The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-06-11

.teCLlVe tOOh LOte VI q SLTeICQ OF Clear
ed land running down to the creek
and saw that the sod had recently
been turned in one or two places.
Slight Indications frequently lead to
big results and; a, sudden suspicion
flashed across Murray's mind.
,'Knapp,'' he said pleasantly, 81
mean to Try my hand at fishing in that
creek. Lend me spade" ;.
>''What do you want with a 7spade.?"
asked Knapp tightening his Hips
ITO dig bait with, of: course" re-
piled Murray readily.
Knapp looked uneasy, but produced
a spade and handed ito the ydetec-
tive. Murray walked toward the
creek and came to halt at one of
the spots where the sod had been
turned.
There's no sense in digging here"
demonstrated Knapp; you won't find
any worms. 1t was dug over the
other day. Come bit further down.
mot for me-" returned Murray.
he kind Of worms I'm after are
right here, and it's easier work than
In the hard places"
Knapp said nothing In reply, but the
persp!ration broke out on his wrinkled
face. Murray drove the spade into
the glound, and smiled as he felt the
blade strike something hard. He
turned back the soil with few vigor-
Gus strokes. and there came to view
one OF the wheels Of the missing DEM
ocrat wagon, buried beneath a foot Of
earth. Murray looked at Knapp who
gr1nned in sickly fashion. The de-
tective called his companions and
placed Knapp under arrest. He was
told that the best thing he could do
was to confess his thetts, and after
rejecting few moments he nodded
and led the way to the house. His
wife met the party at the door.
Get me the shingle,' raid her hus.
band.
The woman obeyed without a word
of protest. She went indoors and re-
turned with broad single, covered
with red dots. which Knapp explained
were made by chicken blood. One
broad, red blotch signitled where the
barr stood, and the smaller marks in
%'tcated the spots where Knapp had
buried his plumber. The detectives
selected one of the marked places and
began to dig. The first thing to come
to light was a large coffin. This
looked as though some tragedy lurked
behind, and they lifted the casket out
of the earth. It was very heavy and
hastily they removed the lid, expects
Ing to see the mutilated form of one
OF the robbers victims But instead
OF the remains of human being sew
eral dozens of boxes containing shoes
were revealed. The weakened thief
standing beside them laughed harshly,
"Corpses amt the only things found
in cofflns." he remarked sagely.
The officers pursued their search
digging up every place indicated on
the shingle map, and great and varied
was the list Of property that came to
light. Among the things unearthed
were a shroud. toilet set, a baby car.
riage, 40 silk dresses, gold watches,
seven ploughs, harrow, surgical in.
struments, a churn. a log chain. q
grandfather's clock, a set of grocer's
scales, hats. overcoats, pipes, a bar
ber's pole, even a policeman's shot.
gun, which Knapp had stolen from the
owners house.
The men took turns at digging and
even the thief himself was pressed
into service, until fully ten wagon
loads of plumber lay in sight It was
truly a fine exhibition Of wholesale
thieving, and the marvel Of it all wal
that knapp 1sWose~ to having done It
single handed. Subsequent develop.
ments proved his statement to be cor
rect. - $50 sF
knapp and his wife were taken to
Erie and placed in prison. 4 large
vacant store was hired and all of the
recovered property placed on: exhibit.
ton therein to be identified by tho
nghtful= owners. There was no room
to spare. for Knapp had stolen enough
stun to equip 4: small department
store.
For several years, it appeared, tho
seunoing -vsteran~had~b been plying his
pilfering trade. In, burying his plum
der he Had boxed Il ap securely. pre-
,patatorY* I'll slnding II away. His
methods %cfe sweetly simple. He
would drive into town in . wagon, a.
parently Tor the purpose Of selling
farm producs or, garden vegetables,
&4d In that way obtaining a thorough
knowledge Or different houses, always
managing to sneak in later and carry
Of whatever he could lsy Ills yhands
.Nekolx: knew: ,sax@hlng gabout
him. who he was Of whence he 9came.
"A year prior to his capture he lad
settled IN the secluded belt Of timber
and kept entirely to himself.
He was tried, convicted and sen-
fenced Ito >46 years in the Allegheny
tenitentiary; and his wife, against
whom nothing could be proved, was
released. But Knapp was Of, far too
original turn of mind to rest salts
ded with serving out his tiHne. He
simulated insanity, was Transferred to
a lunattc asylum. and soon after
sawed the bars, Of; window, 1escaped
through the opening thus provided.
and was never caught.