The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-05-14

WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, ARREST YOU"
for It's use. A careful search among
dealers in those articles revealed the
fact that liberal quantity of such
goods had recently been bought by a
Mr. William Livingston, and sent to
Du Page county, about forty miles from
Chicago. where he had bought four
small farms and consolidated them into
one handsome stock farm. Believing
detection impossible after the lapse Of
50 long time, he had boldly taken his
own name, and, though almost within
the clutch of the officer of justice, was
yet entirely unconscious of his danger,
and the pursuit began to wax inter-
esting.
The game was found--now for its
capture. Taking four or five police
officers from Chicago, all in citizens
clothes, the party went out to the farm,
and inquired for William Livingston.
1.-The elderly, short, stout gentleman"
who had figured SO conspicuously in the
officers search, appeared, and the COR
rectness of the pen and ink sketch inn
pressed the officer as remarkable.
| The party represented themselves as
! from Chicago, who, having heard of his
| fine farm, had come down to see for
themselves. and perhaps purchase some
of his choice stock.
They were cordially received, hos
pitably entertained. shown over the
place. and finally dined and winea in
the spacious mansion. On rising from
/ -, 81
marked:
We'll, Mr.. Livingston. do you like
this place and this quiet life AS well as
life in New York;"
The man was startled, looked sharply
at the officer and answered:
What do you mean / was never in
New York in all my life
well. them rctortcd the officer,
you will have an excellent oppor-
tunity to go there. William Living.
ston, arrest YOU"
Livingston tn rned as pale as a ghost
and gasped out:
What fore"
For the forgery Of a check on the
City bank of New York for seventy.
five thousand dollars" replied the Off.
Ger. drawing pair of handouts from
his pocket and advancing toward him.
''Stop, SIR exclaimed the culprit
stop. sir. This is an outrage" and he
glanced around the room for some
weapon with which he could defend
himself. lie was quickly surrounded,
however, and the irons fastened upon
him.
For time he ragged furiously, max
ing fearful threats against his captors;
but the storm soon spent itself, and he
was able to talk over the matter calm
ly. lie represented that relative,
who had recently died, had left him a
considerable sum of money, with which
he had purchased the farm and stock.
TN searching him a roll of bills
amounting to ten Thousand dollars
was found in an inner pocket, many oi
them being entirely new, and on the
City bank-the very notes which had
been Paid out Oh the fraudulent check
some months before. After this dis
covery he was more quiet, and willing
ly accompanied his captor to New
York.
The cash found on his person, the farm
and stock were taken possession of by
the victimized bank, and managed so jul
diciously that more than sixty-five
thousand dollars was realized, leaving
the bank sufferer for less than ter
thousand dollars.
Livingston was soon after brough
to trial, convicted and escaped with
sentence of four years and II half. A
the expiration of his sentence he wen
west, and when last heard from wa
opening small stock farm in Iowa.
The case in all its phases ranks anon
) the most curious and interesting il
criminal annals. The slight clcw IS
perseveringly followed, the little Incl
dents which pointed SD unerringly u
ward the culprit, and the sagacity will
: which all these little hints were fol
lowed to the end, places the detectiy
art among the most notable and usefu
of the sciences. Leslie, l.
n. Y. Weekly.