The Van Buren press., 1900-06-30

chief of police. was shown into his
room at once, but he was busy talk
ing over the robbery with Mr.. Pater'
son. and it was some time before he
asked me what | wanted. l told him
| wanted to see him alone on very inn
portant business and he told me he
could not see me then, as there had
been big robbery in the city and he
was very busy.
"That's just what / wanted to see
you about said |.
"Do you know anything about itP"
he asked, in surprise.
"Yes, sir, do, and II you will listen
to me | will tell you where you can
find the things that were stolen, and
also tell you how you can catch the
whole gang. have got it all planned
out"
Both the chief and Mr.. Paterson
were interested at once, but | refused
to speak till Mr.. Paterson was out of
the way for / was afraid he would
be so anxious to get his things that
he would spoil the plan, and after he
left the room and ! told my story to
the chief he said l was right. He
told Mr.. Paterson that | had a very
important clew, and that he would
follow IL up at once.
My plan was this; No one was to go
near the mill till after dark, when the
chief, with four picked men, would
go over the bridge in citizens clothes,
each one by himself, and come to my
house, Then | was to take them to
the mill and we were to hide till the
men came for the goods, Then the
police were to overpower them. W
course, | dd not know whether there
would be two or three men there, but
| thought the four police would be
enough, even IL all, three came.
The scheme was carried out and
we all got to the mill without attract
ing any attention. The first thing to
do was to see IL the bags were safe,
They were just as l had left them,
and then the men were placed in po.
sitlon to watch for the robbers, OF
course, the catching OF them was
planned by the chief, but he asked me
what thought OF the plan before he
carried Il out, and made one or two
suggestions, which he adopted.
About midnight while | was watch.
ing at the upper window saw three
men In boat coming mp the river !
Immediately ran 10 the cellar and
told the chief, lie placed his men
at once, and | hid behind the barrels
to see the fun. had big fash Ian.
term and ! was to turn IL on when
the men started TO remove the rub
bish from where they had hidden the
bags. OF course, they did not expect
anything out Of the way, and they all
three came In. The two men who
were called Jack and Jim came first,
and the one whom they referred TO
ny johnson came last, with n lantern,
As the two men leanto over the pile
Ia. .clenr away the rubbish | opened
the lantern and the police Jumped
upon the men and secured them, while
| the chief put his pistol into the face
OF Johnson with the remark;
"rhrow up your hands, old man, II
you don't want this bullet"
lie dropped the lantern and put up
his hands In hurry, | can tell you,
In less time than II takes me 20 write
II. they were oil hUndcuifed and taken
ont into the boat. just as we were
about to row Off with the men, we
saw light in the cellar and I, with
two OF the police rushed back just In
time to put out fire that had started
from the lantern that johnson had
dropped, and that we had failed to
notice M we took the men out.
We made sure there was no more
fire and then rowed back TO the city.
The men were convicted. OF course,
and was given a very handsome re.
ward for my part In the discovery.
None Of the, boys dared to say any.