Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-06-28
TRAPPING IA BURGLAR
A DESPERATE CHANCE THAT WAS
TAKEN BY A DETECTIVE.
II Was Dend or Alive For Both OF
Them, but the Police OHciars
Nerve was Equal TO the Occasion,
and lie safely Landed His Man.

"About the most unusual experience
In my career" remarked the grizzled old
detective, as he added another photo
graph to the rogucs' gallery, happened
in northern Michigan 10 or Il years ago.
1t borders on the Hawkshaw style OF
story, but it is nevertheless true. The
safe at the street car barns then located
on Michigan avenue, between Wabash
avenue and Thirteenth street, was broken
open and n considerable sum Of money
stolen. My partner and | were detailed
ing one of the burglars. The other we
learned had left town, and | was put on
his trail. At that time what was known
as the Minneapolis and South Shore road
was in course of construction and | re-
ccived tip that my man. whom | knew
in professional capacity, had secured
situation on the construction force. 1t
was midwintcr, and the snow lay heavy
on the ground. At st. Ignace I made
the acquaintance of the civil engineer in
charge of the new road and arranged
with him to become an inspector.
appropriately disguised, | boarded
construction engine and was taken to
within ten miles of Trout Lake, which
was Il junction point of the new road.
had to walk tho remaining distance, and
at Trout Lake / engaged accommodations
at the makeshifi boarding house. which
was pine shanty about 10 feet long and
IL feet wide. 1t was a misera bic. unin-
wiling place, built of cullcd lumber and
provided with narrow hunks, and the
fare was combination calculated to de-
vclop all the ugly traits in n mans ma
turc Perhaps it was the 'globby' fat
pork stale brown sugar and vile black
coffee that made the workmcn i'll temper
ed. Anyway, / never met a more sour
visaged lot in all my life, and nnticipat.
cd trouble from the start
Though | did not believe my man,
whom | soon recognized, was sure OF my
Identity. | knew | was regarded with
suspicion, My work as an inspector was,
to use n slang phrase, very coarse and
| soon fell into disfavor. The suspicion
Of the men grew and with them the Wig
lance of The burglar | wanted. soon
learned that every man in the camp was
his friend. They knew that he was a
lawbrcaker. but he had established him
self as Il fivoritc and they determined
to protect him. I tried several strategic
moves without avail. OF course. I had
my revolver and handouts and the law
behind me, but the law in that wild, Sc
Guided spo; was about as effectual as n
toy pistol against a fort fully equipped
with toy cannon. | was miles from
means Of communication. and I conclud-
ed that | must make n bold stand for it
or abandon the criminal.
II had secured a bunk directly across
from his so that I could intercept any at
tempt to escape by night, and during the
day ! lived up to my role Of inspector
so far as his work was concerned. Dur
ing those days and nights of suspense
how | prayed that the civil engineer
might come down and help me out OF my
dllemmc. 1t seems, however. that he
was engaged at some other section OF the
line. and the time of his coming was in
definite. For three nights / lay awake
watching every movement Of my friend
in the opposite bunk and trying to plan
some means of getting away with him
pcaceably. Finally, one morning just as
the gray Of the dawn was beginning to
peep through the windows and the camp
seemed to be in its profoundest sleep,
Mr.. Burglar drowsily dropped an arm
over the side of the board His other
arm was also in view and entirely free
from the blankets.
"1'l, take him now or never, and it'll
he dead or alive for both of us,
thought The thought gave speed to my
actions. ] was already dressed, ms |
had slept with my clothes on through
out my stay in the camp and to get
noisclo-ily to his side and slip the hand
cuffs on his exposed wrists was but the
work OF a moment. OF course, he was
soon awake. He sat bolt upright i'll the
bed, staring as though disturbed by a
troubled dream. | clapped one hand over
his mouth TO stihe an cutlery, and with
the other ! pressed the muzzle of my re-
volvcr against his forehead.
"'Rsise an alarm | whispered, and
I'll blow your brains out. 1t may be the
end of us both but I'm willing to take
the chances. Now, are you willing to
get up quietly and come with me to De-
troit 20 stand trial, or are You going to
arouse the camp and get shot|
IN come he asscntel.
The fellow. like me, was already dress
ed, in preparation for emergencies, and
succeeded in getting him up and out of
the house without awakening the chorus
of snorcrs. With revolver in hand, |
marched my prisoner ont into the road. l
removed one Of the cuffs and attached it
to my wrist.
"'Now,' said l, we must make a run
for it,
Cant rum he grumbled
"'Perhaps this will help YOU l sug-
gested, pointing a revolver at him. And
it did persuade him to strike pretty
good lope.
Locked together, | with my revolver
ready in my right hand, we must have
presented peculiar sight that cold, gray
morning as we hurried over the snow
shrouded country. Well, | gave that
fellow the longest and hardest run he
ever had in his life. Then, when
thought we were safe from pursuit,
walked him. 1t was IS miles to the 500,
| and we were tired looking pair when
we got there. | never learned how the
news OF the flight of the burglar and the
detective affected that lonesome, ont OF
the way construction camp Was he
convicted? No; but he is No. - in
jackson to-day for another crime.
have never said much about it because
! was disappointed that he was not con-
victcd on that charge as he ought to
have been, He escaped through "A tech
nicaity and then had the nerve to threat
| en- me with prosecution for abduction. -
Detroit Free Press.