The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-10
TRACK LEFT BY A THIEF.
FINDLEY, a CALIFORNIA DEFA Utter,
CAUGHT IN LIMA, PERU.

He Himself Supplied by Superhuous Care
lessnesA Clues That Led n Detective Over
His Trail n Month Behind HINT Began
with His Sending His Keys from Mexico.
The arrest Of Samuel M. Findley. the alb
scondlng Tax Collector OF the county Of
san Luis Obispo. Cal. which the Pinkerton
National Detective Agency has succeeded in
making at Lirla. Peru. was announced yes
terday and the story OF the pursuit and cap
ture OF the absconder contains n curious rec
ord OF the manner In which an intelligent man.
fleeing from justice and anxious to cover his
tracks. will often unconsciously blaze his way
through country after country In such a man
ner that even a novice in detective work could
follow him.
Findley disappeared on Nov. 10, 1893. and
after he was gone 1t was found that he was a
defaulter In the sum OF Sl2,O y or $4,000 due
the county.
The Fidelity and Deposit Company OF Mary
land was on his bond for $780, 900. and. pursu-
ant to a policy which all such companies have
found 1t advisable to follow. IL gave instructions
to run the man down at any cost.
Assistant Superintendent J. c. Frazer Of
the Denver linkerton Agency was detailed to
find Findley. The last trace he could find OF
the absconder until Findlcy himself furnished
the clue was that he had been seen in the
streets OF San Francisco BY a man from San
Miguel who did not know that Findley WAS a
defaulter. How long the search for a new
clue might have lasted no ore can tell had it
not been that on Dec. 27. 1Sos, II small paste
board box arrived in tho mail at San Luis
Obispo addressed to Miss n. L. Nesbitt. who
had been a deputy collector for findley. The
box contained some keys which had dlsap-
peared with Findley. Although the box bore
ported TO come fr,,n |. kueg 81 reaI1ept NJ San
Luis Ohispo. Miss Nesbitt satisfied herself by
e5amining the handwriting that Findlsy had
dlsS9vsred that al Mexican mail was regis:
came from the City oi:MeIIco and was mailed
a. station Is there on Nov. "A. He got to the
Sity Of Mexico lust q month and three days
behind Findley. Here the trail seemed to be
one Vim: Miller had registered in Fiindley'is
Hotel de- France e an and ' them. not ptSu far away Snn, w sas
found a, haberdasher's shop where Miller
got the box. wrapping paner and wine to send
right track. for Findley's photograph had been
recognized as that Of Miller. he had a circular
Mexico Offering 5000 reward for findley's ar
r.e at siFs sh StG on g j. nf 4, M III sss n %ssa linz 2 Pn1Se
ley's desSription. had sailed for Coatzacoalcas
ing about in an unostentatious way. gave out
to almost every one that he became acquaint-
ed Without ALWAYS In conference.-the he
vas q United States Secret Service detective.
there on business for the United States Gov
m He also exhibited handfuls OF gold
freely In public places and in shops; until he
rich" He went to Tehuante pee. from there
to Santa Cruz. from there to Panama. and
thence to Lima.
Mr.. Frazer hadn't. been in Lima more than a
day. when some OF the persons to whom he in
PRODUCED himself as a mining prospector de-
clared that. he ought to meet a charming
American who had also lust arrived. Then
they introduced him to Miller" Frazer was
more pleased at the introduction than Miller"
wae, for Miller proved TO he Findley. Find
lev has about $1,000 in gold on deposit in a
Lima bank and this will probably be recovered
by his bondsmen.