The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-08-06
A MARINE
CHASE
Il Was For a Crook
and $4,000
By WARREN MILLER

The most interesting chase l ever had
In all my experience as detective Off
Ger was for Simpson, who had robbed
the National bank Of 10000 In
currency. Simpson was located in New
York by the police, or was supposed to
be, and his problem was to get out of
the city with the plunder. The prob
lem Of the police was to arrest him
with the funds on him.
My being called into the case arose
from certain information that came
from Philadelphia. The chief of police
Of that city gave out information that
a small steamer no bigger than canal
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 of
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-
tion of New London. AS 1t was we In
ferred that Simpson had written the
anonymous letter to put us off the
track But If this were so he had not
counted on our being in a position t.
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 In her | made a mental note
Of everything In her outward makeup.
She was evidently such boat as in
used for carrying passengers short dis
tances between city and its outlying
towns. She had Il 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 got the idea that l was off
the track. | employed a man to watch
the boat and made a 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 It
was all right
Had 1t not been for this information
would have watched the boat myself
or at least taken better measures to
keep advised Of her movements. AS it
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 tug, and, having re-
ceived information that my quarry aft.
er making the ocean had gone north.
ward, followed in hot haste. The
Muller must have had good motive
power, for despite the fact that we nut
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 | had
telephoned the New York police de-
partment of what had taken place, but
whether or not they took steps to head
on the fugitive nothing came of my
notihcation. | kept on, guided by in
Quiry alone all day, but all day gaining
on the Muller. When night came ON
felt that temporarily at least had lost
her, for at night she could go 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
ly 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 l followed the fugitive
Tor several days. The last l heard of
her was off Cape Cod She was then
pointing for Portland. l now saw her
object. She would make for Casco bay.
IN which there are several hundred is
lands, 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
her cooped within limited area, for
she could not go on with safety north
ward. there being no harbor between
Maine and the st. Lawrence river. But
TO ind her among the islands of Casco
bay would be like looking for a needle
In haystack. At the same time |
might hunt her down by the same proc
ess OF inquiry had already pursued.
l made Portsmouth, where | learned
that the Muller had been there. A