St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-23

NV: H%= 81 a u g Y 8 o 7
HN are usually
IN considered par
80 agons of their
class. Charles
Ainge, who has figured very conspicu-
ously about the English railroads as a
America, is now III st. Paul.
"Ever had any blood-curdling expe-
riences calculated to influence st. Paul
boys blood and send him out Indian
hunting?" a GLOBE reporter asked
Ainge.
"Cawn't say have" was his reply.
"Still | can tell you good detective
story of the regular kind" He took out
his note book. looked up a few names,
and told the following:
At New street station, Birmingham,
one of the largest railway stations in
England, as some of your readers may
know, there are thirty trains leaving
north and south every fifty minutes.
Thousands of people are ON the move in
this magnificent midland station. Many
of the expert criminals can be seen
mirgling with the crowd. While was
ON duty in this station during the winter
of 1855 report was sent to our detective
department that a parcel contain ing
about 81, 600 worth of diamonds and fine
jewelrry had been stolen on its route
from London to Birmingham. the SUI
perintendent detailed me at once
to investigate the robbery. proceed
ed to London and traced the parcel
to News street station all night. Here
| was foiled for short time, but after a
close investigation l discovered that the
package had been stolen from the van
while the guard had been attending to
his train duties. | came to the conclu-
sion that it had been taken by an expert
thief, so I proceeded to hunt up Lon
don railway thief known as ''Blinky."
I went to Liverpool on the next train,
and arriving at Line street started for
an inn which is situated in the low quar-
tiers of the city, where many of these
criminals make their headquarters.
Blinky did not know me, but had seen
him behind the bars in London. On my
way to the inn by chance met a friend,
Detective Stanton, of the London
Northwestern railway, and, after going
through friendly greeting, / asked him
if he had seen Blinky Stratton lately.
He informed Inc that while he was
standing in Line Street station that
morning he saw Bllnky get off a Biz
hand. Seeing he was in hurry, he had
said to him: '.Where are you going.
Blinky?" "I'm off to America to-day.
l have given up my old business and
am going to live square," he said.
Stanton then said, cycling me suspi-
ciouSly: ''Ainge. are you after him for
some job?" smiled and said that
just wanted to know what had
become of him. Stanton, little
thinking of the robber at New street
station, as we worked on the secret
service plan, nothing was made public
till it had to be. l babe him good day,
and started to locate Blinky, convinced
he had the contents of the stolen par
eel. l knew the American racket was a
bluff, so went to the Australian ship
ping Office and inquired if person
answering this description, showing
him bill which l had written out de-
scribing Blinky, had taken passage or
had made any inquiries concerning
passage to Australia or New South
Wales. The agent informed me that
such a person, with a carpet
and said he would sail tomorrow,
but he had on different clothes
than described" said the agent. 'That
is all right" said he was friend Of
mine and | wanted to sail with him Oh
the same steamer, so instead of going to
the inn, as intended, stayed around
the shipping office till about 8 o'clock
next morning, when Twas rewarded by
seeing Blinky, with new portmanteau
and overcoat on his arm, walking into
the booking Office. Rushing up to him
1 said: ''Blinky. 1 am a, Midland rail-
way detective officer and arrest you on
charge of pilfering parcel containing
diamonds and iewelry from the van on
the Midland railway in News Street
station" At the same time l snapped
the handouts on his wrist in spite of
his resistance. At first he stood speech
less, white as sheet. By the time the
cold bracelets touched his wrists he
muttered out: "You have made mis-
take, my name is Charles Richerson.
tralia. You take me to the police sta
ton and l will make you suffer for this
false arrest"
''Do as you like in the matter, sir; I
shall execute my duty" said, and
calling cab, l took him to the police
station. He was large powerful man,
and on our way there he tried his best
to escape. This prevented by keep
ing my north eye on him. At the police
station we searched him and his lug
gage; nothing could be found on him
which would connect him with this
robbery, although l felt convinced he
was tine man I wanted. The official in
charge was ordering him to be locked
up for hearing, when l suggested to
the officer that 1 would like him
stripped as suspected he had money
belt around his waist. This proceeding
Blinky did not like. could see he was
very uneasy. We found, as l sus-
pected, very near all the stolen dia-
monds and jewelry neatly slowed away
in the belt. He finally broke down and
confessed exactly as 1 had believed
from the start. He stated that he had
followed the parcel from the shop to
London. took passage on the same train
and watched his chance while the guard
of the train and porters we're attending
to train duties and stolen the parcel in
News street station. pushed it into his
earpetbag brought for that purpose.
He then took the next train for Liver
pool, land intended to sail for Melbourne.
Australia, by the first steamer that left
the port, Disgusting himself when pos
sible. took him to Birmingham, where
he was sent TO Jail for six years.