The morning call., 1893-07-10
UNHAPPY BURNS.
A Private Detective Comes
to Grief.
Nine Days of Time and Labor Thrown
Away in the Vain Search for
a Missing Man.

William H. Cochrane. wealthy young
man of Brooklyn. n. L. has been mysteri-
ously missing since March "a. About four
weeks ago the family secured the services
Of the Chicago police to assist in the search
for the missing man throughout the West.
Alexander S. Ross, Chief Inspector of
the Chicago police, caused descriptive
circular to be printed. and this. together
with a portrait of the missing man, was
sent to every city in the West. COchrane
was a fine looking young man, wore eye
glasses and dressed like a dude. The
description as sent out by Police Inspector
Ross read as follows:
FIFTY DOLLARS REwARD.-MisSing from
BrooAlyn, \. Y, since March "a, William II.
Cochrane. 80 years old. feet 8 inches tall,
weight about 13o pounds; red hair and mus
tache, blue eyes. and very fair complexion. nose
slightly turned 10 right. long and ry white
teeth, walks erect; wore gray double breasted
sack Suit and black derby hat, gold watch and
chain and gold Spectacles; was confidential
clerk In a wholesale tea and coffee house. and
may now be in business for himself or book
keeper in some large house. and in this connec-
NAV use discharge papers from the Third Bat
terry, New York State Militia. All Information
Obtainable as to his Whereabouts please COM
municate to his distracted wife at 973 Bergen
street, Brooklyn, n. Y.
Probably score of these circulars were
sent to San Francisco. it being believed
that Cochrane had scome to the Pacific
Coast. Among others in this city who
was a private detective named Frank
Burns.
Burns is a sort of civil case sleuth who
carries his office in his hat and kills time
at the corner OF California and Montgom-
cry streets. When Detective Burns read
The CALL two weeks ago to-day he
glanced over the list OF advertised letters.
William Fl. Cochrsne. The hair Of Burns
stood on end.
AHA" he whispered to himself, 81
have the missing man. There are letters
awaiting him here. He will call for his
mail. 1 will capture him. The $50 will be
mine. l am in luck. Moreover | am a
great detective"
Detective Burns mapped out line of
acton. Early the next morning he sta
toned himself in the Postoffice lobby,
holding the portrait of the missing Cochl
rane and the description in his hand and
watching the general delivery window with
all his eyes. For eight long and weary
days Detective Burns watched and wait
ed. He carried his midday lunch in his
pocket When the Postoffice Opene ed at 8
O'clock he was on deck, and when the win
dows were closed at 6 o'clock he went off
duty. Still the missing COchrane came
not.
On the morning of the ninth day happy
thought struck the detective. He walked
over 10 the delivery window and asked the
clerk to allow him to look at the letters
advertised for the missing William II.
Cochrane. Both letters were from the
Police Inspector of Chicago and both con-
tanned circulars similar TO the one Burns
had in his possession.
The Chicago police had sent circular
addressed to Ccchrane himself to every city
and town in the West. After nine days
time and labor Detective Burns realized
that he was only plain ordinary detec-
tive. He now threatens to quit the detec-
tive industry, and contempt ateS accepting
a position as driver on the Montgomery
street hOrsecar line.
William Fl. Cochrane is still enjoying
his freadOm