Omaha daily bee., 1905-02-19
VIDOCQ FROM MASON CITY
Iowa Turns Out Another Boy Wonder in
Guise of Thieftaker
ALL He WANTS IS MONEY AND PAPERS
Chief Donnhue Gets word from
Young Man who Has Two Des-
perate Criminals Under
Surveillance.

e remains every now and then for a lit
tie out-of- the-way town to spring into sud
den prominence on account of some event
OF widespread interest occurring within its
boundaries. The citizens of more than one
obscure hamlet have gone to bed I'm the
evening "unwept, unhonored and unsung,
and awoke IN the morning to find the name
OF their town printed in large type in the
school Biographies and talked of down at
the county seat Not a few telegraph sta
tions have become division headquarters in
one day and one-night stands have been
made week stands at the stroke Of a pen.
And all these transformations have oc-
CURED at times through the instrumentality
OF one man or one mans actions
Unless all signs fail there lives over at
Mason City, Ia, young man who bids
fair to rescue his native heath from OBJ
livion and to write the name Of his home
town on three-sheet posters across the
Hawkeye skies. He has confided in Chief
OF Police Donahue his suspicious Of two
men who are at large in Mason City and
who, If captured, would be able to clear up
the diamond robbery"
The fact of the business is the young
man has ambitions to become a detective
and for years has been using his energies
in rerreting out clues measuring foot
prints and learning the rudiments of the
business. Now he feels he is ready to
''come out" and wants to come out in
Omaha. Allh he wants as an inducement to
come to the Gate City is railway fare both
ways, job on the Pinkerton agency, star,
credential papers, two warrants for the
men under suspicion. two pairs of shackles
and a reward for the arrest of the two
men.
The young mans letter to the chief
of police is as follows:
MASON CITY, Ia, Feb. Il, 19O5.--To the
Chief of Police Omaha: In regard to the
diamond robbery, suspicion has been
aroused to me by two men. in regard to
this, will say that If you will reward me
agency am sure | can bring the two men
n warrants are made out, except names,
Will bring them there, for things are going
on here with the two men that they must
belong @ to some gang One of them made
he is doing and he seems to be careful
what he is doing not to let too many next.
But there must be a leak somewhere. or
It looks so any way. They are selling
things too cheap to become by them hon
estly here; but no one knows this but just
few. They sell things below any firm g
cost price | ever heard any thing of. They
are selling tewelry, shoes clothing and
groceries and anything you want, and are
even selling barber supply stuff. They seem
10 be leary of the truck some way or an
other, as they watch things closely, so If
you want them send me star and au-
thority card and two warrants and railroad
fare and my return ticket. But don't send
any officer whatever you do, or you never
will get them here. / can bring them both
IL you want me to. II you send the war
rants send two pairs of shackles and | will
do 1t right. Notify me at once what to do,
but don't address any letters to me. for
they are suspicious, especially one of them.
Address Elmer j., Mason City
The local authorities are in the dark as
to the diamond robbery referred to and
have asked Elmer for further particulars
before sending the warrants shackles, star
and the rest of 1t.