The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-03
OLD TOM CARTER.
Death of "a Secret Service Detective
With Thrilling Record.

when the Secret Service Detective Tom
Carter was found dead in bed in Louis
Vile the other day. there was many a
counterfeiter gave up a sigh Of relief. for
Carter was certainly terror TO offenders
Of Uncle Sam.
| Capt. Carter was what might be called
| natural born detective aud police OF
| hcer. lie was as game as ever born.
| and never went after q man that he did
not bring I'm. but he never hurt a man
as long as he lived.
Tom was originally from IIarrodsburg.
| Ky During the war me joined the Confed-
| crate army, and was one OF Morgans
raiders. During one OF these raids Carter
| had trouble With John Hale who took
advantage OF Carter. and the latter swore
he would xiii him if it was the last act
of his life one day Carter, at the head
Of % men, rode into liarrodsburg and
charged up TO Hale's hotel Hale was
called out, and just as soon as Carter saw
him he pulled big gun. and showing it
against Hales breast he pulled ir three
| times but each time IL missed fire. Sew
eral in the crowd wanted TO pull down
on Hale, but Carter would not permit.
saying: 81 must be wrong I'm this; the
gun won't go Of" Hale went i'm and
Carter drove off. When he got out dis
lance he tried the revolver ana every
cartridge exploded Carter could never
understand Hale's good luck
Carter was Il spy during the war and
was caught six times. Five times he was
sentenced 10 be shot and once TO be hang
ed but each time he escaped once he
took a dose Of morphine and was uncon-
scious for three days. and the Union sem
tries allowed him TO escape, thinking he
was dying from fright
He returned TO HlrrOdsburg after the
war. The city was in the hands OF a gang
OF outlaws. They elected their own Mar
shall and did as they pleased The good
citizens called on Carter TO run for Mar
shall lie agreed. with the understanding
that If he failed TO arrest any man he
went after be was TO resign. This was ac-
cepted and ne was elected. The first per-
sons he had TO contend with was the
Gallagher gang. who were or had been
running the town. They were all fine
marksmen and killers II was not long
until Carter had to mix II uD' With
them, and when he did he landed the
three boys i'm jail and compelled their
own father who was jaier. 10 lock them
up He was Marshal OF Harrodsburg for
years. and succeeded in making people
realize what the law was. lie had rep
utatiOn all over the central part OF Ken
lucky as a man who was not afraid Of
man nor beast and toughs let him alone.
He got 10 be a body guard 10 gamblers
who made trips to the fairs 20 open gam
bling Under Clevelands first admnis-
tration he was made secret service Off
Ger He made an excellent record I'm this
employment.
he was the officer who worked a. ear
penter for Nelson briggs. al Dayton. O..
and got all tho Information that led 10
the recovery OF so 90 worth OF counterfeit
money and the arrest OF the briggs gang.
He broke up the Levy gang down in In
diana. and was with Detectives Donnella
and Baur when Miles Ogle was arrested
stepping from a shanty boat in this city.
While he was making himself a "pal'
Of the Ogle gang 1t was discovered that
he had on underwear too fine for a man
I'm the position Of life I'm which he pre-
tended to be. and he was suspected OF be-
ing a spy During the night when the
gang was getting ready to put him out
of the way he jumped into the river and
swan ashore.
Although a red-hot Democrat, he was
retained during the Harrison administra-
ton and was the Presidents BODY guard.
President Cleveland retained him In the
service. and so did President Mckinley
When Agent Bauer died I'm Louisville
Carter was given the district which In
clu6es Indiana. Kentucky and Tennessee.
While Carter was known as bad man
with gun and not afraid OF any one. yet
his record is as clean as babes and
there is not one case known where he
ever shot a person. When he was right
nothing could change him. but when con-
WINGED he was wrong he would accept "A
beating without even trying TO defend
himself-Cincinnati Enquirer.