Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-11-09
A STORY TOLD.
A DETECTIVES YARN.

cit is not very often, - said Detective
Riley, "that detective is forced to as
sumo disguise to get information, but
sometimes it is absolutely necessary.
The last time that had to go into a
den of thieves in bogus character was
a good many years ago, and I had a
rather lively experience and enough of
excitement to stand me until the end OF
my days.
''We received a report of the escape
Of a crook from the Charlestown prison,
and from what the authorities there
had been able to gather it was supposed
that the convict had come to this city.
They sent description of the man, and
the only thing that I saw was of any
use was that Gil the mans right arm
were the initials "A. T., with a flag
above and anchor below them in india
ink. looked over our records and found
that we had there the pedigree of Abe
Taylor, and he had the same marks on
his right arm. The rest of the descrip.
ton that we had did not tally very
closely with the one sent from Charles
town, but I thought thai there was
good ground for the belief that the es-
capped convict was Taylor, who was one
Of the most successful Jail breakers in
the country.
In order to be certain of the identi-
ty of the convict went to Charlestown.
/ found that the man had been convict
ed under the name of John Smith for
the robbery of the Pittsfield bank, and
the style of the work was in line with
the business usually touched off by Tay-
lor. took run over over to Pittsfeld,
got description of the two men who
had done the bank out of $3.50, 600 and
became convinced that the man who
had been shot and arrested and who
escaped was Abe Taylor, and that his
partner was jerry Connors.
II knew that was up against a stiff
game, and on the train from Boston I
laid out plan which thought would
give me show to get on the track of
the men. Abe and Jerry I knew were
partners with Petey Slade, who ran a
notorious fence and dive in Washington
street, near Canal, and made up my
mind that some time or other the pair
of them would land in SHADES place.
decided that my strongest hold would
be to get in with Slade and his gang OIL
their own terms. I knew the risk I was
taking, for the gang were about the
toughest set of thugs and assassins in
the city and would not hesitate tc
slit mans wien in second upon the
slightest provocation. I put up scheme
which thought would beat their game,
and it worked to the queens tatse.
''When I reached the city, had my.
self arrested for a fictitious crime and
was tried and sent to the BLACKWELL
Island penitentiary in perfectly regu-
lar way, with the assistance, of course,
of Recorder Hackett. The warden il
the penitentiary knew my game and
aided me in carrying out the business.
After 1 had been locked up few days
/ made my escape from the island after
dark. The next day the newspapers con
tanned a thrilling account of my escape,
and the story was that dug my way
out of my cell and swan across the
river to this city. I must have had &
terrible time, as the papers told it, but
as matter of fact crossed the river
in boat, and the story was given out
laid out to do.
"When I reached the city, it was
dark, and I walked down to Shades
dive in my convict's rig, which had
been soaked with water to carry out my
scheme. sent a boy into the dive tt
get Slade to come to me, and told him
the story of my escape and said that g
thief who had started to get away with
me, but had lost his nerve when it came
to taking the swim, had told me that
when we reached the city we could &C
to Shades and put up until the thing
blew over.
''Slade was very cautious. He felt
my clothing and took me in back room
in the den and carefully examined the
clothes and shoes to see if they were the
genuine conyict's outfit. He was salts
fed on that point, but was suspicious
when I could not give him the name o.
my partner. did not dare to fake {
name, for Slade knew where every thie1
was who had been sent away that he
ever did any business with. told him
that the man was known to me as Jack,
and as Jack Mccarthy, one of Shades
gang. happened to be on the island al
the time my story was taken as being
straight, and was given room on the
second floor 20 bunk in. The next day
Slade saw the story Of my escape in tn.
papers and became my friend at once.
81 must admit that Incver got better
treatment from any one than i did from
Slade and the gang. He told them thai
/ was all right, and they were glad tt
know q fellow who had the nerve tt
swim across the East river, where the
tide runs like mill race had to keeI
in the house all the time, and in cast
the police got on to me in any way
was shown q way that could escape by
getting into an underground passage
which led to sewer in the street.
was fed like fighting cock. and moth
ing turned up for about three weeks
Then early one morning, while I was
sleeping, some one came into my room,
and heard whispered consultation
There was dim light in an adjoiniDe
room, and could see four figures My
hair stood up on end, for I naturally
thought that they were talking abor.j
me, and that had been found out.
made up my mind to give them as gooi
a fight as there was in me, but aftea
awhile the men went into the next room,
and heard them get into bed. In the
morning my heart gave big thumI
when I saw that the new arrivals were
Abe Taylor, Jerry Connors and And,
Cummings, the men was after.
my first idea was to connect will
the outside and have the place pulled
and I would have done this if I had no
learned that scheme had been put W
to turn off savings bank in Newark
Cummings and Taylor had been a weel
in Newark planting the place. wa
introduced to them by Slade, and Tay
lor took me right away as Jail breaker
after his own heart. worked my cards
as skillfully as I could and let the gang
know that was dying Of dry rot. Il
the course of my business l had natu
rally picked up every detail Of the crook Z
trade and let Taylor know that Wa'