Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-03-08
By CAPTAIN PATRICK D. TYRRELL


Copyright, 1905, by Marion G. Scheitin)
My plan was to conduct negotiations
with Lindsay and Van Hise in such
way that they would have the deeds
to the land they were to sell Stedman
and me in their respective offices on
the day the arrests were to be made,
thereby providing fresh evidence to
be used against them in the courts.
There was no hitch in this plan. Lind
say followed up the negotiations
opened by Stedman with the celerity
ordinarily displayed by a man of
business anxious to close a deal in
which there was big profit. Van Hise
was just as eager and unsuspecting in
his efforts to unload 25,00O acres on
James Hail. sawmill operator. The
plan was working smoothly and prom
iesd great results.
The amount of detailed work, which
at this late date would be of no in
terest to my readers, was enormous.
l spent six weeks alone in the Wash
lngton land office Withdrawing papers
for examination and comparison. Ere
quent trips were made to southern Mis-
souri,, Ohio and Pennsylvania. the net
work of evidence being filled in with
patch here and patch there.
! believe | neglected to say in be-
ginning this story that the communi-
cation TO Secretary Schurz. which he
had turned over to Chief Brooks, and
which was the real starting point OF
this historic criminal case. had been
written by one Leo Whybark, of st.
Louis, a former colleague of Robert
Lindsay. TO all detectives it is well
known that many Of the most impor-
tant cases have their origin in the
falling out of thieves among them
selves. Lindsay and Whybark had
split over a division of the spoils, the
latter claiming that he had been worst
ed by Lindsay. who had grown domi-
neering in his treatment of subordi-
mates. Whybarks revenge took the
form of his letter to the secretary of
the interior. During the investigation
Whybark was of considerable service
to the government, but later was ar
rested as one of the leaguers. His
sentence, however, was never enforced
this being his reward for his services
TO Uncle Sam.
In Cleveland George Linn, after
whom was named a suburb, Linndale.
was found to be alInCst as important
a Lacquer as Van Hise John X
Corwin. the notary used by Van Hise
and Linn. was a member of one of the
inn 70 In,
through his overindulgence in whisky.
was a pliable tool in the hands of
Others. John f. Gardiner was bank
er and q man of high business stand
ing. In the work Of producing false
titles the notarial work was not the
least item. as all the papers had to
be sworn to. and it was necessary to
find nOtaries who not only would
consent to take acknowledgements they
knew 10 be false but who could be
trusted to maintain the utmost Sc
crecy. Two more of these notaries
were Herman e Schuster and John ].
Brady, Jr., of st. Louis. In all 90
men had been dragged into our net
for completely in one form or another
in this great conspiracy.
AT last the time came to strike.
| believed that the evidence in all
the cases was strong enough to convict.
Warrants were sworn out and placed
in the hands of deputy United States
marshals in the various cities where
the arrests We're TO be made. The
greatest secrecy was observed in get
ting out the papers. and arranging 9TH
er preliminaries. With Lindsay and
Van Hise. S.edmaa and | arranged to
have all the papers in our deals with
them in their respective Offices on the
day the arrests were planned. II was
the 18TH day of Marah In the year after
the investigation was begun that !
entered The private Office of Robert L.
Lindsay ia So. Louis with Deputy
Marshal Sooat
Lindsay, iaunty aad busy. was az his
desE { quietly told him be was un-
der arrest
"WlI are you and what ana uu.
der arrest force DE- demanded
! told him who was, ane briefly
what As wgJ wanted for.