The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-01-01
A DETECTIVES FIND.
HOW HE DISCOVERED A STOLEN POT
OF $40 GOLD PIECES.

Working Withouv a single CIew-He Un-
eartbed a Pair Of Gold Lined OveraIls
by Chance He struck the Thief I'm.
mediateIy--The Psrson Was the CuIprit.
During his work as detective Arthur
Wood had many most remarkable expert.
ences. One Of his experiences as thiet
taker forms pretty and romantic story.
The case required no great daring or any.
thing that is usual in the chase of outlaws,
express robbers and the like. II simply
required the kecnness Of perception of
which only the best of detectives are pos.
sessed
Several years ago the Chicago Office Of
the Pinkerton agency received a letter
from wealthy widow in Tennessee set.
ting forth the fact that in q queer way she
had been robbed of 100000 in gold coin.
The woman said that she he'd long beer
distrustful of the safety of banks, and that
her distrust had been shared by her hus.
hand, who had died several years before.
The gold was buried in various parts OF
the plantation near Chattanooga which
the widow owned. Shortly before writing
the letter she had discovered that an
earthen jar containing something over SEQ.
| 600 had been stolen. She had not the
| slightest clew TO the thief and asked that
| n detective be sent to ferret out the mys.
terry. The letter was turned overto Wood.
1t proposed an apparently impossible task,
but he said he would 80 and see what he
could turn up.
When he arrived at Chattanooga he
| learned that the widow lived but a few
miles out Of town, and started TO walk.
While he was walking past n deep grove
| his attention was attracted by a largely at.
tended camp meeting. He walked through
| the grove to the meeting, and after look
ing on for n time forced his way TO the
front row of benches and took a seat. His
heavy powerful form and his strange face
attracted general attention, but stirred up
| in the minister who was conducting the
meeting an especial interest.
VISITS THE PARsoN.
Before the close of the exercises the cler-
| gyman walked up to Wood and asked if he
were believer. The detective, in a spirit
| of fun, said that he was believer, and
furthermore was deacon in the church
| in his native town in New York state. The
minister asked him to address the meet
! ing, and Arthur, much embarrassed, made
| u short talk and led the meeting in prayer
| At the close Of the meeting the minister
| engaged Wood in conversation, and asked
| him to retire to his home. On the way
| Wood said that his business was that of a
tree planter, and that he had come to Ten
nessee with n view to establishing a large
nursery. The minister proved TO he the
| pastor of a mission church which the
wealthy widow had established, aud lived
but n short distance from her house. On
| learning this the detective resolved to re-
main with the clergyman rs long rs he
could, and not make himself known TO the
woman whose treasure he was hunting.
He protracted his stay at the ministers
house on various preteXts, and was assured
he was welcome. 1t did not take him long
to notice that the preachers table was sup
piled with more luXuries than seemedwar-
ranted by the salary of 80 humble a posi-
| ton. There was no outside display, but
whenever the preacher went to town he
always brought back with him some
dainty bit for the table or some neat piece
of bric-a-brac for the house. Under the cir
cumstanCes the detectives suspicious were
naturally aroused, and they were after
ward Clinched in u peculiar way.
One day Wood accompanied the parsOn
to town, and before returning purchased "A
| large flask Of whisky and some cigars.
While they were riding home he com
planned Of a severe stomach pain, and said
he hoped be would not shock his cDmpan-
ions principles If he drank some whisky.
The minister said il was all right, and that
he himself had been troubled by pain in
his stomach. He took one sip and then an
other, saying, as he returned the bottle,
"That's pretty good stuff" lie drew re-
peatedly on the contents Of the bottle, and
when they reached home he was quite hila-
rious.
GOLD LINED OvERALLS.
After this occurrence the detectives sus-
picions were so thoroughly aroused that
he inquired about the nelghborhoOd con
cerning the minister, He received every
where the same answer-that the parson
had been born aud brought up in the dis,
trict, and was thoroughly honest and de
vout man. The rich living however.
Wood could not explain and finally he re-
solved on a search of the preachers house.
His opportunity came one day when the
children Of the Sunday school were to
have picnic.
lie helped to arrange the sport, but just
before the party was to start he feigned ill
ness and remained at home The preacher
was nervous and seemed loath TO leave
him in the house alone, and insisted that
be should 90. But Wood was too ill, he
said and finally started 20 he'd as the party
left the house They were no more than
out of sight when he began the search
through bedticks, chairs, under the car
pets and everywhere.
Finally he turned up rug and under il
found trap door. He raised it and de
sceuded into the hole. He found "A plac,
where the earth had been freshly turned
and procuring a spade he dug down till hs
} unearthed an old pair of overalls. Th,
tops and bottoms Of the legs were tied anC
stuffed completely full of $50 gold pieces
, Wood had no more than laid the treasur
bare to the light than the trap door closet
, above with a slam. Through the cracks il
the floor he heard the curses of the parsol
standing ON the door above
With herculean strength he forced tn
trap open and sprang upon the preacher
When he found himself conquered he toll
the whole story of his possession of tn
, gold. Like every one else in the neighbol
! hood, he said he had heard stories of burie
. gold about the widows plantation. Will
going one evening to call upon her he say
: her standing near n tree intently lookin
! at the ground He went there night {
|, two after aud dug up the treasure. Bu
! little of IL had been spent, however, an
: the rest was returned TO the widow. III
preacher WAS not prosecuted, that boin
his first crime, but was compelled to leaN
the country. Chicago Herald.