Year: 1873

pipes. The moment that ne lifted his glass to
his lips sprang upon him, and my assistants,
at the same instant, seized him from behind.


quick as we were, he managed to wrench his
left arm away, and striking straight out from
the shoulder, sent me sprawIing on the floor.


MY Two men were, however, two much for him,
and by the time Isreganed my feet had the
handouts on him. When l looked closer at
our prisoner, / confess was a little bit stag
gered. He scowled at US fercely enough, but
he bad fine handsome face and certainly had
not the look of one who would commit SO das-
tardly crime as that for which we had Just
arrested him. 80


"Well, mates," he said, "this is rather rough
work. What do you want with me 2" =


eve want you" Ireplied, "for murder COM
mitted in Scotland"


"Murder / never hurt anybody in nv life" !"


81 told him that would have to be proved, and
in the meantime he must go with us to the police
station. Calling cab, two of US accompanied
our prisoner, the third officer being left with
Fox, with orders to follow us to the station


stated the charge to the inspector on duty
and the prisoner was asked his name and ad-
dress. He gave that of Archibald Brown, of
Greenock, and stated that he was sailor On
searching him, we found in his possession two
sovereigns and some silver, and large clasp
knife, such as is usually worn by ea-faring
men.


I took Fox to coffee-shop OFF Fleet street
and arranged with the proprietor to supply
him with board and lodging from day to day.
Two men from the force, in plain clothes, were
toldAae b watch him night and day, with orders
to arrest him If he made any attempt to escape.
The next morning the prisoner was brought
before magistrate. My witness, Fox, would
not, thought make very favorable impress
sion in his shabby costume. In fact, l was
ashamed of him, and purchased at second
Ieho fo10 co. L kn
had his new rig out, and his hair cut, he was
much more presentable. At the Police Court
he gave his evidence in such a strait-forward
way as to favorably impress the magistrate
with its truth. The prisoner denied having
made any such confession to Fox, and protested
his innocence, aud asserted that he not even
heard of the murder He either did not know
refused to state where he was at the time !;
and this, joined to the fact that he was native
of town such short distance from Glasgow,
in some measure confirmed the evidence ofFox.
Finally, Brown was remanded for a few days,
to enable us to communicate with the authori-
ties at Glasgow, and to produce. if possible,
further evidence. We i'm mediatey telegraph
ed to the chief of the police at Glasgo v stating
that we had arrested man named jrAwn for
the murder of thewoman, and that tho prisoner
was remanded from that day (Thurs"av) until
the following Monday. We received telegram
in reply that they believed we hal got the
right man, and that an officer would be sentup
to London in time for the adjourned eXamna-
lion. Next morning we had letter confirming
the telegram. The murder had, it appeared,
been quite mystery to the Glasgow police un-
til the day before the receipt of our message,
when a woman had been found who asserted
that she had seen the deceased on the night of
the murder in company with a sailor named
Brown, and that she had watched them go into
the house together. The letter further stated
than an officer would arrive on Sunday night
to take charge of the prisoner.


In the meantime we kept a sharp watch
upon Fox; but, apparently, there was little
occasion for it, as The officer reported that he
scarcely ever left the house where he was stay
ing, and showed no desire to do so. He twice
called upon me at the station, and expressed
great concern lest any of Browns friends should
get hold Of him, as he felt sure that his life
would not be safe. Our men watched him up
to Saturday night, when, SO convinced had we
all become of his good faith, that l asked my
chief if he thought it was necessary to continue
the surveillance. He agreed with me that it
was not, and the officers were withdrawn. On
Sunday afternoon, looked in to see Fox, to
tell him that we should want him at the Police
Court the next morning at eleven. l found
him having his tea, and apparently quite at
home in the comfortable quarters l had pro-
Vided.


That night I met the Scotch officer at the
Great Northern Station, who congratulated me
on the successful arrest which l had made l
admitted that thought there was some credit
due to me, as there had been difficulties in the
way, and the prisoner being such q tall, power
full man. there had been danger also. His re-
plyNtcco all the breath out of my body


"Eh mon, there's some mistake here. The
mon we want is wee chap, nicknamed Red
head Charlie but whose real name is Brown,
alias Fox, alias Sinclair, and balf dozen
others I"


A light broke in upon me in moment. A
few hasty words of explanation to the Scotch
man, and as fast as hanson cab could go, we
tore down to Fleet street, but arrived too late,
for the bird had flown. Fox, the actual murderer,
had left the coffee shop about an hour before,
and from that day to this we have never seen
nor heard anything of him.


1 need scarcely say that the prisoner, who
was as innocent as l, was set at liberty thenext
morning.


m Al