Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-04-29
GRIP OF A STRANGER.

non nau been put down IN Ind1a, ana
with the country under such military
and legal discipline as it had never
known before, was at Hyderabad, u
large town 500 miles east of Bombay,
in the province of Dekllan. 1t was
there that band of professional
thugs, numbering thirty-two men,
was captured and executed in 1860.
The vigorous search after and prompt
punishment of criminals was having a
due effect. and not case of poison
ing or strangling had been known
about Hyderabad for several months.
In fact these two classes of murder
ers were supposed to have become
extinct.
One morning a ryot, or farmer, was
found dead on the public square, and
it was speedily discovered that he had
been choked to death. The imprints
proved it to be the work OF strang-
Ter. The thug used cord. while the
stranger used his fingers. About
twenty days after the first case a wo-
man was found dead within three
blocks of the public square. and she
AACO AGtLA AEEat a y A[NAAlA " AAlC 6tLNkAE-
Ter. Not only had she been choked
to death, but her neck was broken.
The police were again aroused. aad
bodies of cavalry secured the country
and brought in dozens of suspicious
characters but. as in the other case.
nothing could be proved. and all had
10 be released. Ten days later the
stranger counted his third victim,
and this time it was a European,
Only at rare intervals before the mu-
tiny had European fallen victim
Ia the professionals of any class. 1t
seemed to be an understood thing
With all not to NEEDLE with them in
any manner.
The police and the military now
quite lost their heads During the
following week there were about 700
arrests. some of them being made
200 miles away. Nothing like detec-
tive work was attempted, and as a
consequence every suspect had to be
discharged for want of any evidence
against him. The authorities seemed
to go on the idea that if a sufficient
number of people were arrested the
guilty party would somehow betray
himself Strong efforts were made in
three or four cases to convict ON
shady testimony. but every few
weeks every person who had been ar
rested was set at liberty. Being new
to the country, and having taken a
great interest in the work of exter-
minating the professionals, " | asked
for information on every hand. One
day, in conversation with a Major
Burke on the subject, he explained:
'.In my time l have inspected the
hands of at least a score of strangers.
Their strength lies mostly in wrist
and fingers. Before graduating as
professionals they practice on dunn
mics and resort to certain gymnastics
70 strengthen the parts have named.
This man now among us is certainly
a professional. If arrested you will
find his thumb flattened on the ball.
If / were detective l should go
about looking at thumbs. In most
instances the victim leaves scratches
or cubs ON the hands Of the assassin.
Ehich would further help me inden-
lily him in case OF suspicion.
From that time on | instinctively
glanced at the hands of every native
with whom / came in contact, but
without the slightest hope OF making
any discovery Of value. Five weeks
after the murder of the clerk the
stranger was heard from again. This
time his victim was a sergeant OF
infantry, and ne met his death ON the
highway between the town and the
camp. II was about o'clock in the
evening when he started for camp,
and it was known that he was CON
siderab!y under the influence of
liquor.
On ths third day after the ser
geaht's death / had a bit Of chain
work to do on a piece Of land two
miles east Of town, and my helper
was native who had served in the
department for a year. He was a
middle-aged man, very slender, and
his weight was not above 129 pounds.
He had drifted into the town at the
close of the war, and it was told of
!him that he came from the North and
had been faithful to the English dur
ing the struggle. When not acting
as helper in the field he had the
care OF some horses belonging to the
department.
The only name that he was known
by was Peter. When sent him word
that wanted him he returned re-
ply that he was i'll, but half an hour
later he pat in an appearance and ex-
plainei that he was feeling better.
We had reached the field and had
fairly begun work when my attention
was attracted TO his hands. The
backs Of both were scratched and lac.
Grated. though the wounds were half
healed.
1T was the monkey at the stable
who did it. Sahib. he explained, as
he held up his hands for inspection
n was teasing him and he got re-
venge. will sell him if ] can find a
E-ra1F Y