The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-02-07
A DETECTIVE FOOLED
He Follows a Supposed ElOping Cou-
pie to Helena to Find Out They
Are Not the Pair.
TOO MUCH SAGACITY.
A Notorious Character Wanted, But
He Is Too shrewd For the Talent
Set to Trace Him to His
Hiding Place.

For several days past there has been one
OF Furlong's men In the city In search OF
man named John Ramsey, who Is wanted
In st. Louis, Missouri, for several crimes,
but principally for the robbery Of his
father-in law from whom he stole 81, 1000
about two months ago. IL was only after
the detective, Tom Mcneil, was convinced
that Ramsey was not in Montana that he
agreed TO speak about the man whom Nc
Neil terms one Of the toughest mugs in the
United States.
81 arrested the man in New Orleans ten
years ago for sharing In the proceeds of q
robbery committed by French Tony and
Black Jack Hubbard, who Is now doing
time in Jefferson City, Mo-, for pass
ing counterfeit money. Tony and his
pal robbed an old Frenchman OF 5000,
having been put on by Ramsey. and
he was given his diyy out OF the proceeds,
and that recovered. His pals got away
Ramsey's friends got him out OF the scrape
and he has not been under arrest since, but
he should have been thousand times. He
Is what call the meanest kind OF thief,
| as he pursues q respectable calling, and un-
uot thet khtoc 70 huit W Dtlllt t1t tuitWu-
est detectives. He Is railroad engineer
and is seldom out OF work, and as he
knows every crook In the country Is able to
give pointers that benefit them as well as
himself. suppose II were 10 find the
man and take him back the little affair for
which he is wanted would be compromised.
But 1 will tell you the story. Ramsey was
running freight on the Wabash between
St. Louis and M0berly with headquarters
at Moberly. He lived there for three years
and during that time we were sure he
stood In with several robberies on the line
OF the road but could not collect evidence
against him.
"He is handsome devil-may- care fellow
and great favorite with the ladies. While
living In Moberly he became acquainted .
young lady named Bell, of Brunswick, who
was visiting friends In Moberly. he In
Rratiated himself into her good graces and
ruined her. Bell, the father, was q fiery
tempered old man who gave Ramsey 10 un-
derstand he would have TO marry the girl
or die, and he wisely chose the best way
out OF the difficulty and married the girl.
The story leaked out and Mr.. Bell and his
family removed 10 st. Louis. The family
consisted OF the mother and two grown
daughters, the oldest OF whom died shortly
afterwards at the hands OF q notorious
ab0rti0nist, and II Is pretty well known
that Ramsey was the author OF her ruin.
lie lived with bis wife In Moberly, but as
his regular run was TO St Louis he was
frequently there, and the youngest dansh-
Ter was frequently seen In his company.
"The outcome Of the matter was that
Miss Bell disappeared from home taxing
with her the old mans cash box. The
theft was reported 70 our -agonc1. and
was put on the case. IL want l0qg be-
fore 4 learned that Ramsey bad received .
two weeks leave OF absence from The rosd
ard I'm a. rr,,l.1.I that h .r.[ kfr
ster.in-lsw had run on together. l visl-
ted Moberly and found out from Mrs Ram
sey that her husband had told her he Wa
going 10 Pueblo, Colo. on deal where he
expected to make great deal OF money.
Knowing the mans character jumped TO
the conclusion that he had gone To search
out prolific field for his pals to operate in.
Without taking the precaution 10 satisfy
myself that such was the case went to
Pueblo, and after hanging around for .
day OF two learned from what thought TO
be q reliable source that Ramsey and Q
woman answering the description of Miss
Bell were stopping at the Numa house.
went TO the hotel and discovered that
the couple | wanted had stopped there
three days. registering as John Randall
and wife, but had left the day before for
Cheyenne. l telegraphed 10 hesdQuar-
ters for instructions and was told 10 follow
them 10 Australia II necessary. Old man
Bell had his blood up and would spend
$4,000 TO get Ramsey and the girl.
81 went 10 Cheyenne, only TO find my
birds had pursued their flight TO the north,
and followed on the next train. When I
reached Butte | could trace them no FAR
ther, but caught the trail again and located
them In Helena. | came over to your city
and yesterday found the couple, but not
the couple I wanted. IL wasn't Ramsey
and IL wasn't Miss Bell. was completely
fooled, and, OF course. was mad. might
have used the telegraph, II Is true. and
saved myself this long trip, but was un-
der instructions not 10 do 80. | will have
TO 20 back and begin over again. l WAS
never so completely fooled in my life, and
have felt like kicking myself ever since.
"But l found out something after all.
The couple | followed are runaway
couple. The man Is a railroad man, o
brakeman, and the woman is the wife OF q
carpenter whom she left In Quincy, ILL.,, 10
take care OF her baby. She Is now work
ing IN n cheap restaurant, and her lover Is
hustling around for a job. Where Ramsey
Is don't know. He may be on his way 10
Europe for all know, and II wouldn't sur
| prise me IL there isn't where he has gone"