The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-11-30
BY GURDEN EDWARDS, Director,
Public Relations Commission, Amer.
lean BANKERS Association

lean Bankers Association.
!. { J ! |: J: ]
u A AN-HUNTING for GRIM
inals. in mountains in
AZ tested with sure-shot
u friends and relatives of
oETeM. the fugitives who hold
~ INA human life lightly when it
M. An comes to defending their
SM$$x@ own, calls for a particular
%X|N\ ly high degree of courage
and strategy. Here is
first-hand story of such a hunt, as
told in an official and confidential re-
port accounting for his operations to
his superior officers by the leading de-
tective in the affair, and it is presented
through the special permission of
James e. Baum, head of the nation
wide detective service conducted by
the American Bankers association to
protect its members against bank
criminals of all types.
A bank I'm the Cumberland noun
tains had been swindled by motor.
ious Guy Props by means Of forged
checks and the association assigned
one of its most noted man-hunters to
go into the mountains. get the Grim
inal and bring him TO justice. For
obvious legal reasons names of places
and persons are changed, but In all
other respects what follows are in
the words Of the detective himself
as set down each night during the
propresS of the hunt:
called on the state bank and met
the cashier who advised me OF deputy
sheriff, Ned Hardness, who is familiar
with the country around Ash county
and had heard that Guy Props was
running a moonshine still around Bald
Cliff i then met Deputy Hardness who
advised of r. Knollton who operated
a general store and post office at -
Point where Props sometimes visits
when he mails his letters. This r.
Knollton advised he was talking with
Props less than two weeks ago and
that Props is supposed to be running
liquor there
/ then saw Sheriff Jackson and we
went over all details of possible ways
TO capture Guy Props. Jackson advised
that where Props was rumored to be
in the hills was in another county
and that he could not cross the river
and make arrests.
Jackson advised of the reputation
Props had, also his brothers with whom
he sometimes lives, and then asked my
plans. l advised Jackson that l would
like TO have Deputy Hardness and
Deputy Elton accompany me and re-
main with me until i caught Props or
returned without him. 1 told him the
information / had was that Guy would
only call at home for a supply of food.
then go into the hills and live, which
would necessitate lying in wait for
his return to the house. We then talked
of transportation, which Sheriff jack
son advised he was unable to furnish.
There have been very heavy rains but
with a car which was not slung low ii
was thought we could drive to
Point and then walk the remaining dis
lance Deputy Elton was away but
would return at noon, so / decided to
wait so as to have him with us as l
knew the caliber of person he was
through working with him before; also
learned that Hardness was much the
same type of man.
| met Elton and then with Hardness
we laid our plans. Hardness advised
that the Bald Cliff country was only
penetrable over trails which are hard
to follow If you are not familiar with
them, as there are cross trails which
would confuse one, and he did not know
the route after crossing the county
line but at Point we could get a
responsible guide who also would be
handy with a gun, this being one r.
Knollton We also decided on picking
Up Beal Knollton and his brother Luke
while enroute and taking them along
because we would need more men as
there are twelve or more Props in
Guiding the women who are dead shots
with firearms We then talked OF
IL,
of ammunition apiece, each to be
equipped with a fashlight and pistol,
tobacco for several days, also that the
writer dress in the garb of the noun
tain boys, such as blue denim. cap
and yellow farm shoes.
/ then had Sheriff Jackson engage
car from the livery man and after din
ner, in company with Deputy Elton and
Deputy Hardness. we departed, first
circling the town, to throw off any
suspicious as to where we were head
ing for At we picked up Beal
Knollton We left after having re-
freshments and made our next stop al
Point where we put the machine
up and took supper at r. Knolltons.
r. Knollton was requested to come
along with us as a guide, but he re-
fused to do so unless j would keep
him absolutely under cover, as he was
afraid of the Props family, also sug-
Gested they would burn his store and
buildings down If they thought he was
in our party. r. Knollton was not so
cure of the trails to the home of Props
but could take US to Bald Cliff post
office ! then asked as to anyone else
who lived close who would be in posi-
tion to direct us to Props home, also
who could identify Guy, as none of our
party knew him. Cans Roper's name
was suggested, SO as II was on our
route to the river, | called stop at
Roper's home where l talked with him
He told of his fear of the Props crowd
and did not care to go. | then advised
Roper from information l learned from
BeaI Knollton, that he could have his
choice to act as guide to Props home
where | would dismiss him and give
him a chance to leave as soon as had
captured Guy or that ] would cause
his arrest Immediately on warrants he
knew about in the county.
With Roper unarmed and acting as