Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-31

! launch and steamed up the river,
very narrow, winding stream,
arched quite over through most
| most of Its length by the thick
| tropical foliage, and in some parts so deep
that no soundings had yet found bottom.
The plantation was entirely inaccessible by
| lend on account Of impossible swamps and
the crooked course of the river made 1t a
journey of twenty-three miles from Punta
Gorda. although in straight line It was
| only six miles away.
Mr.. Pinxerton was surprised at the I'M
pretentious character Of the house. which
! was built OF cane and palm stocks and
rcofed with palm branches. Originally 1t
! had been one large room, but it was now d.
vided by muslin sheeting into two rooms,
one at either end, with hall in the middle.
Almost the first thing Mr.. Pinkerton no
| ticed on entering a freproof safe
| standing in the hall. 1t was of medium
size and seemed to be new. He knew he
| was powerless, under the laws of the coun-
| try, to search the safe, but he made up his
mind that while he was in the house he
| would keep his eyes as much as possible
upon it, That night he did not sleep for
| watching. But Crawford did not go near
the safe until the next morning, when he
went to get out some account books. While
the door was open Mr. Pinkerton saw only
| a small bag of silver inside, but he felt
sure from Crawford's manner that there
was larger amount of money there.
| Mr.. Pinkerton remained at the plantation
for forty-eight hours. On the second day
he had a long interview with Crawford,
questioning him in the greatest detail as to
| his connection with the robbery. Crawford
persisted In denying that he had had any
connection with it, or had any knowledge
as to what had become Of the stolen
money. Argue as he would, Mr. Plnker-
ton could not beat down the stubbernness
| OF his denals. All direct approaches fall
ing. at last he tried indirection. He spoke
| of Burke the absconding state treasurer OF
| other American lawbreakers, had fed to
| Central America. Burke had q level head,
hadn't hep said he.
How do you mean?' asked crawford,
| why, in going to Spanish Honduras.
| You know the United States has no extra
| dition treaty there under which we could
| bring back a man who has absconded Tor
| ENLIGHTENMENT or grand larceny Burke is
as safe there as If he owned the whole
| country"
rs that SOP" said Crawford, looking sig
nifcantly at his brother Marvin, who was
| present
yes said Mr. Pinlserton, 1T is I only
wish the fellow would come up here INTO
| British Honduras; then we might do some
thing with him.
Here the subject was dropped.
! Next Mr.. Pinkerton exhibited to CraW-
| ford sealed letter written by James G
| Blaine and addressed to the chief maRs-
| trate of British Honduras pointing TO the
| seals of the State Department to assure
! Crawford of the letters genuineness. and
limiting mysteriously at the use he pro
| posed making of this document and at the
| probable effect that would follow It's deliv-
With this the interview: closed. and Mr..
Pinkerton announced his intention OF going
| back to Punta Gorda. Crawford had prac-
| tically told him to do his worst, and ne
had not concealed his intention OF doing It.
Nevertheless their relations continued OUT
| n,,d Mr. Jnly
| treated with the hospitality that Is usual
| In tropical countries. He saw no sign OF
any disposition on the part of either of the
! Crawfords to do him harm, but he kept his
revolvers always ready, and gave them no
| chance to catch him mapping.
| Toward evening of the second day CraW-
ford and his brother got the launch ready,
| and took Mr.. Plnkerton down the river
| back to Punta Gorda, where they said good
| bye. At parting Crawford made a brave
| show Of treating the whole matter lightly
months" he said to the detective as they
| shook hands.
s'If YOU see me in New York" said Mr.
| Pinkerton, you will see yourself under ar
| rest"
On landing Mr. Pinkerton proceeded with
| all the obviousness possible to call at the
house of the British magistrate which was
! SO situated that Crawford from the launch
| could not fail to see him enter. This seems
| to have confirmed the impression he had
been striving to create that British Hon
| duras though In truth perfect refuge for
| q criminal like Crawford, was none. Craw-
| ford. apparently thoroughly frightened, and
| thinking he had not an hour to lose,
| steamed back in all haste to his plantation
| gathered together, as subsequently ap-
| peared, his money and other valuabies ana
| then. under cover of night, dropped down
| the river again, put out to sea forthwith,
| and crossed the Bay of Honduras TO Puerto
| Cortes, In Spanish Honduras, the country
| OF all Central America In which Mr.. Pinker-
| ton preferred to have him. In short, Mr..
Pinkerton's strategem had worked per-
| fectly.
Mr.. Pinkertons reason for wishing to get
| Crawford into Spanish Honduras was not
| because the treaty arrangements were more
| favorable there than In British Honduras,
| but because the Pinkerton agency enjoyed
unusual personal relations with the Hona1-
| ras government. Several years before
| when President Bogram had in conteInpla-
ton the federation of Central American
| states under one government, ne had ap-
| piled to the Pipkerton agency Tor rehapie
| detectives for secret service work. In con-
| SEQUENCES of this the present head or the
| Honduras secret force was no othef IMAM
a former Pinkerton employe, who had been
| recommended by the New York office to the
| Honduras government, and upon whom Mr..
| Pinkerton knew he could rely absolutely
! Another man equally disposed to favor HIM
| was Mr. Bert Cecil, member OF the cabi-
| net and at the head of the telegraph serv-
| ice and thus in a position to render most
| valuable service in the apprehension of
| Crawford.
| AS soon as Mr. Pinkerton learned of
Crawfords flight he hurried in pursuit
! crossing the bay to Livingston, In Guate-
/ mala. In SO doing he risked his life, first
| by putting out to sea in a little dory, and
| then by trusting his safety to treacherous
| Garth boatman, who, when they were sew
| eral miles out evinced strong disposition
| to take possession of the detectives over
coat, in order, as he explained with cum
| ming look to turn It's silk lining into pair
| of trousers At this Mr.. Pinkerton care
lessly produced his revolver which had
| ouieting effect upon the follow, and the
| voyage was completed in safety. But soon
| after landing Mr.. Pinkerton suffered an
| attack of fever. and, being warned by the
| doctors to return to northern latitude, he
got the government machinery in motion
| for the apprehension of Crawford, had pho
| tographs Of the former bank messenger
| spread broadcast through the country, and
| then having cabled the New York bureau
| to send responsible detectives to take his
| place, he sailed for New Orleans.
Mr.. Pinkerton was succeeded IN Central
1 America by Detective George II. Hotchkiss,
one of the best men In the country, who
| arrived In Balize on the 18th OF March. A
i telegram from Pinkerton's former employee,
/ now chief Of the aaGret polfc6 in Honduras,