Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-14
IRA rRUe's GOOD WORK.
Clever Captures Made-nis Ability in Keep
inc Crooks From Bar harbor.

Bar sHarsor has been remarkably free
from crime this season, fact that is ts-
uecialH noticeable when the immense
crowds of visitors that have thrunged the
village for the past fortnight are con :
sidered. .,
This immunity is due TO the watchfui-
ness and care of the police and the vigil
ance of Ira True, the licensed State de
tective 1t is not that the crooks 40 not
visit Bar Harbor. They come in numbers
hut Oftentimes are met at the wharf and
informed by Mr.. True that their presence
is not needful at Bar Harbor. information
that generally causes them TO take the
next boat back across the Ferry.
A Bangor Commercial representative
called upon Mr.. True the other day at his
Office in the Povish building and exam
ined some of the 5000 pictures Of well
known crooks in Mr.. True's picture gal
lery. Mr.. True has been a detective for
% years and naturally has had some in
thrilling captures. In the picture gallery
Mr.. True pointed out some faces thu.
were especially interesting I" him.
First came the notorious br. Ham
mond wanted for many crimes, and who
is now i'll prison in the South. Mi. rrur
recognized him in Hallowell few years
ago from his picture and summoned ofii .
GERS from away but Hammond fed from
Maine before he could BE- appreh"nded.
Next came the celebrated gang Of Nor
way burglars, THONGS Burns 9t P9rts
Ross of Manchester. Eng, and PM. ,
Harrington. alias Reardon Of Gorham n
II. Mr.. True finally got on the track Of
the robbers in the train from Lewiston %
Brunswick. He sent for Conductor cobb
who locked the doors and then Mr.; True
made the arrest. The men drew knives
and desperate fight occurred which
lasted until Brunswick was reacncd hut
then the thieves were i'll custody. They
were convicted and got severa! years at
Thomaston
There was quite an odd case said
Mr. True, AS we looked upon the rather
unattractive countenance of Edwin Reed
of Lynn, horse thief by profession. Il
caught that man in Bath in 1856 for the
theft of team from Charles Dunning 81
Bath He escaped in 1877 from NiScaS
set Jail by throwing the jaier into Il cell
and at the same time let out two other
prisoners, burglar named Brown, and
OnearIncd Ross, one Of the worst men
that ever frequentcd Maine and VII" N"u
will remember was filled with buckshol
by an old farmer at Belgrade 4 few years
ago. | captured Reed again in Lynn.
Ross in Bangor and Brown ia Waldo
boro.
Among other wel-known captures
made by Mr., True are William Greasy.
horse thief. taken in Portland in 1855: Jo 4
Dyer and Frank Malcolm, horse thieves;
Charles 7. Ware and pal. Chas. Grove.
horse thieves; Joseph Bowprie. burglar
arrested al Lynn; George Wilson. Jimmie
Keenan,. George White and Thomas
wood. confluence mea arrested al Maran-
acook. Wilson jumped from train 10
escape arrest. but was taken on another
train hour later; Joseph Clifford and
Thomas Martin. pick pockets in Bangor;
William Beaudeugh. known as "Bouquei
''ly confidence man and John Reilly
his pal at Portland in So: John RESCUE.
auds French ana Martin Wood know II
as the oyster man. in Portland. 1856;
John 5 Baker murderer at Albion IN
1884. Mar. True obtaining a confession
from him by very clever work; Alfred
iiurd OF Harmony. inccndialy: Melvin
Low. intendiary and many others
one OF the ncatcst captures made hv
Mr. Triie was that of Colby Moore who
was finally caught and convicted for
blowing W, the office of DIR. Hall at Mon
son. Mr. True went tn Monsoon and took
contract TO dig well. lie employc |
With DINERS man named Sears whom he
suspected OF being an accomplice of
Moures. The men employed their leisure.
lime by telling what crimes they had
committed. True told some pretty biz.
stories but Sears finally capped them All
With an account OF how he and Moor.
blew up DR.. Hairs Office. Moore got n
wears and Sears three and a half
during the past week Mr.. True has
recognized six professional Coniidenc..
men among the excursionists and 10
ported them. Mr.. True has charge Of .
number of the summer cottages her. -
Bar Harhor Correspondence of Bau-or
Commercial.