The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-09-02
BY NJ. p. McInerney, Former
Butte Detective

The capture of Augusta Pasquale
known as 1.-THE Crank" in connec'
ton with a mystery surrounding the
kidnapping of Blakely Coughlin, II
month-old son of Mr.. and Mrs.
George M. Coughlin of Noristownr
June z, revives interest in one of the
most picturesque criminals of a past
generation, Pat Grove, who stole
Edward A. Cudahay Jr. % years ago.
Two things inspired Grove to the
act: first, his hatred of Edward A.
Cudahy Sr., father of the child, whom
he blamed for his ruin in about the
only honest enterprise he ever engag-
ed in, and second that Pat himself
was once kidnapped.
What / know about Grove l learn
ed from himself or his pals. l had
a hand in his capture, holding one of
the two runs that convinced him it
was "alI off" In the Butte Jail he
told me much of his life, and what
gaps he left his friends" pieced out.
Out of them 1 got the true story OF
Pat Grove, the man and the thief.
And here it is:
Started at Early Age
Grove was only 1S when he got
his start downward. That was
shortly after his first experience with
Edward A. Cudahy, the same Cudahy
who was one day to put a price on his
head. Going from an Iowa farm to
Omaha, Grove had worked in a pack
ing house and then opened a small
butcher shop. Cudahy started a big
ger shop across the street, sold for
cash and propered. Grove trusted
and busted.
Having a burning desire to get
even with the man who had put him
out of business" Grove stalked over
the way, hired out to Cudahy at 81
a day and proceeded to pocket a gem
erous portion of all the money ne
took in. He had plenty of nerve
in those days, for out of a single S25
sale on his first day on the job he
slipped $40 into his own pocket and
put only SIS in the "dinger" for Cud-
ahy. In this way he made" from
50 to $40 a day extra for four
months. Then the boss suddenly
separated him from his job and he
walked out spryly without asking
any questions. :
Next he had two years of taking
up fares on a street car, and did so
we'll that when he quit he had $500.
He pinned for excitement, went to
Chicago and got it. He was a wine :
buyer, just for a night. The next ;
morning he woke up broke. That :
made him ugly. He demanded his
money back and when everybody r
aughed he Strengthened their faces 9
~ waving a gun and holding up the :
house. The terrified women shed
money and valuables until he had a :
heap of treasure in front Of him !
that included $1,000 in diamonds. In !,
to get rid of the gems Grove :
experienced some more excitement. :
He found a "fence," but the fence" }
lot knowing him, told him to come
,ack in a few hours. All unsuspic- r
Gus, he went around at the appoint =
ID time, put the diamonds on the .
and looked up just as four y
detectives made a jump for him. :
)ne quick move and Groves gun =
vas in his hand. For a few seconds =
e was hidden by smoke; three de- =
dropped under his fire, but :,
he fourth got a grip on him, and, q
enforced by volunteers from the q
rowd that gathered, brought him .
own. .,
That fight gave Grove a reputation II
s a handy man with a gun, but he II
idn't have a chance to do any more -
racticing for some time, as he was q,
entenced to Joliet prison and served "
eventeen months of a six year SEN
ence before Omaha friends, headed
" Count Creighton, succeeded IN II
him p%ardoned. RI
Grove went back to Omaha and G
ried the packing house again, but g
ost his job when the boss learned IL
rho he was. Next he tended bar for 81
year and then he slipped again, this 81
me for a long slide. A good mimic
nd not badly read for a man of his F
lamp, Grove turned to aping the u