The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-06
A DETECTIVE BURGLAR.

"A ALA-a ID T. LeAIALtA4hs
John Mcqueen had been a headquar-
tiers detective for u long years. and
during that time he had had the conf
dence of his superfors and had often
been praised by the public press for his
good work. 1t was said Of him that he
was born for the work He was astutes
logical and untiring. The criminal who
evaded him had to die. Intuition seem
ed to do more for him than hard work
did for any OF the rest of the staff. If
he was appealed to to help one Of his
IellOW-Qele cIlVes on q case he rendered
help almost at once, and it was always
found thar his hints were Of assistance
1t was John Mcqueen who traced
murderer by a button. 1t was the same
man who analysed the soil left by
burglars boots on the hoor, and traced
him to where he was lying up. 1t was
Mcqueen who found a small diamond
from a cluster ring on the carpet after
"a murder, and brought the CRIME nome
to d woman who was far above sus-
picion. one day when he happened to
get a s. bill in change and found a
blood spot on it he traced the bill back
through five hands and brought muir
derer to justice. The criminal VINO was
arrested by him felt that he had reason
to be proud of the fact, and the de-
tectiVe who was assigned to work on
case with him went about boasting.
1t was q political change that lost
Detective Mcqueen his place at last. A
criminal league with a political pull I'M
ally brought influence enough to bear,
and his place was taken by one whose
dull wits no one need fear. 1t was nat
ural enough that the officer should reel
sore and revengeful There was a place
in a private detective agency awaiting
him, but after thinking things over he
concluded to turn criminal himself. he
had been honest and square, but II ne
was not to be rewarded, he would be
the other thing. He knew scores OF men
who were looked upon as suspicious
charlottesville were no doubt pick
pockets, thieves and burgla1s-and they
seemed to get along all right and have
a. pull" over him. Mcqueen felI that
his logic was good, and went ahead.
A man who has been pursuing Grim
inals for years and years on the one
side, and dealing with honest men on
the other cannot break away from the
routine all at once. 1t took the detec-
tive six weeks to fully make up his
mind and locate a Job" to be done, but
he got at it at last. As a detective, 1t
had come to his knowledge that Ger
tain rich old woman had cashbOX in
the house, and was in the habit of keep
ing bonds and a considerable amount
of cash therein. In fact, he had felt II
his duty to caution her against such
carelessness. He knew her habits-hoW
best to enter the house-where the box
of a job to break in and carry the plum
der away, and who in the world would
suspect bim2 The ex-Officer sat down
and went all over the case point by
point, as he used to his other cases, and
when he had finished he was firmly
convinced that by no possibility could
&c be brought under suspicion The
crime would be laid at the door of some
crook, and they would run in some one
OF the fraternity and railroad him to
state prison.
At 10 o'clock one dark and rainy even
ing the ex-detectiVe set out for the
house he was to rob. He had disguised
himself to look like a WOrkingman, and
had put on false Whiskers He had a
slight limp in his gait. This he did not
take into consideration. A cross-eyed
man does not go around thinking that
everybody takes notice of his infirnity.
He had been a bit lop-ShOuldered for
years, but he did not pad the shoulder
UP when he dOnned the coarse clothes. /
He would have argued that on such a
night and in such disguise not one
chance IN million would come UP to
give him away. He knew that he was
always studying criminals, but that
they should study him was q different
ching He passed two men when within
a block of the house. They spotted his
limp and his lop shoulder.
To effect entrance to the house Nc
Queen must cut and bore away a
stout wooden shutter. He provided
himself with new brace and bit and
saw. When the shutter opened he laid
the saw on the ground, where it was
found next morning. He knew what
sort of catch was on the window. and
he had come provided with an instru-
ment to spring it back. This iustru-
ment was left on the front stoop. near
which he was working, after being
used. There was plenty of mud on
the crossings. Mcqueen had won sew
eral cases by the muddy or dusty
tracks left behind. There was grass
at hand on which to clean his boots.
but he entered the window without
doing so.