The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-27
LAFE BAGGED A MAN.
But Bill Higgins Wasn't the One
and the Waymart Sleuth's Achieve
ment Was in Vain as Well as in the
Rain

The prediction made in The Tribune
of yesterday has been verified. Lafay-
cite Smith--the keen old sleuth, who
would make Old King Brady feel like
resigning-bagged the prisoner yester-
day that he came into Carbondale for
so mysteriously the day before. Lafe
took Bill Higgins. of Fortyth street,
In his iron grasp on the charge of steal
ing siXty-siA bottles of beer from Bob
Alexander. Lafe may not have exactly
the right man: but that's not the ques-
tiOn before the house: he nailed the
man he was after and after "a cross
country drive through rain and muddy
mud, and that's all there's to it.
The charge against Higgins is that
on Thursday of last week he and a COM
panion from Carbondale drove to Bob
AleXander's house in Canaan Bob's
mother warned the men away. but they
paid no heed, Bob swears. Higgins
breaking into the house and making
away with the sixty times eleven beers
On the way into Carbondale the pair
met Bob, the story goes on.
Have a drink, Bob?" asked one of
the travellers.
Don't mind if I do" says Bob.
What you got?"
"Oh. little beer" Then they pro-
ceeded to treat Bob to two of his own
beers. Another man. who was there,
was likewise treated to the hospitality
of the alleged Carbondalians. When
Bob reached home he was apprised of
the theft. and his temperature rose a
few degrees as he contemplated the
joke perpetrated on him. Straightway
nrnpapIp1 n Of i,,ct ~,
Waymart, the Office of Justice of the
Peace Lafayette Dmock, where he
charged Bill Higgins, of this town, as
the man whom he met on the highway,
who was so generous with another
mans beer. A warrant followed for
Rilfs arrest, and was handed over to
faithful Lafe Smith, whose name makes
trespassing fishermen at Lake Lodore
shake with the ague of fear. No in
structions were given Lafe, when the
warrant was handed him: this is never
necessary. Simply hand him the war
rant and he'll do the rest
Lafe came to town Thursday and
posted himself, and yesterday he came
loaded for Bill
AT one O'Clock, Lafayette drove up to
the Harrison house with his prancing
team IN front of his own private rig.
Constable Edward Neary and The Tri-
bune man took seats in the surrey and
went along for company's sake. Over
muddy roads and through pelting rain
went the prancers like the Major Sykes
from the Lookout crossing in the DAYS
of the old gravity. The trail was a
muddy one but to the Sherlock Holmes
of the party, Mr.. Lafe, it was easy, even
for him to discover the foot prints of a
man in the muddy mud, all the way
from Joe Scheck's to Loney Harris
where 1t was believed the man desired
might be found. But nae Bill. The
horses and private rig We're turned and
a strike made for Forty-third street.
Bill was in his cabin and smilingly
greeted the Waymart sleuth despite the
steel-like grip of the latter as he laid
hold of his mans arm.
Say, you sheriff of Wayne county,"
said Higgins, with hearty laugh, Bob
AleXanders coddin' you, if he says l
was over to his place. I haven't been
to Wayne county in four years, and 1
don't know as l ever want to go there,
see?"
Nov, see here" exclaimed Lafe, as
he departed with his well-chewed cud
of fine cut, ,'"I aint no sheriff of Wayne
county; and IL Bob's made a mistake
and we happen to have the wrong man,
then we can let you go, l recollect."
An unsuccessful effort was made to
secure bail which would allow Higgins
to remain at home. Then the party
struck out for the county over the
Mooscs to the temple of justice in
Waymart.
When Justice Dimock's Office was
reached and Mr.. Alexander was called
to identify Higgins, something busted"
Things went all to smash for, be gosh,
they had the wrong man. Higgins
couldn't be identified and he came home
on the Delaware and Hudson train due
here at $50 last night. He came home
chuckling more than when he went.
Some body, Constable Edward Neary,
perhaps, whstled as the party left the
office of the justice, "Aint That
Shame, a Measly Shame" etc. And it
was also raining.