
in knowing me and my habits, and it was
emily fair to offset this by taking extra
precautions.
gave the writer of the anonymous
letter 80 days to come ont of prison, and
10 days more to get himself in shape TO
BEGIN the campaign. l was not far wrong.
On the thirty eighth day after receiving
the warning, aS | boarded State street
car to come down town, my man was a
passenger. He was man who exactly
responded to the picture had drawn,
- To ma I
be wrong.
While | was sizing him up from the
corner of my eye, | saw that he was
taking my measure. l purposely turned
nv head to let him see scar on my neck
and wheE glanced at him again l was
sure that he was satisfied of my identity
Now the chase had begun, he had sworn
to have my life, and knew by the set OF
his Nv and he compression OF his lips
that he had still further resolved. Where
had he been in prison, and what for!
His face was - range to me. Had desir-
ed to take an unfair advantage l could
have run him in as a suspect, or trumpeG
up some charge to hold him and investi-
gate his record, but wouldn't do that
It was to be fair fight. He would ash
for no outside help, and pride would for
bid me to.
When left the car he followed me Il
the office. / stopped at the door to speal
to a messenger, and he asked the messen
ger who was. Then he had me dead,
as the saying is, and there was room 70
no further doubt IL SO happened tina
at that time was detailed on a case il
the city. But for this l should have beer
going and coming, and he would have ha'
hard work to keep me in view. L wa
very reguIur in my routine. l had m
meals at the same hour each day, and a
the same place. At certain hour L
the evening l went TO certain hote
played three games of pool, drank on
glass OF beer, sat and smoked cigar an
then took the car to my door and wen
to bed. The dullest kind of ploughbo
could have picked up my trail.
On the evening of the second day N
would be murderer appeared at tn
billiard room of the hotel as I was play
my first game of pooi. I was expectin
him, and [ so arranged it as to ask him
play the next two games. He was puzzle
and nervous. If he was nervous over th
the idea of handling cue alongside c