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

two days later, read Inform Craw-
ford will meet him in Puerto Cortes.'
It is needless to say that the young
man did not carry out his intention
of joining Crawford in Honduras, for
the same mail which would have
brought him GRAY lords reply carried
the startlir news that his prOtege
and friend was under arrest IN Santa
Barbara, self-confessed bank roober'
The government Of Honduras con-
scented, thanks to their friendly rela-
tons with the Pinlzertons, to deliver
Crawford over to One OF the represen-
tatives of the agency. and Superin-
tendent e. S. GayloF, who had mean
time replaced Detective Hotehkiss,
took him in CHARGE a guard Of Span
ish soldiers brought the prisoner to
Puerto COrtes, where he was placed in
a hotel pending his transfer to a, YES
sci sailing for the United States. Sup
erintendent Gaylor himself was pres
ent to sac that everything was man
aged properly, and he was seconded
in his oversight by the former Pink
erton employe, the head or the secret
police in Honduras. The final arrange
ments had been made, the government
having taken advantage of a. law auth
Orizing the expulsion of 'pernictous
foreigners in order to get rid of Craw-
ford The superintendent had actual
1y taken passage for himself and Craw-
ford, and selected berths, on an Amer
lean vessel that was to sail on the
morning of May 2, 1890; but the night
before Crawford made his escape from
the hotel, going without the money,
which remained in the detectives
keeping. How he escaped is still a
matter of conjecture. The hotel stood
on the waters edge, and from bal
cony to which Crawford had access he
may have managed to spring down to
a wall built on piles. From there he
may have reached the hotel yard at
the back, and escaped over one Of the
picket fences that separated the hotel
from the adjoining property. There
Is also a. possibility that the Spanish
soldiers were bribed; but this has
never been proved. and is scarcely
probable as Crawford at the time of
his escape had not more than SIS in
Honduras bills IN his possession.
During the following days and
weeks untiring efforts were made to
recapture him. The swamps were
searched for miles. and soldiers were
sent out in all directions. Mr.. Gaylor
believed that Crawford succeeded in
making his escape into Guatemala,
which was only 80 miles distant. He
was undoubtedly assisted in his escape
by the fact that people in the sur
rounding regioni synpathized strongly
with him and would have done any
thing in their power to conceal him
from his pursuers. At any rate, the
man was never recovered.
Several years have passed since
Crawford'S escape, and all this time
he has been left undisturbed in Cen
trail America, where he has been fire.
Quently seen by people who know him,
and where he seems to be thriving.
At last accounts he and his brother
were engaged IN business on one of
the islands in the Mosquito Reserva-
ton of Nicaragua, where they were
regarded as dangerous men by the
government, likely to fncite revolution.
So strongly was this feeling on the
part Of the Nicaraguan officials that
some years ago advances were made
to the United States government to
have Crawford surrendered the Mica
raguan officials declaring that they
would gladly give him up If a demand
proper authorities in Washington. For
some reason the demand has never
been made, and probably never will be.
Immediately after Crawford had
made confession. the American Elk
change bank, realizing that there was
was committed by one OF its employees.
voluntarily refunded to the Adams Elk
press company the $4,000 that had
previously been paid to it by the COM
pany. together with interest thereon
for two years, and a large part OF the
expenses. Therefore the only COM
plainant in the case now available
would be the bank officials, who, for
some reason, have seen 1T to let the
matter drop.
Mr.. Pinkerton's theory OF the way
in which this robbery was committed
is that Crawford had an aceomplice
who had previously prepared the bogus
package, and who. by previous ap-
poinfment, was standing in the stairs
in the express office when the two mes
sengers arrived. It has always been
question IA Mr.. Pinkerton's mind