Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-09-23
And Eloping Couple.
A Detectives Story of a Jewel
Robbery.
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J: Robbery. !.
| Travelling from London to
Edinburgh on the Great North
ern, | found myself in the same
compartment with a well
dressed, gentleman man of IA
bout 80. We chatted pleasantly
about the scenes through which
we passed. and when the train
stopped for refreshments we
went together to the restaurant.
| was helping myself to a slice
of fine York shire ham, when
my companion said:
"Would you oblige me by
cutting slice for me: I'm
fortunately ! have lost the use
of my left hand"
OF course | did as he desired,
and after we returned to the car
and the train was i'm motion he
said, extending his left hand:
This hand is good enough to
look at, but some years ago the
tendonS We're severed near the
wrist, and for all practical
purposes it is useless.
| was young then, and my
curiosity led me To ask how the
accident happened.
Accident :" he said with "a
short laugh. 1T can hardly be
called an accident. You see. |
was on the London detective
force at the time. and a thief
whom | captured slashed me
with knife. | held on to him
nevertheless, and my gentleman
got a long term. The govern
ment dealt literally with me.
and SO did the firm who profited
by the capture. SO when re.
signed soon afterward was
able to go into business and
have succeeded beyond by ex-
pectations.
You must have had many
curious experiences :" said,
hoping to hear some of his adj
ventures in his career as Il de-
tective.
"Well, few" he answered.
"Iou see there is a good deal
of commonplace. uninteresting
work which a detective has to
do of no interest in itself except
as to those who have suffered
loss or injury. There is one
incident. however. | will relate
to you if You have no objections,
and ! think YOU will find that
it is a good deal out Of the com
mon.
answered him that it would
please me greatly il he would
do so. What follows is the story:
had captured an escaped
convict (he said) for whom the
detective force had been look
ing for some time, and this man.
in hope. no doubt. of securing
leniency, gave me important
information as to a burglary
contemplated by his pals. The
place was the residence in one
of the midland counties of a
country squire named Horton.
a man of wealth. whose wife
possessed jewellery of great value.
Two expert thieves, who had
operated in the British colonies
and America. and were un-
known to the London police.
were to do the job: and the con
Wet gave full particulars as to
the locality, the time and so
forth. In the afternoon before
the night fixed on for the rob
berry | and an associate, dressed
as countrymen. visited the place
and inspected it. We We're
very careful to ascertain that
Mr.. Horton lived there, and we
learned further that he was
attending meeting of iron
masters i'm the north.
Everything around the place
was quiet
An half past ., when it was
pretty dark, we went across the
field by a footpath and struck
the road, which ran by the side
of the house, some distance be-
yond the door in the wall. The
lane AT this point was thickly
wooded and another road ran
to the left. AS we passed over
the stile into the land saw
almost opposite and in deep
shadow ii carriage and pair. |
pulled my companion down in
to the hedge and we saw the
carriage pretty distinctly. At
the same time we discovered a
man approaching slowly from