Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1906-01-19
A DETECTIVES STORY
Recollections Of an Arrest
in Morrison County
in 1887

The conclusion of the story of the
capture OF ''Shet- black Herres,'' the
fugitive from Canadian justice, by
John Wilson Murray, the great Cana.
dian detective, in 1887, is given in
Toe Herald this week. M. NJ. Rich.
srdson. who assisted In the capture,
says that Mr.. Murray has got some of
the particulars twiste6, particularly
az to Richardson being sworn in as
deputy, and as to the actions 0i
Quinn, but the main narrative is sub
stantially correct. although Richard
son believes Murray is taking to him.
self rather more credit than ls his
due. Following is the remainder If
the narrative, which has attracted
much interest in the district where
HERES, alias Walker, taught:
He said he knew the country all
around there as he had heen born
there. I hired a splendid team from a
tveryman. q pair Of as good horses as
man could wish to drive with q
light cracky wagon. The livery man
lent me his gun and shooting jacket
cartridge belt and two valuable dogs.
/ told Richardson we were going
shooting. Prairie chickens were
thicker than fiits We started on
Wednesday. Oct. 9th. We drove
about twenty miles to the cross roads
Of nowhere. It was dark when we
trotted out Of Little Falls, and we
breakfasted at q Cross road store on
the way. told Richardson, after We
were we'll on the road. the real pur-
pose Of my trip. It seemed to make
him as solemn as an owl. He was q
jolly hunter. but solemn policeman.
Many mep are that way. Their bust
ness Is something awesome or deadly
serious but apart from it they are
good fellows.
At length We came to the first
school. The teacher was little fel-
low, Frenchman. and he could not
speak German. He was not HERES,
and we drove on to the next district
school. The liCtle Frenchman told me
Of the teacher.
He has ze long moostache," he
said. Very fine, oh very fine. Ze
long mook tache and I haf ze 20 mooa.
tache at all. and he clasped his hands
and sighed.
l was sure the other teacher was
HerreR. When We came in sight of
the school unhitched the horses and
tied them. and cut across toward the
school house.
If this is the fellow, will nod to
Won. and you arrest him. I said to
Ffticbardson. Il have no: authority. =
he said, land l will not arrest q man
without authority and saw he
meant it. Richard son,' I said 60
lemnly. Il am United States mar
snail. I hereby declare you nv de
putty. You must obey the law and
serve
but must be sworn in,' said
Richardson.
Il pulled out bundle of papers.
ran over them, selected one and told
him to Aneel down. He knelt amid
the brlers. I mumbled the form OF an
oath.
II do,' he answered solemnly, to
my question of, ''Eo yon so swear3'
''rhen we went on to the school.
house and walked in. There stood the
teacher, dapper and with a ding. dong
mustachees' but instead OF being
'shet black his hair and mustache
were brown. he was a bleached
myself, and yet. is it her. Just then
he twirled his mustache. That settled
1t. There were about thirty children,
mostly Rirls, in the ROOM. They eyed
Us curlouely.
Teacher, how long have you been
heref" said l.
For some time-since school
opened, said he, and his voice had
. little sing song.
What 10 your name7''
"John Waller he replied.
when did you leave Canadsf''
asked.
II have never been IN Canada in my
life.'' he said.
L looked at his school books. All
were mark John Walker.
"Are you 6erman?' asked.
Yes said he.
John Walker is not German
name,'' said.
He smiled.
''You are from Canada - I said
abruptly.
II am notl'' he exclaimed, and
turning to the astonished children, he
told them to 60 out and get their
fathers. Bring them quickly he
said, speaking rapidly in German to
the children. ''Tell them to bring
their guns. There are robbers here y
Il understood him clearly, and
told Richardson to Keep the children
in. Deputy Marshal Richardson
obeyed by standing against the door.
The children began to cry, then to
scream.
That's rightl' said the teacher to
the children. Shout for help Shout
as loud as you cant
The whole school began TO yell.
They ran round the loom shrieking
and screaming
keep your seats snd scream, -
paid the teacher
They promptly sat down and
!, howled at the top of thelr voices for
help
teacher.
II Will not, sa1d he, and he
whipped Of his coat.
st leAIod for him, and down We
vent upietting the table and rolling
over tho door. He was ID active fel-
#loW, and I had to drag him out of the
sschoolhouse.
Keep the children in said to