Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-03-26
THURMONT Frederick County, Maryland Thursday March 26 1885,
He was on hand when arrived and

he was certainly pleased to see me.
We talked the matter over until we
had every detail down to fine point
and then we started out.
1t was one o'clock in the morning
when we scaled the fence and entered
my back yard. We did 50 in the most
nolst less manner and as / had arranged
the back basement window was found
unfastened.
Not sound did we make as we
sneaked into the house, and | was really
impressed with the GOODNESS ard skill of
my comrade. He seemed to consider a
Job of that sort real pleasure, and the
way he went about it apparently indi-
Gated he was an old hand at the busi-
ness.
From the kitchen I made my way
into the dining room, as l had been there
before according to my own story and
in fact and knew the "lay of the land"
M,rrisy followed closely.
made for the s:deboard, wondering
when the officers would nab my COM
panion.
Morrisv was provided with dark
lantern, and this he used.
Ola sudden there came another gleam
of light, which was flung full upon me
and then felt myself clutched bystrong
hands and IA commanding voice criel:
"Steady now! You're nabbed, my
fine fellow You'll get hurt if you cut
up rusty"
The words were emphasized by a
cooked revolver that touched my temple.
"You've made mistake" cried. vi
am not the burglar! It's the other
fellowW
They all laughed.
"The other fellow is Detective Jack
GRAY, who was looking for Sneak Nor
risy when he ran on to YOU. You gave
hlm tine bluff about being Bunk Car
ney, but whoever you are, we have you
tight and fast and you'll do time for
this little jot."
Astonished? Well, you could have
knocked me down with feather. |
was paralyzed for the time, but finally
began to understand how we were both
fooled and cried:
"Il's all blg mistake. | live here
in this house"
They roared with laughter.
"You take the bun. Ia never
dreamed of making such bluff as that
if had been caught like this"
And they actually dragged me out
of the house, refusing to let me see my
wife, though one OF them fell back to
assure her that everything was all right
as they had secured the burglar. She
had been sitting up till it was all ever.
That night, although | gave my true
name and threatened all sorts of things
| lodged IN the station house, and the
next morning was pulled INTO court.
Almost the first person my eyes rest
ed on was my wife, pale, agltated, anx
ious She gave a cry when she saw me-
and would have rushed into my arms,
but was prevented.
It all came out in court and ! was
released, though felt that | had been
publicly disgraced. 1t seemed that, al
though my note had reached police mead
quarters, | had not given the address of
nv house, and so no officers were sent
out. The two in the house were those
called for by Detective Gray, and my
wife, supposing them the ones | sent for,
had admitted them, saying, when they
attempted to explain, that che knew all
about it,
| didn't write the special for the
Sunday edition, for the dailles had the
entire story, written up by other fellows.
To this day, never think of the affair
without feeling disgusted and ashamed.
But Jack Gray, the detective, was
fooled as much as myself, and that is
some consolation.