Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-11

important-that Collins had left the town
q few DAYS before the robbery, had reap
peared the morning after the robbery and
had left again. While in Ogalalla after the
robbery Collins and his associates, who had
been out of town with him, had very freely
discussed the affair and the probable identity
of the robbers, and had even talked of join
ing in the hunt for them. Owing to this
talk no one thought of fastening any sus-
picion on him or his gang. So they had
got away without any trouble.
Mr.. Morsman cast about for some one
} who had lived in the place a long time and
was familiar with every one in it. NJ. f.
Leech. a business man of Ogalalla, who had
previously been in the employ of the Union
Pacific as telegraph operator and had done
some detective work of a high order, was
the man he settled upon, and as events
proved no better choice could have been
made. Leech was already intensely inter-
ested in the case and had himself started
out on the report that the robbers had left
for the Black Hills, but had returned on
failing to find any trail.
TrniIed by NJ. II. Leech.
Leech was able to inform Morsman that
| Collins had bought some seamles grain
sacks n day or two before, some Irvine and
a full supply of provisions. The gang had
given IL out tndL IL was SOluB W SldIt
for Texas, but had said that it intended
to travel with a herd of cattle, SO that it
could get supplies from the wagons
OF the cattlemen. Here was a suspicious
variance between its actions and its
statements, and when it was learned that
Collins and his companions had actually
travelled a couple of days with the cattle
men, Morsman determined to send Leech
out after them at once. He had waited
| three days for detectives from Chicago, but
would wait no longer.
He took Leoch to North Platte on a spe-
| cial, and there started Sheriff Bradley with
a large posse after the thieves. Then run
ming tue special back to a point near Oga-
lalla he sent Leech out alone to find the
trail and follow the robbers.
The robbers had moved very slowly while
they were with the cattle, and Leech had no
difficulty in getting very close behind them.
The first night out he discovered where they
had camped. Leaving his horse at a safe
distance he crept close to their camping
place and then waited until he thought they
were asleep. Then he crept slowly on his
hands and knees through the brush and
grass until he was near enough to assure
himself that every one of them was fast
asleep. The fatigue and excitement Of the
past few days had entirely worn them out,
and besides, they had no idea they were
suspected or likely to be followed. So they
had posted no watchman and Leech crept
without any hindrance very close to their
camping place.
The news of Leech's exploit was received
with incredulity everywhere, and was only
proved by the minute descriptions he at
once sent back to Morsman, which were
afterwards found to be correct to the small
est detail. Leech scanned their faces
closely, recognizing every one Of the six,
whom he had often seen in Ogslalla. He
even saw the gold they had taken from
the express car. He said afterwards that
II he had thought on starting out that he
would meet with anything like the success
he did, he would have taken a few trust
worthy men with him.. Nothing would have
been easier than to capture the whole six
as they lay sleeping.
Leech withdrew from the camp as care
fully as he had approached it, and selecting
a good place, turned in and slept until morn.
ing. When the robbers broke camp and
started on, Leech followed them, an hour OF
two behind. AT the first ranch he passed, he
hired a man and sent him to the rear with
news OF the campaign. Then he pressed
on, and all day he followed the band. A
night they again went into camp.
That night a division OF the spoils tool
place and. as before, Leech crept up to th'