Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03

Buffalo, deposited it in three banks, in the
name of his wife and three children, with
himself in each instance as trustee.
Although his trade became very irksome
to him now that he had small fortune in
his possession. he prudently stuck to 1t IN
til June. 1884. Then, year having elapsed
since the robbery, he decided that it would
be safe for him to launch out into a pleas
anter life He accordingly went to Buffalo,
where he entered into oil speculatfons with
a friend who claimed to have inside infor-
nation" Although fortunate at the start,
the failure Of Grant Ward brought them
heavy losses, and soon their profits and
their original capital were swept away
Proctor assured Mr.. Pinkerton that, at the
time of their talk, he was ruined, and that
he had intended, during this very visit to
Susquehanna which ended in his arrest
making application for his old position as
foreman of the boiler shops.
Having heard Proctor's confession Mr.
Pinkerton took counsel with the officers of
the express company. They, believing that
Proctor had been only a tool in the hands
of two smart professional criminals, agreed
with the detective that the ends of justice
demanded rather the apprehension of his
confederates than his punishment alone
Proctor confessed great penitence for his
wrongdoing, and declared himself willing
to do whatever was in his power to make
amends.
The first step necessary to the capture
of Donahue and Collins was to get them both
into the United States at some point where
they could be arrested at the same time
Donahue was still in Canada. where he
could not be taken. Mr.. Pinkerton arranged
with Proctor to write to Donahue that he
had discovered another safe which offered
a tempting opportunity, hoping in this way
to induce him to cross the line into the
United States. To give color to the story
Il ~ H-d Dxa1 fxvx
parent freedom of movement; but he pledged
himself not to leave Susquehanna without
Mr.. Pinkerton's permission. and to keep
the detective Informed by letter and tele-
graph of all developments. At the same
time detectives were sent to Canada to
keep watch over Donahue-
| Collins, In the meantime. had been To-
Gated in Albany but no attempt was made
to arrest him until Donahue could be
brought over the line Should he cross
without notifying Proctor, the men "shad-
owing him were to cause his arrest II
was arranged with Proctor that in case
his letter failed of its purpose he should
go to Canada himself, persuade Donahue
to send for Collins, and then induce the
two to come back with him, when they
would be arrested the moment they cross
ed the line.
On the 2ath of November Robert Pin',er-
tor received word by telegraph that Proc
tor had left Susquehanna suddenly in the
night, telling the agent of the express COM
This looked very much as If Proctor had
played him false, since 1t had been express
~ stipulated that he should not go away
without Mr. Pinkerton's permission. Days
went by, and Proctor did not return. Then
word came from one of the Pinkerton
men at Fort Erie that Proctor had arrived
| at Donailue's Hotel and had been Joined
there by Collins. This was a serious set
back for the detectives. Not only were
the three robbers safe from arrest where
they were, but being fully aware of the
danger threatening them, arfdHs being men
of shrewdness, II was fair to presume that
they would now move with great caution.
It soon became evident that Donaflue
and Collins were thoroughly alarmed by
the news Proctor had brought them; for
Ithey at once took energetic steps to mislead
any one who might be watching them.
Having retired as usual one night. they
arose later, and drove in a wagon to a
station on the Crank Trunk railroad where
they boarded q freight train for ToroGlo
Affef hrief stay In that city they went
on to Montreal where they tried 1Htrd to
lose Themselves. bs1f were Ralsuceessfni1s aud
NJ ef471H I{$l56x M III Is