The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1889-05-03
DASIIING AND DARING.
JAMES cHASTAINE'S BOLD CAREER
AND TRAGIC DEATH.

During the months of February and
March, 1881. the city was stirred from ths
center to the circumference by daily reports
Of burglaries committed of the most daring
nature Forty houses were entered on as
many nights, and from each articles Of more
or less value taken Such state Of alarm
had not existed in this usually peaceful com
munity since the advent of Wilson's ever
memorable raid in 1865. The streets were
patroled at night by armed squads Of citizens,
and the police force was increased by putting
on extra men. These burglaries were all OF
the same nature, the entrance or breaking
being generally effected through the from,
windows, which in this city almost invariably
open on a veranda and often open down tc
the floor
HANDSOME JOSEPH SUTTON"
About this time careful observer might
have noticed at one Of our best hotels mar
strizingly handsome and faultlessly dressed
whose classic features and polished manners
would have adorned any circle of society
BE was about 80 years of age, remarkably
well proportioned, dark hair, large, full, darE
eyes full Of intelligence, that seemed to look
you from head to foot us soon as their owner
cast them upon you.
A complexion that would excite the envy
of girl, long, dark mustache, slightly
turned up at the ends. covering lips Of coral
redness, which, when parted by smile
cften Illuminated the owners countenance,
disclosed teeth Of great evenness and pearly
whiteness Th's most enchanting smile, once
seen, can never be forgotten The voice well
modulated, each word and accent as clear as
the chime Of silver bell.
! had met this man, and he was intro
duced to me as Mr.. Joseph Sutton, Of Texas
He freely discussed the frequent burglaries
then nightly occurring, and even suggested
some plans by which the midnight marauder
might be apprehended Sutton was passion
ately fond of card playing poker), and fire.
quently made considerable losings At times
be would excuse himself from the game in
which be was playing saying he would take
a walk for exercise, leaving what none an6
checks be had before him ON the table After
an absence of an hour or two he would re
turn, resume his seat and play, apparently
very much exhilarated by his walk and the
fresh air.
Should any one Of the players be in bad
luck, and, consequently, in bad humor, be
would smilingly recommend the same course
by o short walk and fresh air, stating that
he always was greatly benefited by so doing
At other times, when his finances were ap-
parently low, he would absent himself from
the city for three or four days, always re-
turning flush with money. These periodical
absences at first did not attract my attention,
until one day stranger standing on the side
walk heard me introduce Sutton to friend
of mine After Sutton and my friend had
converSed while and then walked Off to-
gether the stranger called me to one side and
asked me what S. S name was 1nhesitat
ingly told him Sutton"
''You are mistaken" he said "that is
James Chastaine, one Of the most noted
thieves that ever lived know whereof ]
speak"
POLITE TO THE LAST.
was SO horrified and dumfounded that
did not notice that the stranger had walked
away, and from that day until this have
never seen that stranger, nor do ! know his
name. Recovering my wits began to think
Can it be possible that the gentlemanly Sut
ton is the thief that is causing so much alarm
in this cityi Ny suspicion being thoroughly
aroused, from this time on kept close watch
over Sutton and his movements noticed
another important fact, that when Sutton
was absent from the city there were no burg.
laries committed He left one day to visit
Eufaula, Ala, and remained there one
night That night the residence Of Mr..
Guice, q wealthy citizen Of that place, was
burg1arized and large quantity of valuable
jewelry stolen. Sutton returned the next
morning to Montgomery loaded with plum.
der. Having in the meantime been busily
engaged in tracing up Sutton's antecedents,
! found out that his real name was james
Chastaine, that he formerly lived in Memphis
and was the trusted bookkeeper Of large
mercantile firm of that city, and had default.
cd to them in sum Of several thousand
dollars; also, that he was an escaped convict
from the Missouri State prison, where he was
undergoing sentence Of twenty years for
burglary, and was also wanted in Texas.
was now thoroughly convinced that
Sutton was the man that was causing such
CONSERVATION among the citizens commu.
nicated the facts to Capt John W. Martin,
and located Sutton in o room Capt Mar
tin proceeded there and had no difficulty ID
placing Sutton, now Chastaine, under arrest
AS he was on his way to police headquarters
Chastaine made desperate break for liberty
and was fired upon by Capt Martin, strik-
ing him twice, both bullets passing entirely