The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-07-12
A MARINE
CHASE
II Was For q Crook
and $4,000
By WARREN MILLER

! The most interesting chase | ever ha,
In all my experience as detective OH
Ger was for Simpson. who had robbe'
the - National bank Of $4,000 II
currency. Simpson was located in New
York by the police, or was supposed 4
be, and his problem was to get out o
the city with the plumber. The prob
lem OF the police was to arrest hin
with the funds on him.
My being called into the case ARCS,
from certain information that came
from Philadelphia. The chief Of police
Of that city gave out information that
small steamer no bigger than cana
boat that had been laid up for some
time had been purchased and was be
ing put into commission. The owner
could give no satisfactory account OF
the sale or who was the real purchaser
Indeed, they had become suspicious o!
the use to which she was to be put and
had advised the police to be on the
lookout.
The way we got on to Simpsons con-
nection with the steamer was this: An
anonymous letter was received at po-
lice headquarters which stated that he
| had chartered single sticker at New
London and was intending to make for
Canada In her. Had we not heard Of
the Philadelphia matter we would
| have been on the lookout In the direc-
ton Of New London. As II was we in
| ferred that Simpson had written the
anonymous letter to put us OF the
track. But II this were so he had not
counted on our being in position to
put these two bits OF information to-
gether.
As soon as arrived at Philadelphia
went to the dock where the suspect
was lying. Without appearing to be
interested I'm her made mental note
of everything In her outward makeup.
She was evidently such a boat as is
used for carrying passengers short dis
tances between city and Its outlying
towns She had single stack, was
moved by a propeller and was painted
white. The name on her stern was Pc
ter Muller.
There were no signs OF her leaving
port, aud l got the idea that was or
the track. employed man to watch
the boat and made visit to the police
department, hoping to get some more
information concerning her. They told
me they thought they had traced the
new ownership of the Muller and 1t
was all right.
Had it not been for this information
| would have watched the boat myself
or at least taken better measures to
keep advised Of her movements. As 1t
was | went to my hotel and to bed
early, being tired. was awakened at
3 o'clock In the morning by bellboy,
who ushered into my room the man !
had placed on watch. He told me that
he had gone to sleep about midnight
and was awakened by putting. Open
Ing his eyes, he saw the Muller going |
out.
chartered a tug, and, having re-
ceived information that my quarry aft
er making the ocean had gone north
ward, I followed In hot haste. The
Muller must have had good motive
power, for despite the fact that we put
on all steam she kept ahead Of US. We
saw nothing Of her, but upon inquiry
learned that she was several hours
ahead Of US, making northward.
Before leaving Philadelphia I had
telephoned the New York police de-
partment Of what had taken place, but
whether or not they took steps to head
of the fugitive nothing came Of my
notification. kept on, guided by In
quiry alone all day, but all day gaining
on the Muller. When night came on I
felt that temporarily at least had lost
her, for at night she could 90 where
she pleased without her movements
being noted.
However, / reasoned that the Muller
would not know that she was being
chased and would therefore not be like
" to attempt to throw me off her track.
At any rate determined to put into
the first available port and try to pick
up information OF the fugitive the next
day. This ! did and in the morning
started again northward, making In
quiries along the way. About noon !
got the first information. The Muller
had been seen about FIVE hours ahead Of
me, still pointing northward.
In this way / followed the fugitive
for several days. The last ! heard Of
her was Off Cape Cod She was then
pointing for Portland. / now saw her
object. She would make for Casco bay,
IN which there are several hundred IL.
ands, among which she would have an
EXCELLENT opportunity to lose herself.
There would be both advantage and dis
advantage In this TO me- ] would have
ler cooped within a limited area, for
she could not go on with safety north
ward. there being no harbor between
Maine and the St Lawrence river. But
o find her among the islands Of Casco
y. . yof,id Ia lfke Locking for a needle