Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-03

. solved through lue diu Vi ESNSl
Crewe, ! think that which involved
the capture of Rowell, the deraulting
bank cashier, was the most remark
able Crewes skill rested in the main
upon certain optical gift by virtue
of which he was enabled at any time
10 call up before his mental vision the
picture of any person OF thing that he
had once inspected. and that complete
ano in every detail perfect. But while
this faculty was largely instrumental
in Rowells capture, this case involved
besides so clear and close a piece OF
mathematical reasoning that 1t de-
serves TO be set down as one of the
masterpieces of detective induction.
Crewe and were in England upon
some business at the time when the
robbery of the Penny and Shilling
bank startled the country. Rowell,
the cashier. had somehow managed TO
obtain possession Of no less a sum
than a hundred and sixty thousand
pounds, or 100000 in American
money. He had quietly secreted this
in his suit case, walked out OF the
bank on Saturday at noon, and com
pletely disappeared by the time the
discovery OF the theft was made on
Monday.
Rowell had no relatives and no
close friends He had no ties, no &C
quaintances among the criminal class.
He looked like many another young
Englishmau of the middle classes: OF
medium height, stalwart, alert, agrees
sive. clean. lie left no photograph
behind. There seemed to be no way
in which he could be traced.
The superintendent of Scotland
Yard made happy suggestion to the
bank manager. had been called into
consultation as the banks attorney,
and had brought Crewe to the con-
ference with me. We both strongly
approved the plan.
Every Englishman who has COM
mitted a felony makes the United
States his ultimate objective" the SUI
perintendent said "Why this should
be so do not pretend to know. do
not mean to cast a slur upon your
country. Still, the fact remains that,
when he thinks the hue and cry has
died away. he takes ship for America.
Now. the proposition Is 20 hero him
into what | will call a rat trap. So
long as he lies low in England he is
never likely TO be discovered. But
II We make the chase hot at every
point except the western ports, If we
publish items in the newspapers stat
Ing that no guard is being kept at
Liverpool or Southampton, because
the fugitive is believed to be in France,
he will be tempted. he will investigate
10 discover whether this is true; final
". etpboldened. he will take ship for
New York"
"And them" asked Crewe.
1--WE arrest him as he disembarks. q
This plan was carried out and
worked to perfection. Although
Rowell could not be positively identi
Ted. there was every reason to be
ieve in a cabled statement from the
captain Of the Pentannic to the effect
that the fugitive had taken passage or
his ship. The information was cablec
back to New York and couple Of de
tectives were detailed to arrest Rowel
the moment that he landed.
Unfortunately the plan miscarried
AS we learned afterward, Rowell haC
somehow possessed himself OF th'
uniform of a ships officer, and attireC
In this guise. had stepped bold!
ashore under the noses of the de
tectivee and disappeared among th'
four million Inhabitants of the city.
The bank urged me to hasten Il
America in order to assist in tn
work OF recapture. l had, however
Interested the manager in Crewe b.
recounting some of my companion
former successes, and, at his invita-
tiGn. brought my friend to the seen
OF the robbery.
You say you have no photograph G
the thief?" asked Crewe. when b
heard the details of the story.
None whatever. And I fancy" sal
the manager. that you will not obtai
much of a clue by examining his stoc
and counter"
81 hope you are mistaken" al
swered Crewe, laughing. May as
you few Questions?"
with pleasure
What was Rowell's salary"
Two hundred pounds" answere
the manager with some hesitanc!
I'VE had intended to increase 1t o
the first of the year"
"Still. a single man could live we
on that" said Crewe. did he dres
well?"
Not extravagantly, but neatly. Il
usually wore a suit of blue serge,
collar OF moderate height, and gra
g tie"
That is very important" sal
Crewe. But here is a more in
portant matter still Has the heigl
OF this stool been changed sine
Rowell vacated it?"
No II Is an immovable seat. {
\ you win see. and nicely apportiont
to the height OF the counter"
In that case" said Crewe. Il thin
hat we shall catch your man. BY u
tay. did he ever wear anything b
e serge?"
Aarely That was his ONCE CO
Whc also wore II upon the street
W u know. Mr.. Crewe, the hat
I'd