The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-05
DEATH IN A WHITE CARD.

The Loss of 1t by n Murderer Loads to
His Capture.
Two men sat in a secluded corner OF the
Ebbitt house lobby last night and enjoyed
a quiet chat over their after-dinner cigars.
That was not a remarkable fact, but n of
the men is one Of the best known members
Of his profession, and if he were inclined
to tell a history Of his interesting experience
it would fill volumes. The smooth-shaven
gentleman with the quiet dsmeanor is one
OF the keenest and most tireless of criminal
catchers, Detective Geo. M. Fletcher, of
Chicago. Mr.. Fletcher is not III a thief
hunting expedition this time, but he related
what he calls the %strangest and luckiest
piece Of trailing in his life, and the end of
the trail was in Washington. although"
says Mr.. Fletcher, sit was only luck on my
part that it did"
Fifteen years ago, in the early fall of
1876. a wealthy old farmer named Wilson
was found murdered in cold blood just out
side his house, near Evanston, ILL.,, says the
Washington Star. The old man had that
day concluded the sale Of a piece Of prop
erty, and was returning will nearly 1900
in his pocket. 1t was growing dark, the
cash having been paid over after banking
hours in Evanston, and Wilson incautioGsly
allowed tho remark to drop that he wished
he had not made the sale until nextday. He
did not like the idea Of carrying 30 much
wealth to his home. five miles distant. These
facts, besides the murder itself, and that a
notorious gambler named Edmondson had
overheard the speech were all the clew of
fered the detectives, who we're set to work
on tho case with a reward of $4,000 held
out as III lnducement for running down the
murderer or murderers. Months passed,
but no further trace of the gambler who
was suspected Of the crime could be found
any where. He seemed to have disappeared
as completely after leaving the Evanston
hotel, where Wilson made the remark that
led to his death, as if the earth had opened
and swallowed him.
During the early spring Of 1877 Detective
Fletcher was sent east on a mission by the
agency of which he is a member, and in the
course of his trip concluded to spend a day
or two in Washington before returning to
the lake city. While passing up Pennsyl-
vania avenue, near sixth street, with a
friend, his attention was attracted to a
small white visiting GARD, which. after the
examined.
II wasn't thinking of business just Them
said Mr.. Fletcher, but I suppose instinct led
me to do what I did, and what do you sup
pose that pasteboard contained? The au-
tograph of the very man I had been looking
for for months, the gambler E~dmondson.
OF course the signature was not familiar to
but the first Thought to suggest itself
was. How did the card get there?' and I
could answer it only one way-Edmondson'
had dropped it; but how did he happen to
retain the same name if he were guilty, I'M
less he did not fear detection? Well, to out
a long story short, I determined to stay in
Washington a while longer and see what
could be seen. I found out the most nota-
BILE clubs and houses where a gambler of his
type would be likely to hold forth, and after
ten days shadowing ] caught the game in
and old frame house on Four-and-a-h half
street, where the worst sort of gamblers
congregated. I believe the old shell has
been removed since. but that is immaterial,
for E~dmondson came with me without a
.requisition and made no fight. In fact he
was tired Of leading a hunted life, and con-
fessed the crime. He said he always had
an idea that the visiting card would prove
his doom, but somehow or other he could
not DESTROY it, and knew at once when he
missed it from his case that it would be a
clsw, for he had been travelling under an
name since the murder. The
card was the last link of his former life.
''Edmondson was hanged a few months
later, and that ended the most curious cpl
sode in my twenty-five years. experience
as a detective"