Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-10-07

termined that 60 was from the resi-
briggs should be followed
From further cautious inquiry at
Nauvoo I found that briggs had re-
Gently made a visit 20 Mrs. Parker
and on leaving had gone 0stensibly
20 Clinton. la Familiar as was
with the manner in which such Grim
inals as Driggs bought tickets for un-
intended destinations. doubled on
their tracks and went 90 great pains
otherwise 90 throw the secret service
men of their trail. decided 20 so 20
Clinton
In the latter part OF June, 1875. an
elderly man and HIS wife. a good
looking woman many years younger
than her husband. made their appear
ance In Clinton and rented two
houses. The man gave the name OF
J. X. Watson and told the men with
whom he negotiated for the houses
that he was retired cattle
raiser. He was a Scotchman, dark
skinned. Of rather heavy physical
mold. and wore a fun beard He
dressed as well as or slightly better
than man IN his alleged vocation
would De expected TO dress. His gen
eral demeanor tended toward the
sanctimonious. He often attended
church and was fluent az prayer and
In religious discourse. Funds he had
IN plenty, and he gave substantial evil
dence Of his business solidity by de
posting S23.000 In the Clinton bank.
Mrs. Watson" was appareled stylish
ly and was agreeable in manner.
Those who came into contact with
them decided that Clinton had made a
valuable business and social acquisi-
ton when the Watson" family set
tied there. The newcomer and his
good wife chose the better and more
centrally located OF the two houses
rented for their residence. Into the
other house. which was about a mile
and a quarter back from the river and
the last house on the street, there
moved about the time OF the advent OF
the "Watsons" a family OF four Ger
mans. the father. mother and grown
son and daughter, giving the name OF
Schafer This new family. according
TO the gossip Of the town. were in the
employ or under the care Of Watson, 4"
the exact relations being Underlined.
Both families were unobtrusive, es-
pecially the German family. and there
was nothing in the known affairs OF
either family to arouse uncommon in
terest.
Oh
days. in fact-that I had had my first
look at the man I believed from the
meager description TO be Nelson
briggs. After the trip to Nauvoo /
had come up the river and stopped at
Fort Hamilton. a small town across
the river from Keokuk, where, one
day, on the porch OF the town hotel.
saw a man answering the descrip-
ton OF the notorious dealer in the
queer" He was talking to a man
whom / did not know. and / did not
allow myself TO be noticed by the
pair. The man believed to be
briggs was about 55 years old. heavy.
with full beard and the air OF a we'll
TODD farmer. I did not allow him to
get out Of my sight, and when he went
TO Clinton / became convinced that /
had not only found briggs. but that
my information from Nauvoo was
correct. Therefore. Immediately
after the suspect had been fol-
lowed 10 Clinton a man registered at
the Revere House. in that city under
the name OF &C. A. Demarest," an IN
communicative and unobtrusive chap.
who attracted no attention. Soon
afterward another stranger made his