Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-10-29
A NEAT ESCAPE.
Particulars OF How sam Perktns EludeA
the Oficers--A Professional Safo Blower
who for Years Passed as Farmer and
Retired business Man.

who for Years Passed as n Farmer and
Retired lluslness Man.
On Saturday the 10th. the sheriff, post
master and Banker Gage, OF Bridge
water, spent the day and night at
Mitchell. On Sunday they procured
warrant for the arrest OF Sam Perkins, a
farmer living FIVE miles north OF Mt.
Vernon, charged with safc-blowing, and
accompanied by Conductor Christensen
went to Mt. Vernon that afternoon, and
from there drove to the Perkins farm.
On arriving they found Perkins at
home, together with his wife and son.
The warreHt was read and he was told
that he must go with them. He replied
with an mir Of Injured Innocence that
they weTe greatly mistaken In their man,
but that Of course he would 60 along oil
right ii they wanted him. "lf YOU viii
just allow me to change my clothes I'll
step into thi. room and will be out in u
few minutes, said theslnooth old chap.
The men sat there and waited Ter him,
bufho did not MAKE hfs appearances.
The son kept talking to them. and when
the men grew uneasy the son opened tho
door and said. I guess the old man has
given you the shp.' And SO he had He
was not TO be found on the premises.
Going TO the house OF the nearest neigh
Dor they learned that Perkins had just
been there, borrowed horse, ostensibly
to go to Keisey's on important business.
But his business was evidently TO get out
Of the way, for he did not show up at
Kelsey's. nor has he been seen since.
The evidence against Perkins Is thus
summarized: In August the postOffice
safe ut Plankinton was blown open and
robbed. THIS was followed by lIko rob.
berries of safes ut Olivcs, Letcher, and
on the night OF the 18th OF this month
at Bridgewatcr. No valuables were OBJ
taincd at any OF these places except
O)ivet, where $3.50 was stolen. These
safe breakings have been pretty clearly
traced tctbe same source. On the 18th Per-
kins bought ticket 10 Morton Junction
and return. Suspicious were aroused
when on tho night of the burglary at
Bridgewater Perkins boarded the morn
ing train at the latter place, coming on
to Mitchell, got lunch here and went
on to MI. Vernon by the morning freight.
Agent Clemans remembers having sold
Perkins ticket to Marion Juct'on, like
wise, the day before the robbery occurred
at Oliyet. The evidence against him prior
to Sunday afternoon was all circum-
s.antial, but his adroit evasion Of arrest
when confronted with the warrant
seemed to lend evidence to the belief
that he Is smooth burglar, skilled In
the art Of safe blowing.
Perkins Is man about IS years old,
rather heavy set. red faced, with gray
stubby chin whiskers, wears glasses, and
does not wear the appearance OF .
farmer. He came TO this county at an
early day and bought his farm north Of
Mt. Vernon. He rapidly improved 1t
until It was acknowledged to be
the best improved farm In all
that section of tho country. 1t seemed
to be the general impression that Per-
kins was man Of abundant means. He
had a fine family. and to his son was en-
! trusted the entire care OF tho farm,
| while Perkins enjoyed the life OF man
OF leisure. During his entire residence
here 1t has been his custom to make fire.
quent trips away from home, extending
from few weeks to several months In
| length. At one time he was away from
home much longer than usual, and his
absence was accounted for by the state
ment that he was taking q European
tour. Up to this time his reputation has
been of the very best, and at first no one
| here would give crcdencc to the report
| that Sam Perkins, ESQ.,, tho honest
| farmer and retired business man, could
| by any possibility be implicated In the
safe blowing operations In our neighbor-
| ing towns. But 1t Is now suspected that
| this had been his business oil these years.
Had he but been content to have oper-
ated in distant fields, as in the past, de-
lection might never have ovcrtakcn him,
bat when he commenced to ply his skill
so near at home it was not difficult to
track. him down.