Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-04-17

would doubtless spend a considerable
portion of his dishonest gains in the
purchase of fine stock; and. further,
that The stock would be purchased in
New York, as that market promised a
better selection, aud the criminal con-
sidcred himself entirely safe from de-
lection.
The first step, therefore, was to
learn if any ono had recently made
any extensive purchases Of such stock,
aud if so, TO run them down and see
who they were.
For weeks the search was without
reward, but at last the case frightened.
\ man was found, of whom several
horses had been purchased by man
much resembling Livingston, but here
giving the name Of Peck. The horses
were shipped to Buffalo, WHITTIER "Mr.
leck' stated that he was going.
Here was a long sought clew. aud
the officer lost no time in visiting
Buffalo, to learn further of Mr.. Peck ;
present abode. Another disappoint-
ment met him here The freight
books showed that the horses had been
received two or three months pre-
viously and taken away, but nothing
further was known concerning them
or Mr.. Peck.
Nothing daunted, however, the in
quiry was pursued, and finally the
horses were traced TO q stable, but
were now owned by a Mr.. Welch.
Several other animals were purchased,
and the whole then shipped to Chi
cago. From the descriptions the officer
was convinced that Livingston, Peck
and Wcich We're one and the same
person, and the pursuit began to wax
interesting.
Arriving at Chicago, he found that
tie horses had been taken away, but
the most careful inquiry revealed
nothing more. As they had not been
reshippel, the officer concluded they
had been driven into the country.
There were some mares among the
stock, and he concluded that the party,
whoever he was, designed to open a
stock farm. Finding all Other attempts
to trace the horses vain. lie attempted
to learn if any farm suitable for such
apurpose had been purchased recently,
and if so, by whom.
AT one of the real estate agencies he
fslnd that man from the East ,namcd
William Livingston, had been looking
for such place, and had finally pur-
chased one, but where was not known,
certainly not in Cook County, as an
examination of the records proved;
but the officer reasoned that it could
not be far from Chicago, as the stock
was apparently driven instead of being
shipped.
If, reasoned the officer, Livingston,
who was without doubt the criminal,
has purchased a farm of this charac-
ter, he must buy large quantity of
tools, harness, saddles, wagons, and
like goods for its use. a careful
search among dealers in those articles
revealed the fact that a liberal quanti-
ty of such goods had recently been
bought by Mr.. William Livingston,
and sent to Du Page County, about
forty miles from Chicago, where he
had bought four small farms aud con-
solidatcd them iIto one handsome
stock farm. Believing detection i'm
possible after the i,sre-,,4.so.so long a
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.
The game was found-now for its
capture. Taking four or five police
officers from Chicago. all in citizens
clothes, The party went out 10 the farm,
and inquired for William Livington.
The "elderly, short, stout gentleman"
who had figured so conspicuously in
the officers search, appeared, and the
correctness of the pen and ink sketch
impressed the officer as remarkable.
The party represented themselves as
from Chicago, who, having heard of
his. faE}n, and como dawn 10 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 wincd in
the spacious mansion. On rising
from tie table the New York officer
remarked:
''Wcll, Mr.. Livingston, do you
like this place and this quiet life as
we'll as lifa~ir 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, then,7 rctortcd the officer,
''you will have an excellent opportu-
nifty to 80 there. William Livingston,
! arrest you."
Livingston turned as pale as a
ghost, and gasped out:
What for.'
"For the forgery of check on the
City Bank of New York for SO, ,000,"
replied the officer, drawing pair of
handouts from his pocket, and ad-
vancing toward him.