The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-02-25

confessed to the deed, took the officers
over the route of his escape and yeri-
| fed all that had been related by Page
| in his confession. He served one wear
| in the Columbus co.,, penitentiary for
| tracked to some extent because he
| turned states evidence and supplied
the officers with information which, in
| part, resulted in the arrest and con-
viction OF Morrison, who is now serv-
| ing a sentence of so years in prison.
Jack Page, first in crime after Nor
| rison, enjoys freedom because ne gave
information Of SO much value IN hunt
| ing down the ffebugs. A crippled old
man now, he does not hesitate to say
| that he cannot begin to remember how
many houses he fred, and how many
dark and stormy nights he left his
home, with flaming torches, and sold
his manhood and soul for a few paltry
dollars, to be gained when the robbed
| Insurance companies paid the policies
on the buildings consumed.
At present Page is Willing away his
time with secret service guard con-
| stantly watching him, for members or
the conspiracy nave vowed to take his
life for the disclosures he made.
Fire Marshall Takes Hand.
The first visit to West Unity of Walter
Payne, who was, during the investiga-
| ton, assistant fire marshal, will never
| be forgotten by him. It was by the
slightest chance that he ran into q
shred of evidence which, followed up
from a hundred different directions,
finally brought the hoped-for results
Clyde Persing, of West Unity, was in
debted to a Toledo firm in rather large
| amount, and, neg1ecting payment, he
| was drawn upon. Heetored by the &C
ton il presenting draft to him for pay
ment, Persing lost his temper, and
| threw care to the winds. At that time
! he conducted a small restaurant in a
building owned by Mrs. Winifred
/ Ad6lph. The night after the draft came
| to him the restaurant burned. That was
in July of 1902. So bold was the action
of the man that it could not fail to
| arouse the suspicion of Mr.. Payne, and
within few days, he visited the village.
He had not been there more than few
| minutes before his presence was tipped
of to the leaders of the gang. Homer
Morrison was there at the time, and his
trusty lieutenants made MIN aware Of
the fact that the fire marshal was in the
village. Payne desired to talk with
Frederick Miller, the only banker of the
town, and who was the agent for nearly
all the insurance companies which had
policies placed in the vicinity. The mar
shall went to the bank, and, to his sur
prise, the brazen scouts actually fol-
lowed him, in their attempt 70 learn the
exact nature of his business. Even Nor
| rison, fearless because he thought his
dignity in the community protected him
from suspicion, listened with eagerness
to what the marshal said. and then en-
trusted the work of shadoWing Payne %
less distinguished men in the profess
sion
The officer finally succeeded in evasI-
ing the fellows. On his trail, and held a
long conference with Miller, and other
prominent men. who, he had learned.
had suffered because OF their honesty in
refusing to participate in the depreda-
tions. From citizens Of this class. he
learned much. and his suspicious that