The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-17
BLACK, WHITE
OR BROWN
[Original.l


Yes; I have retired from the detec.
tive business. When a man is brought
to trial for his own murder, it is prima
facie evidence that he is not fitted to
hunt down criminals.
l had conceived a great fancy for the
detective service from reading about
n Lecocq and Sherlock Holmes and
determined to make it my business.
secured a job in Chicago, but was dis
charged within a week for stupidity
giving away plan to trap u den of
counterfeiters. Resolved to make an
other trial, I went to st. Louis. but
had gained such an unenviable reputa-
tion among detectives that ] concluded
before again applying for work to oblit-
crate all traces of my former record
by changing my name. From William
Black l became Thomas White.
secured job on n case Of burglary.
1t was rather q dangerous work, and
for that reason probably II was given
to me, a stranger without credentials.
Information ha6 been brought In that
| q gang of robbers had their headquar-
| ters In u dive near the river front. and
] was sent out to investigate the place
and report lf the men who had been
entering houses for the past month
were there, was supposed to gain
| some inkiing of the fact upon which
| the police would be warranted IN max
| ing a descent and arresting the ID
| mates.
Dressed shabbily, at an early hour in
| the morning | went to the saloon. found
1t open and within ns hard looking
lot as ever went to Jail. Staggering to
the bar. called for a drink. intending
to keep my ears and eyes open. but de
1 spite my threadbare clothes ] was spot.
ted for a spy. or a sudden the lights
| were put out. and l felt a grip on my
| shoulder. Quick as a flash | slipped
| out Of my coat. and in the darkness
the man could not tell me from one OF
his own number. Making for the door
] rushed out, leaving my vest In the
hands OF one OF them, part OF my
shirt with another. aud tore down the
street toward the river, followed by the
gang. Seeing a steamboat tied to the
wharf. l dashed aboard. By this time
there were numerous police signals
and my pursuers desisted. On the boa,
all were asleep except a watchman, tC
whom ! confded the facts. and he per
mitted me to remain.
In the morning a party or policemen
came aboard and arrested me. This
| considered an end to the matter, for
although l was not known to them,
supposed that l would have no trouble
in establishing my Identity. asked tt
be taken to the detective office witt
which / was connected. and my reques
was granted. When we entered, tn,
chief was In conversation with q maj
whose back was turned toward me, bu
whose voice sounded familiar. Whei
the two had finished and turned to me
recognized In the speaker the maj
who had given Inc the job In which
had stupidity given away the plan t.
trap the counterfeiters. stood befor'
the two detectives. presenting rather I
forlorn appearance.
1--WE tracked him aboard q steam
boat" said one of the policemen. He
one of the gang who made away witt
MIR. White last night
"HellO, Black! said my former em
ployer. "What are you doing here"
Here was muddle. He knew me a
BlaclS I had given my name to IN.
present employer as White.
You are mistaken In the person."
|, said.
ri He looked me over from head to foot
after which he took my employer int,
back office for long colloquy. Thel
IT occurred to me that he was telling
) him how l had given his plans to tn
counterfe!ters. now doubtless believing
that was In collusion with them. Aft
er awhile my employer came out an,
looked me over critically. Then with
out a word he motioned my guard t
take me to Jail.
My efforts to get an interview wit
3 him We're fruitless. When I was al
. raigned, I found that I was charge
3 with being one of my own murderer:
Il 1 would have laughed at being az
cused Of my own murder had not tn
difficulty of proving my identity bee
apparent. All the evidence was agains
me. l was moving from place to plac
D under at least one alias. Doubtless th
police expected to discover more.
' was a clear case that I was a counter
q feiter. and now I was a burglar and
f, murderer. and, what made it doubl
irritating to me, l had murdered my
self!
spent months in Jail while the p,
l' lice were waiting for me to turn VI
Q Occasionally my keeper would inforl
}. me that | had been seen in New Yorl
r San Francisco. New Orleans. lmagiI
q my feelings at these reports. KNOWN
N that they would turn out false an
=. were only delaying matters. Whe
my body was discovered, mutilated q
~ most beyond recognition. | gave up
despair.
J. 1t was about this time that I. togetl
er with those Of the gang who ha
y been arrested. was brought to trial.
young criminal lawyer came to my ce
r and proposed to take my case. | sa
that he was smart as whip and e
gagged him. Then l told him my stor
Whether he believed me or not | don
know, but he pretended that he did.
This was nlS line OF ue1enSe: L
n. proved beyond a doubt that l was NJ
ther william Black nor Thomas Whit
It. but Peter Brown; that at the time
=. the murder | was sound asleep at
m hotel and had wakened early I'm Il
morning and started for the boat wi
the intention of going to Cairo: tn
had got tangled up with the Dete
OF tive White affair and had lost my CO
or and part of my shirt.