The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-24


fail to see him enter. This seems to
have confirmed the impression he had
been striving to create, that British
Honduras, though in truth a perfect
refuge for a criminal ike Crawford,
was none. Crawford, apparently
thoroughly frightened, and thinking
he had not an hour to lose, steamed
back in all haste to his plantation,
gathered together, as subsequently, ap-
peared, his money and other valuables,
and then under cover Of night,
dropped down the river again, put out
tn sea forthwith, and crossed the Bay
of Honduras to Puerto Cortess in
Spanish Honduras, the country OF al
Central America in which Mr. Pinher-
ton preferred to have him. In Short
Mr.. Pinkerton's stratagem had worked
perfectly.
Mr.. Pinkerton's reason for wishing
to get Crawford into Spanish Hon
duras was not because the treaty ar
engagements we're more favorable there
than in British Honduras, but because
the Pinkeft0n agency enjoyed unusual
personal relations with the Honduras
government. Several years before,
when President Bogram had in con-
temptation the federation OF Central
American states under one govern
ment he had applied TO the Pinker-
ton agency for reliable detectives for
secret service work. In consequence
of this the present head Of the Hon
duras secret force was no other than
a former Pinkerton employe who had
been recommended by the New York
Office to the Honduras government. and
upon whom Mr.. PinkertOn knew he
could rely absolutely. Another man
equally disposed to favor him was Mr..
Bert Cecil, a member Of the cabinet,
and at the head of the telegraph ser
vice. and thus in a position to render
most valuable service in the appre-
hension of Crawford.
AS soon as Mr.. Pinkerton learned
of Crawford's flight, he hurried in pur-
suit crossing the bay to Livingston,
in Guatemala. In so doing he risked
his life first by putting out to sea
in a little dory, and then by trusting
his safety to a treacherous Carib boat
man. who, when they were several
miles out, eyineed a strong disposition
to take possession Of the detectives
overcoat. in order, as he explained
with a cunning look, to turn its silk
lining into a pair of trousers. At this,
Mr.. Pinkerton carelessly produced his
revolver. which had a qu1eting erect
upon the fellow. and the voyage was
COMPLETED in safety. But soon after
landing Mr.. Pinkerton suffered an at
tack of fever, and being warned by the
doctors to return to a northern lau-
tude, he got the government Tnachin-
cry in motion for the apprehension Of
Crawford. had photographs Of the for
mer bank messenger spread broadcast
through the country, and then having
cabled the New York bureau to send
responsible detectives to take his place,
he sailed for New Orleans.
Mr.. Pinkerton was succeeded in Cen
trail America by Detective George H.
Hotchkiss, one of the best men in the
country, who arrived in Balize on the
18th Of March. A telegram from Pink
ertons former employe, now chief of
the secret police In Honduras, in-
formed him that Crawford had been
seen in San Pedro, Spanish Honduras,
on the previous Saturday, and was be-
ing closely pursued by Spanish SOL
diers accompanied by Pinkerton men.
HOtchkiss sailed at once for Puerto
Cortes, where he learned from the
American vice consul. DR.. Ruez. that
Crawford had left San Pedro hastily
the previous Monday night On fur
Their investigation the detectives dis
covered that a San Francisco bully and
former prize fighter, mike" Neiland,
hal called at Crawford's boarding
house on Monday, and warned him
that detectives were pursuing him
from Puerto Cortes on a handcar. Nei-
land had pretended to be CraWford's
friend, and said he would keep him
out of the hands OF the detectives
Crawford very much frightened,
grabbed up some of his luggage and
left the house with Neiland. It was
generally believed that Neiland had
designs on Crawford's money and
would not hesitate to kill him. if need
were, in order to get it.
Hotchl1iss Immediately requested
Mr.. Bert Cecil, at Tegucigalpa, the
capital, to cover all Geographic points,
and II possible, have Crawford and
his companion arrested on some trivial
charge. The day after he reached San
Pedro. on March %, he received a tele-
gram saying that Crawford and
Neiland had been arrested and taken
before the governor at Santa Barbara.
. n al
S32 600 had been found on Crawford's
person. The money was in old and
worn bills that in every way resem-
bled those in the stolen package
Whether they were the identical bills
or not It was impossible to say, as the
bank had not recorded the numbers.
on receipt of this news, Hotchlkiss,
accompanied by Jack Hall, a guide,
set cut across the country for Santa
Barbara. The journey was accom-
rible suffering and many privations
4 and dangers. Moreover. the fever got
/ its deadly clutches upon Detective
! Eotchkiss; and when he had finally
| dragged himself into Santa Barbara
I he cabled the New York office:
Crawford and money held for extra
dition. Am sick. Cannot remain. Com
/ ing on steamer Tuesday. My associate
takes charge"
Before sailing for New Orleans De
tective- Hotchkiss had an interview
with Crawford. in the presence of the
| Spanish officials and obtained from
4 him a written confession of his guilt
/ While admitting that he had been a
party to the robbery. the absconder
I tried to lessen his own crime by de-
clafing that the plan to plumber the
bank had been suggested to him by
\ two men, named Brown and Bowen,
whom he had met accidentally on a
I railway train in New York, and with
iwhom he had afterward become very
Friendly. These men had taken him
Ito Browns house on Thirty-eighth
street, somewhere between Eighth and
/ Ninth avenues (Crawford could not To-
cate the place more precisely, and
/ introduced him to a fine-lookfnE wo-
man presented as Mrs. Brown, who was
also in the conspiracy. They told him