The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-23
A LIFE OF ROMANCE.
Death of Billy Pinkerton's "Flyest"
After 40 Years Detective Work.

After 40 Years Detective Work.
From the Chicago Herald.
Arthur Wood, the well-known detective,
for over twenty years in the employ Of the
Pinkerton agency, is dead. After a life
made up chiefly of narrow escapes from
violent death, he passed away peacefully at
his home, 206 Walnut street, from an all
ment brought on by fall. The record of
this remarkable mans life is full of marvel
Gus escapes from death and wonderful
performances. He knew no fear and
courted danger as one possessed of a
and seized upon any work, no matter how
difficult, which promised adventure Of an
unusual character. Early in life
WOODS ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT
asserted itself and he went to the war, a
strapping lad, with a happy heart. He
rendered such valuable services before the
war was ended that his superior officers
have been glad to testify to his conduct at
every opportunity.
After the war Woods real life begun,
and such a life few men have ever lived
He worked for time on the police force at
his home, Lockport, N. Y, where he was
found by Pinkerton. On account of some
excellent detective work which he had
done there Pinkerton paid him handsome
salary to come to Chicago and work for the
agency. During the twenty or more years
in which he was in their employ he made
for himself record which the Pinkertons
say is not excelled by any detective in this
country. He worked In all the important
cases the agency has handled, and the more
desperate they were the better he would
seem to like it, One Of the
MOST RECENT CASES
Of importance with which he was con-
nected was the hunt which was carried on
about two years ago for the slayers of
Colonel Clayton in Arkansas. The whole
country was excited over that assassination,
and an organized hunt for the murderers
was carried on to no purpose for a long time
Ex-senator Powell Clayton, the dead mans
brother, called to bis aid the Pinkerton
Detective Agency, and it sent Wood to Ar
kansas to work up the case. When he en-
tered Plummerville, where the shooting oc-
Cured, he was recognized and forced to
leave the town. He secured, however,
some important facts before he left, and
then established himself at Little Rock.
While there he found in prison a member
of a noted band Of safe-blowers, and he
learned, too, that some members of the
gang were
LOCATED AT PLUMMERvILLE
and were implicated in the killing of Clay
ton. He induced Gov. Eagle to pardon the
convict who, working under Woods direc-
ton, went to Plummerville and told the rest
of the gang that he had escaped from the
penitentiary. He was harbored at the house
OF one of these men, who was the actual
slayer of Clayton, and in the course of time
secured the gun used, with other important
evidence. Wood was kept advised of the
safe-blowers' operation, and before he left
that country had in his possession over
whelming proofs against all the parties to
the crime. This was a year and half ago,
but nothing has yet been done with the evil
dence, as it has always been regarded as i'm
possible to convict the man for that crime
in the country where it occurred. Much
OF Woods time was spent
AMONG THE OUTLAWS
Of the west and south, where he constantly
carried his life in his hands. On one occa-
sion he was sent to Texas to look up some
train robbers. He located two Of the gang
in Texas town, and, meeting the chief OF
the band one day on the street, attempted
to place him under arrest. The robber in
stantly drew a revolver, but Wood was not
caught mapping. He, too, drew gun, and,
placing it against the robbers body, fired.
As the wounded man fell to the ground he
tried to shoot the officer, who fired again,
killing the man. The brother-in-law of the
dead robber was on the opposite side of
the street and at once took hand In the
fight.
He fired several shots at Wood from
rifle, but the detective escaped unhurt,
after killing the rifeman. Near the close
of the war Wood had an alteration with
some negroes in Richmond, Va, which re-
suited in the death of two of his ASSISTANTS.
For this be was detained in prison short
time, but as there was no one TO prosecute
him he was released
Those who knew Wood best recite at great
length the variety and marvellous character
of his adventures, and yet they say he was
a man who loved peace and show an I'M
usual devotion to his family. He was man
of splendid physique, weighing about 200
pounds, yet agile as youth and Of wonder
full strength.
HoRsFoRDs ACID PHOSPHATE