The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-06
HAVE AIDED JUSTICE.


Tit-Bits
For their success in securing their quarry
the police at times owe not little 10 tine
enterprise OF the press. Percy LEROY. the
murderer OF Mr.. Gold, was captured
through the publication of his portrait In
the Daily Telegraph. which. coming TO the
notice Of the iandlady of the house in which
he was hiding. was recognized by her as
that OF the self-styled engraver Park. who
for few weeks past had been her ledger.
She gave notice 10 the police, who promptly
arrested the wretched man.
Mr. w. p. Firth, r. A, tells in his rem
iniscences of a friend of his named O'Neil
who was attacked one night by a footpad
and robbed of his watch. The assault
CHANGED to take place beneath gas lamp.
by the light OF which the victim saw sufii-
cient OF the thiefs face to jot down a
rough sketch. This he carried to the po-
lice, who by its aid soon afterward arrested
his assailant.
In the possession of the writer is a water
color drawing by the late William Hunt,
which was the means of trapping a dis
honest valet who had robbed his master.
The fellow had eluded the vigilance of the
police and the gentleman had given up all
happening to visit friends house. he saw
on the walls of the dining room a speaking
likeness or his racally servant in the guise
OF an Italian shepherd. The following day
he called upon the artist. who, on hearing
address OF the original, who was duly ar
rested and received his Just desert.
Even more curious is the history of the
sketch or spaniel made by Sir Edwin
Landseer. in which detective who CHANGED
to see the picture recognized the property
OF man OF whom he was In search. The
address of the then owner of the dog was
ascertained, and the animal being surrep-
titiously taken from his custody, uncon-
sciously betrayed his master by guiding the
officers of the law to the very house where
he was hiding.
Horace Vernet, the celebrated French
painter, was amazed TO notice the effect
that the picture of a brigand had upon a
lady who had called at his studio. On his
tnQuiring the cause Of his visitors pertur-
bation the latter replied that week pre-
viously her house had been broken into by
a masked man. whose eyes-so malign and
ruthless were they-had stricken her with
a sickening terror-a terror which had been
strangely revived by the eyes Of the por-
trait before her: This story so interested
the artist that he communicated it to the
police, who, acting on his suggestion,
searched his models lodgings, with the re-
suit that a great part of the stolen prop
erty was found on the premises.
Many years ago the late George Cruik-
shank told the writer that a gentleman
who was giancing through one of his
sketch books was so struck by a mans
head that he, with visible trepidation, in
quired the name of the original. Cruik-
shank, surprised at his emotion, answered
that the portrait, the result of pure imagi-
nation aided by abstract observation. was
intended to represent typical criminal.
and demanded the cause of the others SO
anxious inquiry.
''Only that it bears a striking Nsem-
blance to my butler" was the reply.
In that case your buffers assuredly a
thief" said Cruikshank. Keep sharp
eye upon him.
Which the gentleman did, with the result
| that the artists statement was soon justi-
| fled.