St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-13
A $4,000 BAR OF SOAP.
How a Pinkerton Detective Gave {
Surprise to the Mexicans.

"A PSSJOOO vi s11AIs
How a Pinkerton Detective Gave q
Surprise to the Mexicans.
New York Morning Journal.
Several gentlemen were talking about
that queer country to the south of us
MeXico-in Clark street resort, Chica-
go, the other evening. One of them
was Supt. Kellard, of the Plnkerton
agency.
Il guess I'm the only man who ever
went to Mexico after a prisoner, got
him and got out without trouble or
wounds" said he. mexican officials
can usually be bribed, and so can
any number of professional braves,
who would think nothing of numbering
a man for $40 note. You may remem-
Der bank cashier of small town in
Canada who three years ago eloped with
some $35, 200 of the banks funds. Well,
| was put on the job, and hadn't much
difficulty in tracing my man to the City
of Mexico. knew the venality of the
Mexican officials. and l knew that they
have mighty little respect or use for
American officials, so | went after the
embezZler prepared for a pretty tough
time.
IL got there. located my man very
easily, in view OF the fact that he was
living in ostentatious style, and had
just arranged for the purchase of big
soap factory, and also found out that the
money, which had in part been planted
with some relatives in Canada, had
Just the day before been delivered to
him by the express company. The pur-
chase of the soap factory was to be con-
summated the next day. Well. / first
went to the governor, the head of the
police service there, and got but mighty
little satisfaction. | went to the Ameri-
can consul, who is no good, and he
couldn't help me. AT last bright idea
struck me.
Il am British subject, Canadian
born, and so l went to the British con
sui. That put different face on affairs
entirely, and, after the judicious dis
tribution of sundry $50 gold pieces,
which even the governor did not
disdain to accept, had the cheerful
assistance and cooperation of the Mex
lean police, a squad of whom, under the
direction of high official, was placed
atmv disposal. Well. it was very sim
pie to corral our man and rush him off
at once to the prison, the toughest,
dirtiest hole one can imagine, and by a
little more judiciOuS expenditure of
bright coin | was assured that he could
uCtlliCI ICCclNC nOl QlSpdICIi duy COm-
munication to the outside world. |
wired to Canada for requisition papers,
and then set about finding the $4,000,
none of which the defaulter had about
his clothes when arrested.
1--WE searched his lodgings, turned
every thing upside down, to no avail.
He hadn't deposited it in any Of the
banks, and neither had he paid the
former proprietor of the soap factory,
who had already given him possession.
The next place to search was the factory
iteSelf, and, accompanied by the gov
ernor of the prison and some of his best
native police talent. we went there.
The place was ransacked from top to
bottom, every drawer, package, nook
and Granny turned inside out, but no
trace of the 2issing money could we
find; the f1C;s was of stone, and we
looked for signs of any of the great
slabs having been displaced. No, they
were incrustH;I with coat of dirt which
hadn't been Token in years. The ex-
press people hfA paid him the money,
of that l was s0re, but what had he
done with it? Where hidden it?
I'VE were getting desperate when [
bethought myself of an enormous block
of soap, which, boiled the day before.
aid moulded into great cube four feet
high, was solidifying, awaiting the final
cutting up into small bars. Let's try
that said.
"'OhI it is not possible; it is 70 use,
senior: he would never have thought,
never responded the head of the Mex
lean police, very assuredly.
Il insisted, however. and asked for a
piece of wire. He dispatched one of
his men for it, assuring me that while |
was taking a lot of useless trouble, and
ihtir nOfi fIa oh
were far from being sane or reasonable.
The policeman returned with the wire,
however, and we set TO work with it.
cutting carefully off great slices of soap
from the top of the big block.
"Well, we proceeded slowly, but in
half an hour the wire struck something
in the middle of the block, and we dug
down and brought to light fat package
carefully wrapped up in oiled silk and
rubber. undid the fastenings,. opened
1t, and, as / suspected, there lay thirty
four beautiful bank notes of 1000 each,
and several hundred dollars in smaller
bills. The face of the Mexican official
was a study. He couldn't believe his
eyes. You English and Americans are
devils he politely remarked. We
should never have thought Of searching
there.'a
II remained a couple of days until
my papers arrived. went to the officials,
got them vised. and got an order for
my prisoner. Then [ bought my tick
cts. didn't dare take my man through
the United States, see? He could have
gotten writ of habeas corpus in every
state through which we had to pass. So
l secured tickets to Vera Cruz, from
whence steamer was to sail three
days later for London.
Il took him out of prison with the
blessing of the Mexican officers follow
ing me, reached Vera Cruz, then. after
touching at Havana, we were off for
London. From there l took another
vessel from Halifax, n. S., and from
thence by rail and boat, went to Otta-
wa. and from there to Winnipeg. l |
travelled over 10000 miles all told, deliv- |
cred my men into the hands of the Win |
nipeg authorities and had the satiSfac- |
ton of returning to the bank S., 200 of |
the stolen money. The expenses, brides |
and all told, were only $1,000 odd, and
they were glad enough to pay them.'