Warren sheaf., 1910-08-18

OI CQe treasure MY QuSDdQQ came 10
America to make arrangements for it's
transfer to this country He Was to
bribe a customs official to pass the
box containing the jewels without ex-
animation. He was also to provide a
place for their concealment But on
reaching New York he was recognized
as one wanted for a former offense
and was arrested. This has spoiled
the game. Taggart was to have sailed
on the ship Pequot on date that
should bring him into this harbor with
in a few days. The European govern
ment has offered a reward of $4,000
for the recovery Of the jewels. Inter-
cept Taggart and you will have been
repaid for your kindness to me and
my husband"
On the receipt of this information
John Brainard suddenly became a new
man. If be could secure this reward
he would be able to lift those de-
pendent on him from suffering to com
fort
That was a day when ocean liners
came over under canvas and required
some thirty days to make the transit.
Had the matter occurred today John
Brainard might have feared that some
one acting under information received
by cablegram would get ahead Of him.
But there were no cablegrams in those
days, and if criminal secured an en-
barkation he was pretty sure that no
one had been warned of his arrival.
What Brainard had to consider was
to make good his capture without Civ
ing away his information to any one.
He succeeded in getting himself ap-
pointed deputy constable. then went
down New York bay to quarantine
and waited for the arrival of the man
and the jewels. In few days the
Pequot was sighted. Her appearance
confirmed Mrs Nolan's story. Still,
John had been twice duped by GRIM
inals, and he was not yet sure but that
new trap had been laid for him.
Brainard made the acquaintance of
the health officer whose business it
was to board incoming vessels and
secured his permission to go with him
when he made his inspection of the
Pequot. His informant had given him
description of Taggart. He was
small, thickset and an especial mark
on him was the absence Of a part of
one ear, which he had lost in a fight
with the French police. When the
Pequot neared the quarantine station
boat bearing a yellow flag, the doc
tor and John seated in the stern, was
pulled out to her and the two climbed
a ladder that had been placed for
them over the ships side Then the
former made his medical inspection.
while John began to inspect the pas
sengers.
The work was not as arduOuS then as
it would be among theseveral thousand
persons coming in on an ocean liner
today. There were but twenty in all.
John saw no one on deck answering
the description of his quarry. and on
asking the purser if there were no
more the officer counted noses and
said that one man was missing. Johns
face fell Had Taggart escaped? All
u
short. thickset man with one ear near
ly gone was dragged out of the hold,
where he had gone to escape observa-
tion till he might find an opportunity
to step ashore.
John showed his badge and made
the arrest Since there was no tel
egraph by which he could summon as
sistance on his arrival at the slip where
the ship was to be docked he was
obliged to wait till he came within
sight of the Battery. Then the cap
tain sent the message by signal AS
soon as the ship was docked John
turned his prisoner over to the police
and his effects were placed in bond.
In a hatbox with a false bottom the
jewels were found.
1t was months before John received
the reward for his capture, but in time
$25,OOO was paid him.
Meanwhile he had been quietly
working upon the matter nearest his
heart, his vindication, and the day aft
er the payment Of the money Huyser
& Co. were sued for false imprison-
ment and their books placed in the
care of a custodian appointed by the
court. Then Mr.. Huyser sent for John
to come and see him.
"What does this charge meanY' ask
ed the head of the firm.
1T means that you imprisoned an
innocent man, who at the time knew
not which way to turn to exonerate
himself. He is now about to move
heaven and earth to prove that he was
used as a catspaw.'
'Who used him?'
Your bookkeeper, Coulter. now a
member Of the frm.">
Huyser sent for Coulter, who ap-
peared pale and trembling. John told
the story of how Coulter had assisted
him in his trial balance and how he
doubtless cooked it up to serve his
own purposes. Coulter. knowing that
the pending suit would reveal his pee
ulations, broke down and confessed.
Soon after Johns arrest some specu-