Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-06-20
Woman
Detective 'sStory
By SADIE OLCOTT

went there, learned that he was at
certain hotel, and he was pointed
out to me In the reading room.
entered the room and. going up to
him, said:
1.-THE Rev. Mr.. Burt, believe"
81 am" he said. rising and looking at
me suspicious!y.
II have understood that you have
great success in raising money for
churches, and | would like TO know II
you would be willing to help me pay
or a mortgage on our church ut Avon.
dale"
Avondale was town not far from
Edgerton. and had heard that one of
its churches was unGer mortgage, which
the congregation desired to pay off.
But intended this only as means of
making Mr. Burt's acquaintance.
| described to him the situation at
Avondale. stating that the people there
were well 30 GO, but needed some per-
suaslve speaker to wake them up.
aGGoG that lie would he Paid for his
labor proposing that he receive the
contribution himself ard 6eGlIct one
third Of 1t for himself. This knew
would please him. for there would be
no difficulty in his deducting us third
or, rather, of appropriating the whole
contribution. He manifested a viii
| lingness to undertake the work, but
protested against receiving so much
compensation as a third of the amount
| collected. On no account would he
consent to deduct more than 10 per
cent He was ready to 90 to Avon
| dale as soon as | said tue word. told
! him that would see the pastor and
the deacon aud as soon as | could get
their consent would let him know.
| pretended TO go to .Avondale but
really returned to the sheriff. who had
employed me. to arrange with him as
to when and where lie should send the
! force intended TO make Tie arrest. 1t
was agreed between us that he was to
send one picked man to Edgerton, who
was to pass himself as commercial
traveller. This mans name was Larn-
ed, and | was made acquainted with
him. and we conferred together. | told
iiLl W INK luz ScSl Sdllplc
he could find.
Returning to Edgerton. | told Mr..
Burt that everything had been arrang-
ed at Avondale, but the evening select
ed for his appeal for funds had been
fixed for the following Sunday, four
days hence. lie was not pleased at
this. preferring that the work should
be done at once. The truth is he did
not care to remain in the same locali-
ty for so long a period. | determined,
however. to hold him If possible till |
could spring my trap.
laid myself out to please him,
spending Il good deal of time with
him knew that he was not inter
'."ch in matters of religion and did
T. ~ '''ik on religious subjects. I pre-
ferrcd to choose other topics, in which
lie woold he more at home. my inten-
ton being when had gained his con-
hdente to give him to understand that
| knew his true character. that was
2ue OF the same kind as himself and
desi ed TO assist him in p!underihg that
m:"ht share the plumber
Nuen thought the time ripe l re-
veart tie character | wished him to |
Ja." me for by confessing that | ex-
i,e, ted IA share in the collection | was |
70 briug about. l saw him start, but |
he did not take the hint openly, and it |
was some time before he consented to |
drop the parson and talk like the vii |
lain he was. Then | told him that to-
geiher We might reap q rich harvest. |
He caught at the idea and grew enthu-
Slastjc over it.
Having won his confidence, | kept
holding up the rich hauls we would
make, | joining congregations and ar
ranging for addresses, to be followed
by collections He would disappear,
leaving me to repent having put con-
tidence In rascal
When all was ready for my scheme
Larned appeared at the hotel, and a
sample trunk Of enormous size was
carried to his room. 1t was empty,
but only Larned and l knew that. |
told Mr.. Burt that l was bent on TAX
Ing money from the commercial trav-
eler and that | was already engaged
in learning where he kept it. The
next day Informed my pal that
Larned had gone out and left $500 be-
tween the mattresses Of his bed, Sug.
costing that Burt go into his loom and
get 1t while ! watched. The door was
supposed to be locked, and ! borrowed
a skeleton key from Burt VITA which
to unlock it. though Larned mad pur
posely left it unlocked
took position in the hall and after
pretending to have watched for some
time called Burt and told him the coast
was clear, and he went into the room
for the money. He had scarcely done
so when | ran in and told him that
the drummer was coming up to his
room.
Get in the trunk | said 1T is
your only chance"
raised the lid. and he got inside. !
| clapped the lid down on him and
locked him in. Larned was waiting
in another room, and as soon as had
secured the prize l called him.
Before Burt was let out he was told
that he was covered and if he resisted '
lie would be shot. He was armed. but {
the odds were so greatly against him
that he surrendered. {
l received 5000 for my share in the
arrest. {