The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-06-27
"A SMUGGLER'S WATCH


connected with the governments secret
service and now manages his own detective
bureau, Il probably would have missed
what l consider was the best stroke of bust
ness l ever did. 1t only goes to prove the
old saying that there is no such thing as
useless knowledge.
Il had been in the secret service about
two years, grubbing around on unimportani
JOBS because was only-a youngster, when
1t was discovered that large quantities Of
diamonds were being smutNled into the
country. The reputable diamond dealers
In New York gave the first information
| That was in the fall of 1879. Some of the
best detectives in the business had been
assigned to this job and it was well under.
| stood that the man who succeeded in run
ming it down would find his reputation
made. In the middle of November the
chief of our department sent for me and
said:
Charlie, think you are just the man
/ want to work out my theory of the dia.
mond smuggling. From my Investigations
have reached the conclusion that the
stones are brought into this country by way
of Canada. want you to 60 up to Rouse 4
Point, on Lake Champlain, and see if you can
get any clew Of this business there. Dont
let even the customs house officers in that
country know what you are and draw on
me for expenses
That struck me as being pretty blind
sort OF commission, but / was young and
full of confidence in myself. | was thin as
rail in those days, and got together a
hunters outfit and arrived at Rouse's Point
litter week in the Adirondacks.
in those days the through trains from
A.
breakfast or dinner at Rouse's Point HAY.
ing nothing to do made the station my
! tounging place. i cultivated the acqaaint
ance OF the newsboys on the train and
kept close tab on all the passengers. My
month heightened into two and at the end
Of that time / telegraphed my chief that
| had suspicion and to verify it was go
ing to Montreal.
Il wanted to learn more of certain Ju
Illus Kahn. He made regular trips between
Montreal and New York, ostensibly as an
agent for fire insurance company. He
was one of those boisterous, hailfellow sort
of chaps who know all of the trainmen by
name. He tipped literally. | had made
some secondhand inquiries about his in
surance business, with the result that
doubted his connection with any insurance
company. | learned that he stayed, when
In Montreal, in quiet little third-rate hotel
on Notre Dame street. The best hotels
in Canada in those days were none too good
and that man of Kahn's generous tastes
should stay in such, a, hotel was another
suspicious circumstance.
Kahn did not know me by sight, so that
| felt myself safe in going to his hotel Peo-
pie who came to such places from the states
without any explanation are at once classed
with the men for whom the law has pun.
ishment in store. / fostered this idea about
myself, and two days after was established
in this hotel it was assumed by the other
patrons of the place that was fugitive
from the states. had been there nearly
week when Kahn arrived He was greeted
as an old friend by the landlord, and in due
course of time was introduced to him.
"Kahn sized me up in accordance with
the landlords suspicious, and we became
very friendly. ! discovered that he seldom
left the hotel and that he had no definite
date for returning to New York. One even
ing as we were smoking together the land
lord came over to us and told Kahn that
some friends of his were waiting for him
in his room. Kahn left me and the next
day I learned that he had gone to New
York. ,5
IAdhh cdhC Ddeh " bHG 4NObIe lSdilb
street hotel week later. The next time he
went to New York was on the train with
him, and / was as indignant as he when
customs officers came aboard as we crossed
the line and made very thorough search
of the baggage and clothes of every pas
senger.
"After the examination we went into the
smoker Kahn was in high good humor.
He txvttfaI ma IN NV and fold
me to put on bold front and if got into
difficulties to let him know. He advised
me to stay at his hotel. accepted his sug.
gestion, for we were now on friendly terms.
We reached New York early in the morn
ing, and an hour after our arrival a man
came into the dining room where we were
at breakfast and greeted Kahn as an old
friend.
"'Well, how's business2' he asked.
"1'm not complaining said Kahn. My
commissions are good
:" Got watch to swap?'
Yes said Kahn; AN old-fashioned
bullseye with about half pound of silver
in the case and no works to speak Of
Lets see it, said the friend.
"Kahn pulled out watch of pattern
that / knew from my experience in jew.
elry store w&s very rare 1t was an unusual.
iy big watch and the works within were so
loose that they ratified. The friend brought
out neat little silver watch, and after some
bantering the two men exchanged watches.
| knew that Kahn's watch was not silver
and his friend had given him very good
silver watch in exchange for it. Kahn left
for Montreal the next. day andf stayed at
his hotel in New York.
"The more thought about the watch
trade the more suspicious | was. When
Kahn returned to the New York hotel a
week later / was prepared for him. He
greeted me cheerfully, and in the evening
his friend came to call on him. Again
stuck close to Kahn. Finally his friend
said:
"'Got any more bullseye watches to
swap?
Eyes said Kahn. I've got another big
fellow that picked up in Montreal, and he
pulled out watch that my experienced eye
told me was the same one he had swopped
before. / expected something of this sort.
In fact if it had not occurred | had made
fool of myself.
"After the usual bantering on trade
another exchange OF watches was made, and
/ suggested that we go into the bar and
have drink on it, No sooner was the drink