The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-07-11

SIIedAl, lOliOW6u Oy the e1lC1Ie pOSSe III
hot pursuit. Arriving at the bank, he
forced his horse to jump into the water
and swim across. onlp to be. overtaken
by the sheriff on the opposite shore.
I'm the struggle: which ensued the
officer was struck by the inanacled
hands Of the desperate and overpower-
ed. In a flash Smith was back in the
river, and I'M spite of handouts and
overcoat swan across to the other side
and escaped in the woods. Next day
he struck a small town, where, under
the guise of a deputy marshal on the
trail of a bank robber;; he told plaus-
ible tale Of having been waylaid and
robbed, and succeeded in securing
money enough to supply his immediate
needs.
1.-THE last time caught him, few
months ago, he was only partly dressed,
but in spite of his protests we bound
him and took him to Kincaid without
a chance to finish his toilet. Feeling
some conjunction for his half-clad con-
dition, gave him my long rain coat as
a protection from the inclemency of the
weather. Suddenly observing SUSPECT
GUS movements llnd eras; the .sacoat,zsa.I
stepped behind him, and as q precau-s
'tionary measure deliberately slit the
garment from top to-: bottom. I was
none too quick, for the rogue had al
most succeeded in working his hands
free from their letters, under cover of
the coat. You may fancy that I was
relieved when I had my man safely
landed in Jail.
The latest report from him was that
he had beguiled a guard into giving
him some carbolic acid and had pro-
ceeded to make himself ILL, hoping, no
doubt, to be transferred to a hospital
and make his escape, but this time his
game has failed, and he has been forced
to recuperate within prison wallis.
Perhaps the boldest and most versa
tile importer who has ever come under
the jurisdiction of the pension bureau
was man who was born of highly
respectable parents in Tioga county,
New York; and whose career furnishes
remarkamle proof OF the extraordi-
nary influence welded by a convincing
manner and attractive personality. The
category of crimes of this talented ad-
venturer includes homicide, bigamy,
impersonating a pension examiner. and
playing the confidence game in un-
limited roles. H..
He practiced his wiles most success
fully on trusting womanhood and made
famous record in the matrimonial
line. In 1873 he was released from
prison, where he had served term of
five years for killing a. canal boat cap
tain in quarrel. From that time he
travelled from town to town in western
New York, transferring his talents
later to Indiana, appearing in an en-
tlrely new role each time, and always
managing to escape detection by the
rapid disappearing act.
I'm every town where he fingered
three weeks he chose some conf1ding
female as the victim Of his destinations,
and the wedding ceremony followed
with bewildering haste: Meanwhile he
was deriving a comfortable income from
fees obtained for the prosecution OF
doubtful pension claims. j. -:
Tin this role, under the name of; A:*C.
Webb he took up his residence in Cum
berland, Nd, In 1882, and scattered
flaming circulars through the mining
region, but being rudely interrupted by
the arrival of some bona fbde pension
officials, he hastily left for Marietta,
Penn, where he was shortly. afterward
arrested. A three years sentence in the
Eastern penitentiary followed his trial
in iladelphia and conviction for forg-
cry in pension claims. TT:
when released, he took up: his abode
IN Columbia county, PENNSYLVANIA in
the dual capacity. of revivalist; preacher
and United; States detective III pension
claims wearing as a, badge Of office a
huge metal star bearing the slegend. ~.
s. Detective, p, c.: FINAL May,
1889, this record breaker was located Eat
Lime Ridge. Pa, where he had Just
preached AN eloquent sermon at "a: camp
meeting: Finding himself SURROUNDED
by the officers he made al. display
OF indignant *amazement; then reached
for his revolver and succeeded III
Woutnding several policemen On His
trial 3 ythe4 United States court .at
Scranton ~ was found that over 500
pNen.sioners had been etiml4 Into
Ipa wing him fees averag
I{z zss5' delivered dress 80
the zthe
explanati inyysard sirresist-
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