The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1904-03-03
Ingenious Detection Of
a Rogue.
By Lawrence Leslie.

| clusions: The perpetrator of the forg-
cry was Livingston; he was a good
deal of horse fancier, and would
doubtless spend a considerable portion
| or his dishonest gains in the purchase
of fine stock; and, further, that the
stock would be purchased in New
| York, as that market promised bet
ter selection, and the criminal con-
sidered himself entirely safe from de-
| lection.
The first step, therefore, was to learn
| If any one had recently made any ex-
| tensi,e purchases of such stock, and
| If so, to run them down and see who
| they were.
For weeks the search was without
reward, but at last the case bright
| ened. A man was found of whom sew
eral horses has been purchased by
man much resembling Livingston, but
here giving the name of Peck. The
horses were shipped to Buffalo, whittier
''AIr. Peck" stated that he was going.
Here was the long-sought clew, and
| the officer lost no time in visiting Buff
falo, to learn further Mr.. Peck's pres
ent abode. Another disappointment
| met him here. The freight books
showed that the horses had been re-
ceived two or three months previous
ly, and taken away, but nothing fur
ther was known concerning them or
Mr.. Peck.
Nothing daunted, however, the in
quiry was pursued, and finally the
horses were traced to a stable. but
were now owned by Mr. Welch Sew
eral other animals were purchased,
and the whole then shipped to Chica-
go. From the description the officer
was convinced that Livingston, Peck
and Welch were one and the same per-
son, and the pursuit began to wax in
teresting.
Arriving at Chicago, he found that
the horses had been taken away, but
| the most careful inquiry revealed moth
| ing more. As they had not been re-
shipped, the officer concluded that they
| had been driven into the country.
There were some breeding mares
among the stock, and he concluded that
| the party, whoever he was, designed
| to open a stock farm. Finding all 9TH
er efforts to trace the horses vain, he
attempted to learn if any farm suita-
| BILE for such a purpose had been pur-
chased recently. and if so, by whom.
! At one of the real estate agencies he
found that a man from the East
named William Livingston,' had been
looking for such place, and had fin.
ally purchased. but where was not
known, certainly not in Cook County,
as an examination of the records
proved: but the officer reasoned that
/ it could not be far from Chicago, as
the stock was apparently driven
instead of being shipped.
If, reasoned the officer. Livingston,
who was without doubt the criminal,
had purchased a farm of this charac-
ter. he must buy a large quantity of
tools, harness. saddles. wagons and
like goods for its use. A careful
search among dealers in these articles
revealed the fact that liberal qUanti-
ty of such goods had recently been
bought by a Mr.. William Livingston
and sent to Du Page County. about
forty miles from Chicago, where he
had bought four small farms and con-
solidated them into one handsome
stock farm. Believing detection i'm
possible after the lapse of so long a
time. he had boldly taken his own
name, and, though almost within the
clutch of the officer of justice. was yet
entirely unconscious of his danger.
The game was found now for its
capture Taking four or five police Of
ficers from Chicago, all in citizens
clothes. the party went out to the
farm. and inquired for William Liv.
ingston. The elderly. short. stout
gentleman" who had figured so con
, spicuously in the officers search, ap
peared, and the correctness of the per
and ink sketch impressed the officer
, as remarkable.
: The party represented themselves a:
from Chicago, who, having heard OF
his fine farm. had come down to see
for themselves, and perhaps purchase
some of his choice stock.
: They were cordially received. hos
t pitably entertained. shown over th,
place, and finally dined and wined il
Il the spacious mansion. On rising from
2 the table the New 4ork officer re
marked:
!. "WelI. Mr, Livingston, do you liz,