Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-14
DASHING AND DARING.
JAMES CHASTAlNE'S BOLD CAREER
AND TRAGIC DEATH.


ished Gentleman In Society, and ne n
Burglar He Had Few. II Any, Equals.
During the months of February and
March, 1881, the city was stirred from the
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 moro
or less value taken. Such a 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 we're
patrolled 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 front
windows, which in this city almost invariably
open on vcranda and often open down 70
the floor
HANDSOME JOSEPH SUTTON
About this time a careful observer might
have noticed at one of our best hotels a man
strikingly handsome and faultlessly dressed,
whose classic features and polished manners
would have adorned any circle of society.
He was about so years Of age, remarkably
well proportional, dark hair, large, full, dark
eyes full of intelligence, that seemed to look
you from head TO foot as 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 a smile
often Illuminated the owners countenance,
disclosed teeth of great evenness and pearly
whiteness This 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
l had met this man, and he was intro
duced 10 me as Mr.. Joseph Sutton, of Texas
He freely discussed the frequent burglarie.
then nightly occurring, and even suggested
some plans by which the midnight marauder
might be unprecedented. Sutton was passion
ately fond OF card playing poker, and fire.
quentiy made considerable losings. At times
be would excuse himself from the game in
which he was playing, saying he would take
walk for exercise leaving what none and
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, he
would snilingly recommend the same course
by short walk and fresh air, stating that
he always was greatly benefited by so doing
At other times, when his finances were ap-
tlxy inx.y kax 4.
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 a friend
OF mine. After Sutton and my friend had
converted a while and then walked off to-
gsther the stranger called me to one side and
asked me what s. s name was / unhesitat-
ingiy told him Sutton"
You are mistaken" he said; 'that il
James Chastaine, one of the most noted
thieves that ever lived. / know whereof
speak"
POLITE To THE LAST.
was 50 Mortified and dumfounded that
l 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 SUIT.
ton Is the thief that is causing SO much alarm
in this cityl My 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, wealthy citizen of that place. was
burglarized and large quantity OF valuable
tewelry 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,
l found out that his real name was James
Chastaine, that he formerly lived In Memphis
and was the trusted bookkeeper Of a large
mercantile firm Of that city, and had default
ed to them in a sum OF several thousand
dollars; also, that he was an escaped convict
from the Missouri State prison, where he was
undergoing a sentence Of twenty years for
burglary, and was also wanted in Texns.
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 a room. Capt. Mar
tin proceeded there and had no difficulty in
placing Sutton, now Chastaine, under arrest
AZ he was on his way TO police headquarters
Chastaine made a desperate break for liberty
and was fired upon by Capt Martin, strik-
ing him twice, both bullets passing entirely
through his body, and either would have
proved mortal. Chastaine fingered a few
hours and died, never revealing his identity
or his confederntes, If he had any. His
polteness never forsook him even when the
icy hand Of death was upon him and the
misty film glazed his eyes. Asking a by
stander for a drink of water, which was
given him, he family murmured, Thank
you" Those were the last words of Chas-
tatns. The famous burglar was dead.
He was as mild a hammered man as
ever scuttled ship or cut a throat"
Upon his person was found quantity of
valuablee belonging to Mr.. Guice Amoag
his effects were articles of different value
from almost every house that had been en-
tered. 1t was when he excused himsalf from
the card table to take walk and get fresh
air that he committed his burglaries. His
trips off were for the purpose Of disposing of
his plumber, converting it into cash, gener-
ally in New Orleans, from which place con-
siderable quantity was recovered
This man was an anomaly of his class,
the very embodiment of gentility, liberality
and personal beauty. He neither smoked,
drank, swore, nor INDUCED in obscenity, and
had all Of the modesty and reticence of a
woman. (Ala.) Advertiser.
Mr.. Charles Raith. matchmaker and