The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-01-29


quiry was pursued, and finally the
horses were traced 10 stable, but
were now owned by Mr.. Wclch. Sew
oral other animals were purchased
and the whole then shipped 10 Chlca-
! 90. From the description the officer
was convinced that Livingston. Peck
and Wolch were one ana 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, ana ne concluded that
| the party, whoever he was. designed
TO open stock farm. Finding all 9th
or efforts TO trace the horses vain. be
attempted 10 learn If any farm suita.
bic for such n purpose had been pur.
chased recently. and if so, by whom.
At one of the real estate agencies he
| found that u man from the East,
| named William Livingston, had been
| looking for such n 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
| IL 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 farm OF this charac.
| ter, he must buy 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 n liberal quanti-
| ~ OF such goods had recently been
bought by n Mr.. William Livingston
and sent TO Du Page County, about
forty miles from Chicago, where he
had bought -four small farms and con-
solidatcd them into one handsome
stock farm. Believing detection i'm
possible after the lapse OF so long n
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
flcers from Chicago all in citizens
clothes, the party went out to the
farm, and inquired for William Liv-
ngston The elderly, short stout
gentleman" who had figured so con
spicuously in the officers search, APP
pcared. and the correctness of the pen
ana ink sketch impressed the officer
as remarkable.
The party represented themselves as
from Chicago, who, having heard Of
his fine farm, had come down 10 see
for themselves, and perhaps purchase
some of his choice stock.
They were cordially received, hos
ptably entertained. shown over the
place, and finally dincd and wined in
the spacious mansion. On rising from
the table the New Iork officer re
marked:
"Wcll, Mr. Livingston, do you like
this place and this quiet life rs well
as life in New York;"
The man was startled, looked sharp
ly at the officer and answered:
what do you mean? l was never
in New York in all my life"
"Wcll, then" retorted the officer,
"you will have an excellent opportun-
ity to 90 there. William Livingston,
l arrest you"
Livingston turned as pale as ghost
and gasped out:
what forW
"For the forgery OF n check on the
City Bank of New York. for $1,000"
replied the officer, drawing pair OF
handouts from his pocket and adyanc-
ing toward him.
stop. sir" exclaimed the culprit
stop. sir This is an outrage" and
he glanced around the room for some
weapon with which he could defend
! himself. lie was quickly surrounded,
however. and the irons fastened upon
him.
For time he ragged furiously, max
ing fearful threats against his captors;
but the storm soon spent itself, and
he was able TO talk over the matter
calmly. He represented that n rela-
tive, who had recently died. had left
him n considerable sum of money,
with which he had purchased the farm
and stock.
On searching him, however. roll OF
bills amounting To $4,000 was found
in an inner pocket, many of them being
entirely new, and on the City Bank
some OF the very notes which had been
paid out on the fraudulent check some
months before After this discovery
he was more quiet. and willingly ac-
companied his captors To- New York.
The cash found on his person, the
farm and stock were taken possession
of by the victimized bank. and man.
aged SO judciously that more than
S65,000 was realized. leaving the bank
sufferer for less than $4,000.
Livingston was soon after brought
TO trial. convicted and escaped with a
sentence OF four years and a half Al
; the expiration of his sentence. n few
+ years ago. he again went West. and
when last heard from was running a
small stock farm in Iowa.
= The case In all it's phases ranks
among the most curious and interesting
/ i'm criminal annals. The slight clew
J so perseveripgIy followed. the littlS
. incidents which pointed so unerringly