The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-07-17
HAS SOMETHING ON
OLD GAP COLLIER
E. L. POWERS CINCHES REPUTA-
TION AS A SLEUTH
Detects Chicken Lifters, Who Credit
Him With Being Gifted a. a
Mind Reader

James Rogers, Thetford farmer,
has missed chickens from his premises
several times recently and on the latest
occasion called Deputy Sheriff E. L.
Powers to his assistance. At this par
ticular time only few fowls were
taken, having been filched from their
roosting place among the orchard trees,
and, in fact, Mr.. Rogers heard the
chickens squall as they were rudely
torn from home.
Next morning the deputy sheriff was
on the job and after following the trail
of the poachers across several fields,
said trail being quite plain by reason of
the fact that there had been several
members in the party who left their
footprints in the soft earth Of the corn
fields, he came upon place where the
necks of the chickens had been wrung
and the heads thrown in little heap.
Then the trail led through more fields
and came out upon highway where it
was hopelessly lost among the other
marks of travel.
Following this, the deputy came home
and did some thinking. and having done
some work in the neighborhood on a
previous occasion he was able to make
some guesses that proved wonderfully
accurate. Next morning he again drove
out to the scene of the fowl deed and
Immediately called an young lad who
is working In the neighborhood. Names
will be omitted but this is about what
took place. "Now, "--saidM Mr.. Pow
ers, 'T want you to come withime and
we will go over and SEQ, You,
no doubt, know what want; Mr.. Rog-
ers has lost a few chickens and you and
so and so. manning three other boys in
the neighborhood) got them, wrung
their necks and took them over to 4
certain sugar house and cooked them.
Now, the easiest way out Of the matter
is for you to own up the whole business
ane go over and settle with Mr.. Rog-
ers, who is not disposed to be mean
about the matter"
Powers whole statement was only
shrewd guess, but he could tell from
the anxious countenance of the culprit
that he was getting near to the truth
and when he had finished the boy looked
at him in wonder and said "By gosh,
Stub" you know all about it, all
right, but how in the Dickens did you
find out?" Well, said Mr.. Powers,
that's one of the secrets Of the pro-
fession that it wouldn't do to give
away" The other boys who composed
the feather party were gathered up and
taken over to the Rogers farm where
the proprietor was as much mystified
over their speedy detection as the boys
had been, but as Mr.. Powers had said,
he was not disposed to be vindictive
and when he became assured that the
taking of the chickens was mainly
mischevious prank, he generously
waived all claims for damages and the
boys paid only the expenses that had
been incurred, solemnly swearing to do
nothing of the kind in the future, as it
is plainly impossible to escape the
clutches of a sleuth possessing such
marvellous intuition as Mr.. Powers.
Hereafter, and in that particular neigh
borhood, Allan Pinkerton, Old Cap Col
lier, James Burns and all the sleuths OF
dime novel fame will have serious
competitor in real life in the person OF
"Stub" Powers.