The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-24

terview with Donahue, and tell him OF
Proctors treachery in betraying Collins
and himself; impress upon him that
Proctor was q dangerous man to have
dealings Hrtths and try to induce MIN
to lend his aid in delivering Proctor
and Collins over the line, just as Rob
ert Pinkerton had sought to have Proc
tor 90 In the case of Donahue and Col
line DOnahue was known as
''stanch'' manr-that is. one who is true
to his friends-and it was thought
probable that he would refuse to take
part In any such scheme. But in that
event William PlnlZert0n was to threat
en- him with arrest for the old robber-
les at Winnipeg and Quebec.
This plan was carried out by will
lam Pinkerton with greater success
than had been expected. At first Don
ahue Stoutly refused to betray a COM
rade. but the danger threatening him
self was made to appear so great that
difficulties, he consented to do what
was asked OF him in regard to Proc
tor. Against Collins, however, he de-
c1ined to give any aid. BY working
on Proctor's natural fear of arrest. he
easily persuaded him that the immed-
late departure of all three of them
himself. Proctor and Collins-for
Europe was advisable. It was ar
ranged that they should not sail from
Quebec or Halifax. since the steam
ers from those points were likely to be
watched by detectives but that they
should leave Fort Erie stealthily by
night, make their way separately to
Montreal, and meet there.
This plan was carried out, and with
in a few days the three were in Mon
treal, all apparently of one mind in
their desire 10 escape the country,
though in reality Proctor was the only
one of the three who thought himself
in danger. Donahue had taken Col
Inns into his confidence, and Collins
was quite of Donahue's opinion that
they were doing the proper thing II
saving themselves by surrendering a
man who had shown himself willing to
betray them.
It had been agreed between William
Pinkerton and Donahue that at Mont
real tickets should be purchased 10
/ Europe by way of Portland Ne, and
! that the party should leave Montreal
at a certain time by the Grand Trunk
road. The line OF this road runs for
a number of miles through northern
Vermont, and it was customary for the
train the men were to take to wait
over for an hour at Island Pond, a
! little place just across the Canadian
line. Here. as it was arranged, Rob
1 ert Pinkerton was to be waiting ready
/ to take Proctor into custody, and also
/ Though in this part of the arrange
/ ment DOnahue, Of course, was not con-
sulted) Donahue and Collins, should
1 they be so imDrudent as to stay on
the train until it crossed the line, in
deed, a special stratagem was resorted
/ to. Conceiving that Donahue and Col
/ Inns, in order the more completely to
/ allay ProctOr's suspicion, might rem1in
with him until the last station was
reached on the Canadian side, the de-
tectives arranged that on this partlcu-
lar night the train should not stop at
that station, but push on at full speed
to the American side.
On a certain Tuesday night Donahue,
/ Collins and Proctor took the 1918 p.
m. train at Montreal for Portland. No
sooner had they left the station than a
I Pinkerton representative, who had
/ f'shadoWed" them aboard, telegraphe d
the fact to Robert Pinkerton at Island
/ Pond. Proctor went early to his berth
in the sleeper. In another berth, not
through the night, but lying there fully
/ dressed, with weapons ready, was a
! Pinkerton detective, whose instructions
| were to accompany the three robbers
as long as they were together, and to
stay with Proctor to the last.
1t was five o'clock in the morning
( when the train drew up at Island
Pond. On the platform stood Robert
Pinkerton, carrying requisitiOn from
the governor of Vermont for the arrest
Of Donahue. Collins and Proctor,
charged with robbing the United States
Express company Of $40, 900 at Susque-
hanna Pa. The first man to leave the
train was the shadow" who informed
in berth No. u. Donahue and Collins,
he said. had left the train long before
it reached the last station on the Can
adam side, so that the plan for their
capture had fallen through. E1r. Pink
eTton went aboard the sleeper at
once. and going to berth No. IL, pushed
aside the curtains. He could not see
distinctly for the darkness, but Dor
rowing lantern from one of the train
men let the light fall on the face of the
person within, and saw it was Proctor,
slumbering in complete unconscious
ness that his hour of reckoning had
come. A gentle push in the ribs awak-
ened him with a start. Recognizing
Mr.. Pinkerton, he said with admirable
GOODNESS:
You have spoiled the whole bust
ness. If you had not come in here to
arrest me. would have had those men
across the line next week"
When he said this. Proctor supposed
that Donahue and Collins were ASLEEP
in an adjoining berth; but, even to