The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-16
Thursday. November 16, 1893.
HONESTY AS 4 POLICY.

uuNESIn ~ ~ INbLIA1
Whatever may be thought or said of
the immunity Of crime in general from
arrest and adequate punishment. it must
be admitted that the ~violater of tiduci-
airy trusts is not among the favored
class. AS surely as the sun rises and
sets the Jail doors swing open for him
after a brief and feverish period. in
which, like the moth, he fits nearer and
nearer to the flame that finally singes
his wings. and he drops helpless into the
hands of the law. The capture of Phil
Schieg. the thieving teller OF the Bank
Of Minneapolis, adds one more chapter
to the written history Of crime and once
cannot escape. Schieg and his two ON
panions in crime absolutely buried
themselves from the world by travelling
for six weeks through the rural districts
Of the south. the journey extending
from st. Louis. Mo-. to Richmond, Va.
During all this time their whereabouts
was absolutely unknown, and a c~onject-
ure of suicide had almost settled itself
q a fact upon the minds Of those inter
ested in the capture. for pursuit there
uas none 1t was supposed that Schieg.
after reaching Chicago with his plumber,
formed a coalition with two yonng Min
noapolis bloods and brothers named
Floyd. who had in two or three years
run through a handsome fortune. and
we're now Ion their uppers." This the
CRY was built upon the scanty informa-
ton that three young men answer
ing in a general way the description Of
Shieg and the Floyds had purchased ex-
fensive hunting outfits at st. Louis and
started for the southwest. Evidently
the trail lay towards Mexico, and this
was the only one followed. until the
young gentlemen turned up in New
York city. and attracted the attention of
the police there by their reckless habits.
From New York the trio intended to sail
for Rio de Janeiro. and before actual
suspicion had fastened on them. had
sailed. but one of the tritiing occurrences
that happen SO tritely as to seem provi-
Dental. here broke the thread of events.
An accident to the screw of the steamer
Decessitated her return to New York be-
fore she had cleared the harbor, and a
delay OF some days before she could
again start. Schieg and the elder Floyd
Ut once decided to sail for Europe on
the German line plying to Southamp-
I'm. and disguised in rough clothing.
they took steerage passage on the next
outgoing steamer. which proved to be
the Saale. They had hardly sailed be-
around them was drawn. but the draft
only resulted in the capture of the
younger Floyd, who was to have resum-
ed his journey TO Rio as soon as the YES
sci was repaired. where he was to meet
his brother and Schieg. who had started
Tor Rio. via Europe. When captured
pretended to make a clean breast
Of it by detailing the adventures of the
trio from the rendezvous at Chicago.
and presumably gave his partners away
by disclosing the fact of their departure
Tor Europe. but in this he was tricky. as
he gave the name of "a wrong vessel,
which had sailed two days after the
Saale. and if the police had reposed alb
nOlute trust in him. the fugitIves would
have escaped apprehension, but your
clever police officer never believes any /.
body absolutely, and making due allow /
lnce for the natural inducements for '
Floyd to withhold the truth and put up f,
wrong scent, a little enquiry revealed
be fact that the Saale, was the vessel
N which the fsgitives were fleeing.
The rest is soon told. On arrival at 4
on Tuesday evening. the \
'aaIe was boarded by the police who had
lOdificulty in recognizing their prisoners ,
. their rough outside clothing and silk :
Something Of a fight en- :
ned before the fugitives were secured,
ut in the end they were securely hand
ufed. the next day taken to London
nm committed, awaiting the extradition
apers, which have been issued. A mys-
lsious feature Of this case is, that on
- day thit it became certain that
eheig had absconded and robbed the
ank, the cashier. j. H. Bofferding,
ighly esteemed citizen Of Minneapolis,
BOT himself dead in his bed at home.
'he only cause thus far assigned, is that .,
eheig was q protege of B~offerdingis, =
10 had previously shielded him, and G
REQUIRED his reinstatement il the bank =
hen dismissed for gambling.
The moral to be extracted from this
ory is that in handling other peoples
'oney. honesty is not only the best but
le only policy, unless n desires a per-
'anent habitation in a penal institute. I
is only n case Of a dozen now be-
40 thu nuhlic uhoro act,,ol agoono b..