Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24
NTRUE DETECTIVE STORIES

and early in 1858 the gang made a famous
RAD across the country through Indiana
ana Illinois, robhing safes in county treas
urers ofnces i'll a number of places In
several instances some of the members, were
arrested; but they always managed to have
the prosecution quashed, or in some Way
TO escape conviction. In the spring of 1868
their operations became so otftra geolls and
the situation so serious that Allan Pinker-
ton was again called upon
IN March OF this year the safe of the
county treasurer at Magnolia, Harrison
county. Iowa, was robbed of about SI4 COO
and Allan Pinkerton detailed his SON VIII
liam A. Pinkerton. and 1.-TWO assistants to
run down the burglars. Arrived at the
scene OF the robbery, the detectives found
that the thieves had made their escape on
hand car and had gene~in- the. direction
or Council Bluffs. AT this tinIe in Council
bluHs there was a low saloon, kept by a
man who had formerly lived in Seymour
and who was known as a bad ecflara cter. 1t
was decided to keep a sharp watch on this
resort After two days watching the de-
tectlves observed large man of dark COM
pieXlon enter the saloon and engage4in close
conversation with the proprietor. having
with him, evidently, some mysterious bust
ness.
Investigation disclosed this man to be
Michael Rogers, a prominent and wealthy
citizen of Council Bluffs and the owner Of
an extensive property In the adjoining coun-
tles. Puzzled. but still persuaded that he
had found a clew, Mr.. Pinkerton put a
SHADOW on Rogers and hurried back to
Magnolia. where he learned that on the day
preceding the robbery Rogers had been seen
IN IN iM,asnoiia, where he. had paid his taxes
and In doing so had loitered for some time
IN the treasurers Office. This also looked
suspicious But. on the other hand, search
as he might, the detective could find roth
ing against Rogers character, every one
testifying to his entire respecta bilfty.
Still unconyinced. Mr.. Pnkerton returned
10 Council Bluffs, where he was informed
by the man who had been "shadowing''
hogers mat several strange men had, been
seen to enter Rogers house, and had not
Deen seen to come out again. After four
DAYS or patient waiting. Rogers accom-
panied by three strangers, was seen to
leave the house cautiously and take a West
bound train on the Pacific railroad One
or these men Mr.. Pinkerton suspected was
Frank Reno. Feeling sure that If his sus
piclons were correct the men would ulti-
nlateiy return to Rogers house Mr. Pin
kerton did not follow them on thu train but
eontented himself with keeping the strict
est watch for their return. -.''l1f
The very next morning the. same four
men were discovered coming back to the
Rouse from the direction of the railroad
But at that hour no train was duo anS
another curious point was that thew were
all covered with mud, and bore marks ~
having been engaged in some severe, rough.
labor The hour was early the dweIIerl,
In Council Bluffs were not vet astir 4 III
tie later the city was thrown into a fever
or excitement by the news that the safe of
the county treasurer at Greenwood, In Mills
county, about thirty miles distant han haan
robbed the previous night
No trace had yet been got of the thieves
but everything indicated that they wee the
same men who had robbed the safe al Mar
nola- One remarkable point of similarity
In the two cases was the means emtloyed
by the robbers in escaping, a hand cal, hay-
ing been used also by the Glenwood thieves
and they, too, We're believed to ;nav,s fed
in the direction of Council Bluffs. Islves-
tigaton soon made this absolutely certain.
for the missing hand car was found lyins
beside the railroad short distance from
the Council Bluffs station.
Putting these new disclosures beside his
previous suspicious and discoveries Mr.
Pinkerton was further streng tnened In his
distrust of the man Rogers, and all aougii
the local authorities 10 whom he revealed
his suspicious. laughed at him, declaring
that Rogers was one of the most respect