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THE BURGLAR'S FATE AND THE DETECTIVES.
by
ALLAN PINKERTON,
Author of
"Expressman and Detective," "Melnotte and Detectives,"
"Professional Thieves and Detectives,"
"Railroad Forger and Detectives,"
"Mollie Maguires and Detectives,"
"Spiritualists and Detectives,"
Etc., Etc., Etc.
New York:
G. W. Carleton & Co., Publishers.
London: S. Low, Son & Co.
MDCCCLXXXIV.
Copyright,
by
Allan Pinkerton.
Stereotyped by Samuel Stodder, 42 Dey Street, N.Y.
Trow's Printing And Book-Binding Co., N.Y.
PREFACE.
In the pages which follow I have narrated a story of actual occurrence.
No touch of fiction obscures the truthful recital. The crime which is
here detailed was actually committed, and under the circumstances which
I have related. The four young men, whose real names are clothed with
the charitable mantle of fiction, deliberately perpetrated the deed for
which they suffered and to-day are inmates of a prison. No tint or
coloring of the imagination has given a deeper touch to the action of
the story, and the process of detection is detailed with all the
frankness and truthfulness of an active participant. As a revelation of
the certain consequences which follow the perpetration of crime, I send
this volume forth, in the fervent hope that those who may read its
pages, will glean from this history the lessons of virtue, of honor,
and of the strictest integrity. If in the punishment of Eugene Pearson,
Dr. Johnson, Newton Edwards and Thomas Duncan, the young men of to-day,
tempted by folly or extravagance, will learn that their condemnation was
but the natural and inevitable result of thoughtless crime, and if their
experience shall be the means of deterring one young man from the
commission of a deed, which the repentance of years will not obliterate,
I shall feel that I have not labored in vain. As a true story of
detective experience, the actors in which are still living, I give this
volume to the world, trusting that its perusal may not fail in its
object of interesting and instructing the few or many who may read its
pages.
ALLAN PINKERTON.
CONTENTS.
PREFACE v
CHAPTER I.
Geneva--The Robbery--Search for the Burglars--My Agency notified 11
CHAPTER II.
The Investigation begun--John Manning's Visit to Geneva--Eugene
Pearson's Story--The Detective's Incredulity--A Miraculous
Deliverance with a Ten-Cent Coin 22
CHAPTER III.
An Interview with Miss Patton--Important Revelations--Doubts
Strengthened--Mr. Bartman's Story--William Resolves to seek Newton
Edwards 38
CHAPTER IV.
The Work Progresses--Eugene Pearson's Early Life--On the Trail of
Newton Edwards 51
CHAPTER V.
New Developments--Tidings of Newton Edwards--Suspicions
Strengthening against Eugene Pearson--Mr. Silby's Confidence 63
CHAPTER VI.
The Detective at Woodford--An Interview with the Discarded Wife of
Newton Edwards 77
CHAPTER VII.
A Fire and a Talkative Fireman--Mrs. Edwards Receives a Letter 90
CHAPTER VIII.
A Plan to Intercept Correspondence--Edwards fully Identified
A pretty Servant Girl and a Visit to Church 102
CHAPTER IX.
Waiting and Watching--Two Letters--Newton Edwards' Hiding-Place
Discovered 116
CHAPTER X.
The Burglar Tracked to his Lair--The old Stage Driver--A Fishing
Party--A Long Wait--A Sorrowful Surprise--The Arrest of Newton
Edwards 125
CHAPTER XI.
Newton Edwards brought back to Chicago--Attempt to Induce a
Confession--a Visit to his Relatives--The Burglar Broken Down 141
CHAPTER XII.
The Confession of Newton Edwards--The foul Plot fully Explained
Eugene Pearson's Guilt clearly Proven--A Story of Temptation and
Crime 154
CHAPTER XIII.
Edwards taken to Geneva--The Arrest of Eugene Pearson
His Confession--More Money Recovered--Dr. Johnson Arrested 167
CHAPTER XIV.
Proceedings at Geneva--Speculations as to the Missing Five Thousand
Dollars--John Manning Starts in Search of Thomas Duncan 182
CHAPTER XV.
On the Track of the fleeing Burglar--Duncan's Home--Some Reflections 192
CHAPTER XVI.
Bob King meets with a Surprise--His Story of Duncan's Flight
The Detective starts Westward 208
CHAPTER XVII.
Manning Strikes the Trail--An Accommodating Tailor--Temporary
Disappointment and final Success--The Detective reaches Minneapolis 224
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Detective at Bismarck--Further Traces of the Fugitive
A Protracted Orgie--A Jewish Friend of the Burglar in Trouble 241
CHAPTER XIX.
From Bismarck to Bozeman--The trail Growing Warmer--Duncan Buys a
Pony--A long Stage Ride 254
CHAPTER XX.
The Stage Driver's Story 266
CHAPTER XXI.
False Information which nearly Proves Fatal--A Night Ride to
Helena--Dangers by the Wayside 280
CHAPTER XXII.
In Helena--A Fruitless Quest--Jerry Taylor's Bagnio--Reliable
Tidings--A Midnight Ride--Arrival at Butte City 293
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Long Trail Ended--Duncan Traced to his Lair--Caught at last
The Escaping Burglar a prisoner 306
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Burglar Returns to Chicago--Revelations by the Way
The Missing Five Thousand Dollars 319
CHAPTER XXV.
The Mystery of the Missing Five Thousand Dollars Solved at Last
The Money Recovered--Duncan at Geneva 328
CHAPTER XXVI.
Conclusion--Retribution 337
THE BURGLAR'S FATE AND THE DETECTIVES.
CHAPTER I.
Geneva--The Robbery--Search for the Burglars--My Agency Notified.
Geneva is one of the prettiest and most thriving little towns in the
west. Situated, as it is, in the midst of one of the finest agricultural
districts in the country, its growth has been rapid beyond expectation,
while its social progress has been almost phenomenal. Stretching for
miles in all directions, over a country beautifully interspersed with
gentle elevations and depressions, lie the well-cultivated farms of the
honest tillers of the soil. The farm-houses, which nestle down beneath
the tall trees, present an appearance of comfort and beauty rarely
witnessed, while the commodious and substantial out-buildings evince the
thorough neatness of systematic husbandry. Standing upon a high knoll,
and gazing over the scene upon a bright sunny morning, the eye lights
upon a panorama of rustic splendor that delights the vision and
entrances the senses. The vast fields, with their varied crops, give
indications of a sure financial return which the gathered harvests
unfailingly justify, and the rural population of Geneva are, in the
main, a community of honest, independent people, who have cheerfully
toiled for the honest competence they so fully enjoy.
Nor is the town dependent alone upon the farmer and the herdsman for its
success in a financial sense. Nature has been bounteous in her gifts to
this locality, and in addition to the fertile and fruitful soil, there
is found imbedded under the surface, great mines of coal, of excellent
quality, and seemingly inexhaustible in quantity. This enterprise alone
affords employment to hundreds of men and boys, who, with their begrimed
faces and brawny arms, toil day and night in the bowels of the earth for
the "black diamonds," which impart warmth and light to countless happy
homes, and materially add to the wealth of the miners.
Numerous manufacturing industries also find a home here. Large
buildings, out of whose huge chimneys the black smoke is pouring forth
in dense volumes, and whose busy wheels and roaring furnace fires,
mingled with the sound of scores of ringing hammers, make merry music
throughout the day.
On certain days in the week Geneva presents a cheerful and animated
appearance. On every hand are heard the sounds of honest toil and the
hum of busy trade. Farmers from the surrounding country come in numbers
into the village to purchase their necessary supplies and to listen to
the news and gossip of the day, and the numerous stores transact a
thriving business and reap a handsome profit on their wares.
The old mill, weather-beaten and white with the accumulating flour dust
of ages, and with the cobwebs hanging thick and heavy from its dingy
rafters, stands near by, and this too is an object of interest to the
sturdy farmers of the surrounding country. From morn till night its
wheels go round, transmuting the grain into the various articles of
consumption for man and beast, and bringing a goodly share of "honest
toll" into the coffers of the unimpeachable old miller. The mill is a
great place of meeting for the farmers, and the yard in its front is
daily filled with teams from the country, whose owners congregate in
groups and converse upon topics of general interest, or disperse
themselves, while waiting for their "grist," about the town to transact
the various matters of business which had brought them hither.
In common with all progressive American towns, Geneva boasts of its
school-house, a large brick building, where rosy-cheeked children daily
gather to receive the knowledge which is to fit them more thoroughly for
the great battle of life, when the years shall have passed and they
become men and women.
Here, too, are banking institutions and warehouses, and every element
that contributes to the thrift and advancement of a happy, honest,
hard-working and prosperous people.
Of its history, but few words are necessary for its relation. Not many
years ago it was the home of the red man, whose council fires gleamed
through the darkness of the night, and who roamed, free as the air, over
the trackless prairie, with no thought of the intruding footsteps of the
pale-face, and with no premonition of the mighty changes which the
future was to bring forth.
Then came the hardy pioneers--those brave, self-reliant men and women
who sought the broad acres of the west, and builded their homes upon the
"edge of civilization." From that time began the work of progress and
cultivation. Towns, villages and cities sprang up as if under the wand
of the magician. Fifty years ago, a small trading post, with its general
store, its hand grist-mill, rude blacksmith-shop and the fort. To-day, a
busy active town, with more than five thousand inhabitants, a hundred
business enterprises, great railroad facilities, and every element that
conduces to prosperity, honesty and happiness.
Such is Geneva to-day, a substantial, bustling, thriving and progressive
village of the west.
It is a hot, sultry day in August, 18--, and the shrill whistles from
the factories have just announced the arrival of six o'clock. Work is
suspended for the day, and the army of workmen are preparing for their
homes after the labors of the day.
At the little bank in Geneva the day has been an active one. Numerous
herders have brought their stock into market, and after disposing of
them have deposited their moneys with the steady little institution, in
which they have implicit confidence, and through which the financial
affairs of the merchants and farmers round about are transacted.
The last depositor has departed, and the door has just been closed. The
assistant cashier and a lady clerk are engaged within in settling up the
business of the day. At the Geneva bank the hours for business vary with
the requirements of the occasion, and very frequently the hour of six
arrives ere their customers have all received attention and their wants
have been supplied. This had been the case upon this day in August, and
breathing a sigh of relief as the last customer took his leave, the
front door was locked and the work of balancing up the accounts was
begun.
Suddenly, a knock is heard at the outer door, and Mr. Pearson, the
assistant cashier, being busily engaged, requested the young lady with
him to answer the summons. As she did so, two men, roughly dressed, and
with unshaved faces, burst into the room. Closing the door quickly
behind them, one of the men seized the young lady from behind and placed
his hand upon her mouth. Uttering a piercing scream, the young lady
attempted to escape from the grasp upon her, and with her teeth she
inflicted several severe wounds upon the ruffianly hand that attempted
to smother her cries. In a moment she was knocked down, a gag was placed
in her mouth, and she was tied helplessly hand and foot. While this had
been transpiring, the other intruder had advanced to the assistant
cashier, and in a few moments he too was overpowered, bound and gagged.
In less time than is required to tell the story, both of them were lying
helpless before their assailants, while the open doors of the bank vault
revealed the treasures which had excited the passions of these depraved
men, and led to the assault which had just been successfully committed.
No time was to be lost, the alarm might be sounded in a moment, and the
thieves, picking up a valise which stood near by, entered the vault,
and securing all the available gold, silver and bank-notes, placed them
in the satchel and prepared to leave the place.
Before doing so, however, they dragged the helpless bodies of the young
man and woman into the despoiled vault, and laying them upon the floor,
they deliberately closed the doors and locked them in.
Not a word had been spoken during this entire proceeding, and now, in
silence, the two men picked up the satchel, and with an appearance of
unconcern upon their faces, passed out of the bank and stood upon the
sidewalk.
The streets were filled with men and women hurrying from their work. The
sun was shining brightly in the heavens, and into this throng of human
beings, all intent upon their own affairs, these bold burglars
recklessly plunged, and made their way safely out of the village.
How long the two persons remained in the bank it is impossible to tell;
Miss Patton in a death-like swoon, and Mr. Pearson, in the vain
endeavor to extricate himself from the bonds which held him. At length,
however, the young man succeeded in freeing himself, and as he did so,
the young lady also recovered her consciousness. Calling loudly for
help, and beating upon the iron door of their prison, they indulged in
the futile hope that some one would hear their cries and come to their
rescue.
At last, however, Mr. Pearson succeeded in unscrewing the bolts from the
lock upon the inside of the doors of the vault, and in a few minutes
thereafter, he leaped out, and dashing through a window, gave the alarm
upon the street. The news spread far and wide, and within an hour after
the robbery had taken place, the town was alive with an excited
populace, and numerous parties were scouring the country in all
directions in eager search of the fugitives. All to no avail, however,
the desperate burglars were not discovered, and the crest-fallen bank
officers contemplated their ruin with sorrowful faces, and with
throbbing hearts.
Meanwhile, Miss Patton had been carefully removed to her home, her
injuries had been attended to, and surrounded by sympathetic friends,
who ministered to her wants, she was slowly recovering from the effects
of the severe trial of the afternoon.
An examination of the vault revealed the fact that the robbers had
succeeded in obtaining about twenty thousand dollars in gold, silver and
currency--all the available funds of the bank, and the loss of which
would seriously impair their standing, and which would be keenly felt by
every one interested in its management.
Though sorely crippled by their loss, the bank officials were
undismayed, and resolved to take immediate steps for the capture of the
criminals, and the recovery of the stolen property. To this end they
decided to employ the services of my agency at once, in the full hope
that our efforts would be crowned with success. Whether the trust of the
directors was well founded, and the result so much desired was achieved,
the sequel will show.