The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-09
A DETECTIVES FIND.
HOW HE DISCOVERED STOLEN POT
OF $40 GOLD PIECES.

euces One of his experiences as thle1
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. 1t simply
required the keenness of perception OF
which only the best of detectives are pos
seSsed.
Several years ago the Chicago office OF
the Pinkerton agency received letter
from q wealthy widow in Tennessee set
ting forth the fact that in queer way she
had been robbed of $4,000 in gold coin.
The woman said that she had long been
fistrustful of the safety of banks, and that
her distrust had been shared by her nus
band, 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 S2O,-
900 had been stolen. She had not the
slightest clew to the thief, and asked that
a detective be sent to ferret out the mys-
tery. The letter was turned overto Wood
1t proposed an apparently impossible task,
but he said he would 90 and see what he
could turn up.
When he arrived at Chattanooga he
learned that the widow lived but few
miles out of town, and started to walk.
While he was walking past deep grove
his attention was attracted by largely at
tended camp meeting. He walked through
the grove to the meeting, and after look
ing on for a time forced his way to the
front row of benches and took seat. His
heavy, powerful form and his strange face
80 lint eff
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 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
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 view to establishing a large
nursery. The minister proved TO be the
pastor of a mission church which the
wealthy widow had established, and lived
but a short distance from her house. On
learning this the detective resolved to re-
main with the clergyman as long as he
could, and not make himself known to the
woman whose treasure he was hunting.
He protracted his stay at the minister's
house on various pretexts, and was assured
ne was welcome. 1t did not take him long
to notice that the preachers table was sup
piled with more luxuries than seemed war
ranted by the salary of so humble 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-b rac for the house. Under the cir
cumstances the detectives suspicious were
naturally aroused, and they were after
ward clinched in a peculiar way.
One day Wood accompanied the parson
to town, and before returning purchased
large flask of whisky and some cigars.
While they were riding home he COM
planned of severe stomach pain, and said
he hoped he would not shock his compan-
ions principles if he drank some whisky.
The minister said it 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" He 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 neighborhood con-
corning the minister. He received every
where the same Gnswer-that the parsOn
had been born and 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.
He helped to arrange the sport, but just
before the party was to start he feigned i'll
ness and remained at home. The preacher
was nervous and seemed loath to leave
him in the house alone, and insisted that
he should 60 But Wood was too i'll, he
said, and finally started TO bed 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 it
found trap door. He raised it and de-
scended into the hole He found a place
where the earth had been freshly turned
and procuring a spade he dug down till be
unearthed an old pair of overalls. The
tops and bottoms of the legs were tied and
stuffed completely full of so gold pieces
Wood had no more than laid the treasure
bare to the light than the trap door closed
above with a slam. Through the cracks in
the floor he heard the curses of the parson
standing on the door above.
With herculean strength he forced the
trap open and sprang upon the preacher.
When he found himself conquered he told
the whole story of his possession of the
gold. Like every one else in the neighbor-
hood. he said he had heard stories of buried
gold about the widows plantation. While
going one evening 10 call upon her he saw
her standing near tree intently looking
at the ground. He went there night or
two after and dug up the treasure. But
little Of il had been spent, however, and
the rest was returned to the widow. The
preacher was not prosecuted. that being
his first crime, but was compelled to leave
tke coUntry.-Chicago Herald.
Queen victoria's Little Guests.
The queen, who is very fond of all young
folks, not infrequently invites the children