River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-07-23

friend or the Montgomery idnhs
desired the grave marked. Afterward
came other sums to pay for keeping
up the plot.
The postmark on these anonymous
communications was 'GreenVille, s.
c."
Kearney desired to go to Greenville
and get in touch with the postal au-
thorities there.
Another letter would be mailed from
that town to Nyack. He would take
a glimpse of the man who mailed it.
He would clear up the Montgomery
case and he would hold the record of
never having been beaten out by a
criminal
few days later Michael Kearney
registered at the Mansion House.
Greenville's best hotel, as James
Flynn.
In his room he unpacked his grip.
Among other things he removed was
long and wide envelope. 1t contained
a letter from his inspector authorizing
him to request any aid be might need
in the name of the police of the city
VI NEW IOIk
The big envelope also contained
certified copy of the police records of
James Montgomery. convicted of the
murder of Walter Trueblood, night
Waterman of the West End National
bank. These records included photo
graphs in full face and profile and the
Bertillon~ measurements and finger
iV1+c q
drawn by New York magistrate,
charging James Montgomery with
being a fugitive from Justice and an
escaped convict.
The man hunter knew from the soft
sound Of the voices he heard about
him that his own voice would be in
striking contrast. 1t would be futile
for him to try the pose of southern
err So he let it be known that he was
a New Yorker who wanted to live In
the south and invest limited amount
of capital
Kearney left the hotel to look over
the city. He cOursed its two or three
business streets much as hunting dog
would range In it's preliminary run
over a field.
He had not forgotten the testimony
Of Montgomery that he was an appren-
tice machinist, and he remembered the
story of the boys anxiety for his kit
of tools. He drifted among the men
who handled the machinery Of the cot
ton mills with story that he wanted
to start up a small foundry with a
partner who was an expert. All the
while his keen little eyes studied close
ly the face of every man he met,
After several days of preliminary
scouting he visited the office Of the
United States district attorney for the
Greenville district. He explained his
mission and showed his credentials.
He asked the district attorney to ex-
tend to the police Of New York his aid
in intercepting a letter that would be
mailed in Greenvile to a certain adj
dress In Nyack, N. Y.
Letters from one man had been mail
ed quarterly to Nyack from the noun
tain city. One should be mailed dur
ing the first days of June. 1t possible
he desired to see the man who mailed
u.
the point at which the letter was mail
ed that would help, for 1t would mar
row his field of inquiry.
The United States district attorney
knew only that a search was being
made for an escaped convict. The pO-
lice of the great cities and the United
States secret service generally work in
harmony, so the district attorney turn
ed over the detective to a postal in
spector.
Kearney determined to give his per-
sonal attention to the people who came
and went from the postoffice building.
He was back on the trail after eleven
years. Indeed, eleven years were az
eleven days to him. IL his natural
span Of life had been seventy decades
instead of seven he would have been
patient through the whole 700 years.
He had not been able to pick up the
lost tracks OF Hawkins. but Hawkins
was skilled In the tricks of the under
world. The real man he was after had
been but a country boy when he was
sent up for life. In lodging the law
uG udO DlA GAdnCSC against 0iA OO-
cause of his inexperience. He would
make many mistakes. He had made
one-sending money to Nyack. 1t is
police axiom that even the most care
full of criminals sometimes overlooks an
important detail in covering himself
Kearney watched and waited, keep
ing his ears open all the time to catch
the gossip of small city. There was
one big topic that seemed to hold the
attention of the people who focked to
the postoffice at intervals during the
day. 1t was the marriage of John Mel
son to Molly Bryan, the daughter of
the president of the Reedy River Cot
ton Mill company.
From fragments Of conversation
Kearney learned that these two people
were much beloved. the girl because of
her beauty and her earnest work
among the poor of the mill settlements
and the man because of sanity life.
At sunset on the evening of the third