The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-05-26
SIR DAVID
FAX
b EDWARD 3. TWEEDALE
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911

a man to state prison for two years.
Before he went Up he ~feproached me,
with tears In his eyes, because I had
taken a livelihood from his wife and.
children. I felt so sorry Tor them that
I kept the wolf from the door during
the term Of the husband and fathers
imprisonment. When he was dis
charged he came. to me. thanked me
and said IL It ever came in his way he
would do me a good turn.
Some time after this I received an
anonymous note stating that Dan Nc
Connell would attend an evening func-
ton to be given by Nathaniel Ames,
prominent in society, that night, for
the purpose Of plumber. Mcconnell
had got away with perhaps. a hundred
thousand dollars Of loot, and there.
were rewards out for him to the
amount Of $4,000. If I could nab him,
I would be well set up. I rather fam
cied the information had come from.
the crook whose family I had befriend-
ed, though I confess 1t was the first
bit Of gratitude from a criminal I had
ever heard of. E
Unfortunately I didn't get the infor-
nation till about 10 O'Clock at night.
l got into evening dress, hurried.
around to the house in question and
was ushered up to the mems robing.
room. I had thrown of my wraps and,
was going downstairs through a hall.
when I saw a gentleman coming out
Of one of the rooms. He gave an in
voluntary start upon seeing me. but he.
persued his way while I. walking slow
~ as I passed the roo from which he
had made an exit, looked in. From the
apparel I saw lying about and other
Indications 1 judged it was q lady's
bedroom.
This made me suspect that the man
| who had emerged from it had had no
business there. Gould 1t be that I had,
had the luck to light OF Mcconnell on
my very entrance?, I hurried down
stairs and saw the man I had observed
just going up to speak to the host and
hostess. 3ls
"who is that gentlemanY'I asked.
"Sir David Peaks, an Englishmanre-
Gently arrived, in search Of an Ameri-
can wife, they say! He brought let
| tiers to Mr.. Ames, I believe"
MY hopes of a easy find were
dashed. *.
From that time forward 1. kept my
eye open for a suspicious character.
! Mcconnell had never been convicted
| and no picture of him had yet been
taken. u
Feeling some one jostle against me
| from behind. I turned and there was
| Sir David. He begged my pardon with
| an. English accent and passed on. 1t
wasn't ten E:nutes before I saw the
host coming for me with an ominous
look on his face.
slave you received an invitation
here?" he asked;
"No: have you?" l replied without
showing the least discomposure,
though I felt that something had gone
against me.
"Confound you, sir; I live here"
swell, all I have to say to you is that
! you live in a deuced fine house."
I was trying to gain time to get
away from several listeners. While we
were talking Sir David. came up, and
heard the dialogue. Then he broke!tn:
that's a favorite way Of robbery
among the London crooks. They go to
functions as guests and take away the
jewelry. You'd better search him."
I was marched into q; room by the
host and two others, where there was
! no one to see what was going on, and
searched. What was my establishment
at the finding in a pocket in the skirt
of my dress coat Of a brooch belonging
to one of the young ladies of the Ames
family.
Like lightning, my having seen Sir
David Peaks coming out Of a ladies'
bedroom and his having jostled me
cast q food Of light on the situation.
He was Mcconnell personating q
knight. which he could well do since
he had come from among the better
English classes, being his family's
black sheep. Knowing that I had seen
him leaving a in which he had
no right. he had slipped the brooch
into my pocket and then in some way
directed the hosts attention to me.
I'm caught" I said. II have a
confederate in the house. Telephone
the police and permit no one to leave
till they come. Keep quiet; you don't
want a disturbance, I'm sure"
"who's your confederate?"
HE whom you call Sir David Peaks.
Watch him for the present. but don't
accuse him..
They all sneered. at this. but called
the police. I.asked them to tell Char
lie Bowers to come also. Bowers
knows me-" 1 explained. "1'm an old
offender"
They did watch Sir David. though
they would not admit to me that they
were doing 80. When the police came.
Bowers and another man in plain
clothes were admitted by 4 back door.
Charlie I said, Mcconnell. whom,
A~&- Att