The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-04-01

When we or the wild west were be
ginning 10 put on a semicivilzed gari
similar change of necessity cam,
over the outlaws we had to deal with
The horse stealing Industry was moi
as profltable us ii had been and WAS
better taken care of by those who had
horses 10 lose. Wholesale robbery had
become less lucrative. since more bust.
ness was done by means of checks on
banks and less with gold dust. The
grub desperate was being transformed
into the butterfly confidence man.
But before he ceased to he desDer-
ado he began to devote himself TO con-
fdence games. In other words. he was
both. We had one man in our region
who WAS the most dreaded of the
many who had terroriZed us and was
at the same time the most artful swim
der. His real name WAS not known,
though many of the names he used
were on record with the sheriff There
fore he acquired the sObriqupt of The
Eel He had an especial fancy for as.
made fine haul 10y personating Il
capitalist out from the east looking
over the ground with view To estab.
fishing bank. On another occasion
he represented himself us an agent Of
the postoflice department. In this he
was not so successful. for he was
caught before realizing any plumber
n
But he did not hesitate to kill the man
who caught him, and nothing was
gained Ia the affair by law and order.
One day man rode into town who
said that The Eel was masquerading
In the region through which he had
passed az Methodist minister When
asked how he knew the fellow was
The Eel he said he had met the minis. |
ter and mt once knew him for The Eel. |
whom he had seen.
! had done some work as deputy |
sheriff for which | had been commend |
Ell and was asked if | would under
take the job of going out to try and
bring In The Eel dead or alive. II
think the preference was for dead,
since alive meant a trial and posi-
bihty or the prisoners escape either
by lack Of evidence or an artful dodge.
signitied my assent. determining that
would fight fire with fire. In other
words, would play part Just as
The Eel was playing part.
! donned n black broadcoth suit and
white crayat, intending to pass myself
m IL,
or the board of foreign missions. We
had had such Il man among us recent.
Y. and | succeeded In getting some
documents he had left behind
Nm. These | read carefully in order
o be able to talk intelligently on the
subject OF foreign missions. Mounted
IN the meekest looking horse could
ind, my saddlebags filed with the
'rinted matter, Dcrringer pistol slung
II each coat sleeve by IA elastic cord.
started out to find The Eel.
] was obliged to travel fifty miles be.
ore ! found him, but was not dis.
'leased to get so far from home that
would not very likely he Recognized.
'hough usually wore beard. | WAS
ow clean shaved tracked The Eel
town that was quite civilized for
hat region and found him Mt work
aising funds for the oStcrsible pur.
ose or building n church He bndi
cen invited To stop with one OF the
lost respectable citizens and was eyi.
entity on the way TO make an excellent
coop.
inquired as to those citizens who |,
'ere most Interested In The Eers
hurch building scheme and selecting
ne, Abner Smith. called upon him. in. |,
'odnced myself as James Rldgeway.
Missionary In India. and, telling him
nat ] had come among the people of /.
re town to raise funds for foreign mis- !;
ons, asked his assistance. He re.
lied that ] had arrived nj an inoppor. :,
Inc time. since an effort had been ),
arted by the Rev. Mr.. Swartout. who ''
40 also recently come to town 10 build
church. ! suggested that Mr.. swart. .
IL ana ] might possibly work toyetb. y
:. since we were both In the same .
rvlce, and ] would like Mr.. Smith to :"
- either. He consented and =