Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-04

have often been asked il in my de-
tective work had sheered or from the
wrong trail when was about TO nab a
criminal through sympathy. / never
did that, but I once lost a woman
whom had under arrest because / had
become convinced that she was limo
cent. l did not tell her that she might
escape, but pretended TO trust her. !
was sorry afterward that I didn't let
her know that 1 was willing she should
go, for 1 saw her do something to gain
her freedom that made my blood cur
die.
A cashier of bank had been con-
victed of defalcation, had been sent to
the penitentiary and by means Of steel
saws sent him by his wife had cut the
bars of window of his cell. She had
also provided him with a rope, on
which he had lowered himself to the
ground and had then thrown it over
the prison wall, she being outside to
catch it and secure the end. He then
climbed on to the wall, and his wife
and three Of his friends had held
blanket, into which he had jumped.
Then, getting into a carriage, he had
been driven away.
The warden was quite sure that the
escaped mans wife had secured his
freedom, but had no evidence to sup
port the charge. Some time after the
escape l was ordered by my chief TO go
to Albany, where the woman was liv-
ing, arrest her on a trumped up charge
and bring her to Philadelphia, where
the crime Of which her husband had
been convicted was committed. The
object was to force her to betray his
whereabouts, or, rather, to force him to
give himself up to secure his wifes
freedom
l found the lady-she was a lady,
and a refined lady, too-living in seclu-
sion. She doubtless surmised what
kind of a game was to be played on
her, for l saw her face set with reso-
luton. l did not believe anything
could be forced out OF her. She went
with me without making any ado, and
I RETAINED from the indignity OF plac-
ing handouts on her. 1 took a seat be-
side her in the train, resolving 10 make
the journey as easy for her as possible.
During the ride to New York she told
me one OF the most interesting stories
of how mans ruin may be planned
to save another that / ever listened to.
If the person who laid the scheme had
devoted his genius to writing detective
stories he might have made a large
fortune. The most ingenious part of 1t
was that he fixed on an innocent man
so that there was no way that he could
prove his innocence without casting an
aspersion on his own wife.
Not only did the lady make the diff
ferent steps in the plot plain 10 me.
but by the artless way she told her
story convinced me that she had not
invented it and was telling the truth.
And when she told me that she and
her husband had intended to start for
Brazil with her children in a few days
TO begin life anew under n different
name 1 completely soured on my Job.
On reaching New York we took sup
per together in a restaurant, crossed
the river and boarded train for Phil
adeiphia- Having told me her story,
the lady sat silently weeping. Her ar
rest had spoiled plan that she and
her husband had been working and
waiting for for several months. II her
story and my faith In it's truth had not
conquered me her tears would have
done so-that is, being convinced OF
her innocence. After leaving Trenton
/ told her that / was going into the
smoking car.
Aren't you afraid I'll escaper' she
asked.
II don't see how you can" / replied
This train doesn't stop TIL we reach
Philadelphia, and before that I'll be
back"
l did not intend 20 return 10 her till
we were III the station at Philadelphia.
hoping that she would find a way OF
giving me the slip there, and thought 1t