The San Francisco call., 1897-08-29
PRISONER ON
THE PORTLAND
The Treasure-Ship Carries an
IoWan Wanted for
Murder.
Captured in the Land of Gold
After a Chase of $4,000
Miles.

SEATTLE, WASH, Aug. 80 The steam
er Portland brings INTO this porta prisoner
IN shackles, who is the central figure in a
realistic story that Is more interesting
than much of the fiction published. For
nearly six months f. A. NovaK had lie |
an otfcar of the law a merry chase, in
in the effort to capture a man under
charge of murder and arson.
He finally succeeded in locating his man
in the far north. bringing him to Seattle.
and later in the day will start for Iowa.
where Novak will be called upon to defend
his life in the court of justice.
The central scene in this story of crime
and mans depravity is laid n the village
of Waiford, Bolton County, Iowa. 1t is a
locality greatly favored by nature and
surrounded by fer lie fields. where the in
dustrious farmer eEes out a prosperous
and happy existence.
For years past Novak was one of the
leading lights and trusted men of the viii
Iage. He conducted large general store
and was the chosen custodian of the saw
ings of the farmers, having at the time of
his sudden de eparture about 900 OF
their money.
He was firm believer in the benefits to
be derived from insurance. Basides hav-
ing policy of $500 on his life, he carried
several policies on his stock of merchan-
disc, in an aggregate amount exceeding its
real value.
On the nigh: OF February last Novak's
deep-laid plot began to WORK, and. as his
merchandise went up in blaze of fire, an
apparently innocent soul took fight at
the same time.
The following morning the arch-con-
spirator had disappeared, and the charred
remains of a body found in the ruins was
claimed as Novak's by his family.
The scheme vas working we'll when it
was discovered that an Irish farmer
named Edward Murray was also missing.
A dentist who had performed work for
both recognized the remains of Murray
from work on his teeth.
Suspicion was then aroused against
Novak and he was looked upon as the pos
sible murderer. The fact was brought out
that upon the night of the fire both men
had been drinFing together and Novak in
duced Murray to go with him to his store
building to sleep. This he did, and
neither of the two men has since been
seen in life in Iowa.
The case was given TO Thiel's detective
agency and G. C. Perrin was detailed to
ferret out the mystery and capture the
arch fiend who may have perpetrated the
crime. For nearly six months, at a cost
OF $4,000 and after traversing the con tinent,
several times invading Alaska and the
Northwest Territory, the lynxeyed, in
genious detective succeeded in locating
and taking his man into custody. He
started on Novak's trail early in Febru.
ary, tracing him to Omaha.
Then blind clew took him to Balti-
more. Back he came to Omaha and then
on to Seattle, where the fugitive had been
several days before, taking the steamer
City of Kingston for Port Townsend,
where he changed to the steamer Al-1ii
for Juneau. Perrin followed on to Alaska,
only to find that his man had left for the
YUKON but few days before.
The detective realized the necessity for
requisitjon papers, so was compelled to
return to Walford, thence 10 Des Moires
and from there on to Washington, Ottawa
Regina and Victoria, where be finally Sc.
cured The complete Canadi IN papers. He
then went to Sitka and back to Juneau.
Two months had elapsed since Novak
departed from this point. but, nothing
daunted, Perrin, on June s, with a years
outfit, started for Dyea, going over the
Chilcoot Pass to Lake Llndermann, where
he built boat. About the same time
Noyak and party of miners we're com-
pleting boat on Lake Bennett, but few
miles further on.
His delay was caused In getting over
the pass with big pack. A few days
later Perrin and his Indian guide were
passing over Lake Bennett in their sail.
boat, when they encountered q party on
rude scow. Friendly expressions
were exchanged, but the detective
Jailed 10 take notice OF the fact that
one of the scow's party was the man he
had travelled so far in search of. Both