Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-22
4 oertenye's STORY.
How the Finding ~ = Visiting card Lee
10 ~ Important Arrest

nov INC FlUNNNA ~ NNNNfNA hHfhN 49,
10 40 Important Arrest
Two men sat In secluded corner ~
the Ebbitt House lobby and enjoyed a
uuiet chat over their after dinner cigar.
That was not remarkable fi,ot. but one
VI the men * one Of the best known
members In his profession, and II he
were inclined to tell history II his In
tercsiing experience IL would iill vol
mmes. The smooth shayen gentleman
with the quiet deiueanur Is one of the
kcencst OF criminal catchcrs. G.. VI.
Fletcher, Of Chicago. Mr Fletcher re-.
lated what he calls the straugest aud
luckicst piece oi trailing In his life, and
the end Of the trail wus Ia Washington.
although" SAYS Mr. Fletcher. lit was
only luck on my part that % DID
Fifteen year, ngo "a wealthy ola farmer
named Wilson was found murdered just
outside his house. near Evanston, III.
The Old mal had that day concluded the
sale Of a piece Of properly and was re'
turning with nearly 5000 In his pocket,
"a 1t was growing dal. the cash having
been paid over after banking hour In
Evanston. and Wilson incsutiously al
lowed the remark to drop that he wished
he had not made the snlo until next
day.
He did not like the idea 81 carrying go
much wealth 10 his home. five miles dis
iuut. These facts, besides tho murder
itself. aud the knowledge that a notori.
Gus gambler named Edmondsou had
overheard the speech, were all the clue
offered the detectives, who were set to
work on the case with a reward " $1,000,
held out as an inducement for running
down the murderer or murdcrcr-.
Months passed, but no further trace Of
the gambler who. was suspected could be
found anywhere.
During the early spring Of 1876 Fletcher
wis sent cast on ami aion by the agency
OF which he l. member and In the
course of his trip concluded 10 spend u
day or twoin Washington before return.
Ing TO the Lake city. While passing UP
| pennsylyauia avenue. near Sixth street,
with friend. hs attention was attracted
to small visiting card, which, after the
manner OF his profession. ho picked up
| and examined.
\ MhHNt ANANhAAAa Va NAHAAA"H ahH"H
them" aid Mr. Fletcher, "but 1 suppose
instinct led me to do ~ did, and what
do YOU suppose that pastcboard com
tainedf The autograph Of the very man
| had been looking for for months. OF
course tho signature was not familiar 10
me. Int the first thought 10 suggest e.
self was. How did the card get there
aud could answer IL only one way
Elinondson bad dropped it-but how did
he happen 10 retain tho same name u he
was guilty, unless he did not fear detec.
tiouf
"well. TO cut long story short, de-
termined 20 stay Ia Washington awhile
and SEQ what could b. seen. found
out tho most notable houses where a
gambler Of his type would be- likely to
hold forth. and after ten days shadow
ing found hun In an old frame house
on urand.a-llalf street. Edmond.
BON came with me without u roquiAtion,
Enl made no fight, I'm fact, he was
tired OF leading hunted life and con.
fosscd the crime, He said he always
had an idea that the visiting card would
prove his doom, but somehow or othei
he could not destroy 1t, and knew al
once when he missed It from his cass
that 1t would be clew. for he had
been travelling under an assumed nam,
since the murder. The card was tn,
last link OF his former life.
"Edmondson was hanged fev month
later. and that ended the most curiou
, episode in my twenty-five years cxpe
4, rienco as u detective. ~ Washington
Post