The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-01-22
NIPs HORACE ELLIoTT's WATCH
Young Reporter Gives the Detective
Chief Rude Shock. --Aleck Bad
lam's Nimble Fingers.

the chicago Detective Force, IS the
owner OF an unusually fine and valu
able gold watch, which was present
cd to him some years ago by little
group OF admiring friends. The
veteran thief taker is Justly proud
of the time-piece, which he exhibits
to all inquirers, coupled with the in
formation that he would about as
soon have his good right arm cut
off as to lose it. Knowing the hard
company into which his business
throws him at times some Of Cap
tain Elliott's intimates have volun-
teered the advice that he should
take precaution against the watch
being stolen, but it has always been
ignored. Last week, however,
little incident occurred at the Cen
trial Station as an out come OF which
the captain now wears steel safety
chain attched to the watch, passing
through an opening in the vest lin
ing and then around his neck.
Elicit had been showing the watch
to a young newspaper man and the
latter said:
you're stacking up against all
kinds of tough people, captain, and
you're liable to lose that watch one
of these days"
"Not on your life" replied the
captain confidently. "Pd like to see
the dip that could touch me for it
under any ordinary conditions"
"Well, I'd be careful, all the same,
il were in your place." retorted the
scribe as he walked away.
Five minutes later Inspector Fitz-
patrick had occasion to call Elliott
into his Office and the first thing he
saw was the head detectives watch
chain swinging loosely from the vest
button hole.
"Where's your watch2" was the in
spector's first query.
Elliott jsmmed his left hand into
his watch pocket, and, sure enough,
the time-pieee was gone. With
flushed face he rushed into the squad
room to put the fly ooppers on the
trail, and there was the Newspaper
man exhibiting the watch to the
crowd and telling how he had
touched a sucker" for it, Elliott
recovered the treasure and now
whenever the young reporter visits
the station two detectives follow
him around to see that he doesn't
steal the Office safe,
ALEoK BADLAM AS A PIoKPoCKET.
The above item recalls to memory
few incidents OF 20 years aud more
ago, in which the renowned politi-
clan and Assessor Alexander Bad
lam OF San Francisco was one OF the
principal characters.
Among the Legislative CORE
spondents of those days at Sacra-
mento we're a few who have pro-
crossed in the opinion of the world
and have benefited their country
and their purses. When j. P. Young,
Horace Hudson, Ned Townsend,
General John McComb, Clough,
Townsend, Henry George, Senator
paddy" Murphy, Frost, Dalziell the
dizzy, Hugh Barke, Cosgrave, Mrs,
Ballou, and other ladies; Delahanty
Marcus d. Boruck and few more
Of the old ilk gathered, together in
news competition or around the
tables Of the Impecunious Club with
Paddy Murphy as the President of
the newspaper men, and Senator
Paul Neumann on behalf OF the
Legislative members, it was general
ly accepted that the newspapers Of
the States were not badly repre-
scented, although they were almost
unanimous in opposing the pearl
Harbor Swindle."
When Aleck Badlam, the then I'M
defeated politician of the Republican
party in San Francisco, ran up to
Sacramento as he frequently did on
"lobbyism" bound he was ever vel