Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-21
CAUGHT HIM ON THE FLY.


Peculiar Circumstances Surrounding the
Arrest OF Fiend.
A peculiar capture was made yes
terday on The Iowa side of the river,
aud while it resulted in the bring
ing to justice of q man who is wanted
for a most heinous crime. it was
done unwittingly. The circumstances
are that Wednesday in Cedar Rapids
a one-lesged peddler of pencils. pins
and needles called at the home OF John
Jenista Of that city for the purpose o:
selling his stuff when he found that
Mr.. and Mrs. Jenista were out and
that their little l3-year-old daughter
was at home alone. He then made
an assault on the person OF the girl
and made his escape. She told her
patents as soon as they returned and
described the man as OF about As
years old. having one leg. wearing
dark mustache, about medium height
and of dark complexion, also giving
description of his clothing. The
police Of that city were notified
and they at once started in
search of him. kilograms were
sent to the police of all the neigh
boring cities. That night the Dav-
export police run in a man answer
ing the description fully. Word was
telegraphed Cedar Rapids and Officer
Joe Kromlik was dispatched to Day.
export yesterday morning for the
prisoner. On the way he espied on
the platform at Upton one-legged
man with a small grip walking on a
crutch about the depot. He got of
the train and watched him. The fell
low went on the opposite side Of the
train from the depot and watched
his chance and as soon as the train
was ready to pull out he climbed on
the end Of the baggage car next to
the engine. This suited the officer
exactly, as while he was positive
that the man on the front end of the
baggage car was the man he wanted,
he was sent to Davenport 20 take
another man, and he now saw his
way clear TO get both of them. and
out OF the two he was almost certain
that he would have the right one.
| He had 4 pass for himself and one
other man from Cedar Rapids to
Davenport and return, so he told the
conductor of the man on the front
end and explained that he wanted to
take him to Davenport, where he
could place him under arrest. Ac-
cordingly the brakeman was sent out
to the fellow and instructed to tell
him plausible story. to the effect
that the company did not want peo-
pie to ride there, and that as he was
a cripple they would not put him of
but allow him to ride in the smoker.
He took the story all right and set
tied himself comfortably in seat
and rode into Davenport without
having the least suspicion of the
trap that had been laid for him.
When he reached Davenport the Ce.
dar Rapids omcer directed Detective
Faulkner, who was at the train. to
place the man under arrest, which be
at once did.
He was then taken to the police
station and the two men were com
pared. They had both lost the right
leg, were about the same height
wore dark mustaches, were about 4:
years of age and had peddled pen
ellis and pins and needles. Thp mar
who got on the train at Upton had
some peculiarities of dress and other
characteristics which showed him tc
be the man wanted without a doubt
and he was taken back to Cedar
Rapids yesterday afternoon. The
other man was let go. Unwittingly
the Davenport peddler. in being ar
rested, assisted in the capture of the
| right man.