AS A DETECTIVE--HUNTING UP A HORSE AND BUGGY--A RUNAWAY FROM THE
SHERIFF--ON THE TRACK--THE HIDDEN CORPSE--FOLLOWING THE MURDERER
UP--STRUGGLE AND CAPTURE--QUICK JUSTICE--A GOOD "UTILITY"
MAN--MOSQUITOES AND AN OLD STEAM-BOILER--"HOW RICH YOU BE"--
BECOMING A RUM-SELLER--WHAT IS IN THE BONE WILL OUT OF THE FLESH.
As his deputy, I endeavored conscientiously to answer the good opinion
of the sheriff. Suffice it, I so far succeeded, that he recommended me
very strongly to Pinkerton, the celebrated detective of Chicago. At this
time, Pinkerton was going to Waukegan for the purpose of arranging the
means with the authorities there for breaking up a gang of
counterfeiters, then flooding the whole of Northern Illinois and
Southern Wisconsin with bogus money. After a brief interview with me,
Pinkerton appointed me upon his staff, and on his return from Waukegan,
left me in that city.
Shortly after this, I received a telegram from my chief. It stated that
a man, very gentlemanly in appearance (his description was given), had
stolen a horse and buggy in Chicago. The fellow had gone northward, and
Waukegan was designated as the place where he might probably fetch up.
When I received the despatch I was with the sheriff, and had just handed
it to him, when an individual drove up with a horse and buggy, both of
which closely answered Pinkerton's description. This person was hailed
with the familiarity whose command is peculiar to the functionaries of
the Law, and as politely, and with even more oppressive familiarity,
requested to--
"Get out!"
The stranger was necessitated to obey this peremptory injunction, and
requested information of its object in a blandly imperturbable manner.
"You are my prisoner," curtly responded the sheriff.
"For what, sir?" demanded the man.
"For stealing that horse and buggy."
"Good God!" was the instantaneous ejaculation. "You were never more
mistaken in your life."
Certainly, the rascal would have made his fortune upon the stage, his
look of astonishment was so perfect, while the touch of indignation in
his manner heightened this appearance on his part so admirably. The
sheriff looked at me as if in doubt. I nodded my head slightly. That
which the fellow was only doing as an amateur, was within my
professional experience.
"Yes, sir! you are the man," replied the sheriff.
"In a few minutes," said the stranger, "I will prove to you, you are the
most mistaken man in the world."
"How?"
"Do you know Mr. Sutherland, sir?"
He had named one of the most prominent citizens in Waukegan.
"Very well, indeed!" was the response of the sheriff.
"Jump in my buggy, then, and we'll drive to his house. There, I can
readily convince you, you are thoroughly mistaken."
"All right," ejaculated the sheriff.
In spite of my remonstrating look, he jumped into the buggy, followed
by the stranger, and they drove off.
It would be needless to detail my reflections. The reader, if gifted
with a fair share of acumen, can readily determine them. In less than
three-quarters of an hour the horse and buggy once more appeared, driven
by the sheriff. He had been making the poor animal pay for his
obtuseness.
"Well!" I inquiringly uttered.
"When we arrived at Sutherland's," said the local official, "the fellow
got out and rang the bell. He was some time in waiting for the door to
be opened. Then, he told me he would 'go round the house to the back
door, and wake them up.' I waited some time longer, when the front door
was opened by one of Mr. Sutherland's servants. Naturally enough, I got
out, expecting to see the man within the house. Would you believe it,
the rascal had never entered it."
"Very decidedly I should," was my exclamation.
Jumping into the buggy, I requested the sheriff, it is to be feared in a
somewhat too dictatorial tone, to "lay it into the horse," and drive
back. On arriving at Mr. Sutherland's, I asked him to indicate to me the
way the man had gone. He could only point out the side of the house the
runaway had passed round. Leaping out, I prepared to track him. It was
then, that, for the first time in my life, I discovered, I possessed
something of that sleuth-like certainty and readiness, which fitted me
for portion of my future career.
The morning had been somewhat damp, and by the help of the print his
feet had left upon a field at the back of Mr. Sutherland's dwelling, the
fellow's track was distinctly visible for some half a mile. Here, the
broken branches and twigs of a low hedge proved that he had crossed it
into a lane. On the damp sandy gravel his track was even clearer. Then,
he had encountered some one else, and near this spot traces of a recent
struggle were apparent. From this point I could merely see one track,
and was induced to believe there had been foul play, and that the fellow
I was in chase of, had continued his flight alone. This led me to make a
brief search in the neighborhood of the spot on which the scuffle had
taken place. Just beyond the fence, roughly concealed by torn-up
branches, lay the dead body of a man. The skull had been crushed in as
if by the blow of a heavy club, and the pockets were turned inside out.
I raised the arm of the corpse with ease. The muscles were limp and
flaccid, not having had time to stiffen. It was evident that the murder
had but recently been committed. My future trapper instinct was strong
upon me, and I pursued the one trail for some mile and a half farther.
There it was lost upon a stretch of higher and harder soil into which
the lane had widened. Half an hour was spent in vainly trying to detect
it, and then I made up my mind to return to the town, and give
intelligence to the authorities that a murder had been committed.
After doing this, and reinforcing my somewhat jaded system with a
draught of good Monongahela, I returned with the local police to the
place where I had found the body.
On the way, I had made inquiries about the locality, and found that some
half a mile beyond the spot where I had lost the trail, I should reach
the main road, which led to Shiloh. Convinced now that the man was a
determined ruffian, my young professional pride was aroused, and the
determination was already formed by me to capture him.
Consequently, on reaching the scene of the murder, I left the
authorities to convey the corpse to Waukegan, and recommenced my
pursuit, making every possible inquiry at the houses and farms near the
road, until I arrived at Shiloh. But I have neglected to state, that on
my return to Waukegan I had disguised myself as thoroughly as possible,
and placed in the pockets of my disguise a pair of darbies, (handcuffs)
a revolver, and a brass-knuckle. The suspected murderer, and now known
horse-thief, was a man of robust, almost of Herculean build. When
recognized in the buggy, he had been dressed in the most fashionable
style. Added to this, he had sported black flowing locks, with a dark
and well-trimmed beard. He had now to be found in whatever other guise
of dress or complexion he might choose to adopt, for the criminal
_alias_ of person or apparel is to the full as--perhaps even more
variable than that of name.
My whole evening was passed in Shiloh, in wandering from one place of
resort to another.
As yet, my search had been fruitless. But I never dreamt of failing in
it, because I had determined to succeed. I felt certain, I should
capture my man.
At last, I found myself in a beer-saloon, where, while standing at the
bar and in the act of drinking, my eyes fell upon an individual whom I
instinctively knew was the criminal I was in chase of. He had, however,
undergone a great change. His beard was cropped, or rather it was
shingled off short. As for his hair, it was notched and jagged, as if it
had been curried with a comb that had razor-like teeth. His dress was by
no means of that distinguished character which it had borne earlier in
the day. This, however, arose more from the apparently slovenly fashion
in which it was worn, than any other change in it.
It is true, he had been unable to alter his eyes, although, now, when he
was off his guard, their glance was freer and more insolent than it had
been when I had first seen him.
Besides, he had kept with him a cane which he had carried that morning.
This was subsequently a damning proof against him, as the sheriff of
Waukegan was able, as well as myself, to identify it.
When convinced beyond the possibility of doubt that this was the man, I
quietly approached him, and dealt him a heavy blow with my
brass-knuckles under the jaw.
This stretched him upon the floor. In a moment I was seated on his chest
and his hands were secured and pinioned.
[Illustration: "This stretched him on the floor. In a moment, I was
seated on his chest, and his hands were secured and pinioned."--_Page
30._]
All had been effected so rapidly, that I was again upon my feet, before
the by-standers had recovered from their surprise, and, it might almost
seem, before the criminal could realize what had occurred.
The persons who had been so suddenly rendered mute by the rapidity of my
assault upon the scoundrel, now found tongue. They approached me in an
anything but friendly guise, demanding what all this meant, and why I
had assaulted "Jackson" in this cowardly fashion. Only two or three, as
I ought to mention, had given him this name, and these were decidedly
the most disreputable-looking individuals present. Naturally enough,
opening my coat, I displayed my official badge, and told them of the
murder which the fellow had committed on the morning just passed, for
plunder. The two or three I have alluded to as calling him by name,
slunk out, while the rest, changing their tone, complimented me warmly
upon the coolness and skill with which they were pleased to say the
arrest had been made.
As for myself, I must own that when I looked at the thew and muscle of
my prostrate captive, I was far more inclined to compliment myself upon
the recklessness with which I had, single-handed, effected his capture.
Word was immediately despatched to the sheriff, and, by the following
morning, Jackson was safely lodged in the jail at Waukegan, the county
seat of Lake County. Shortly after this, he was indicted by the Grand
Jury, and a change of _venue_ having been granted, he was removed for
trial to Chicago; where, pleading guilty, he was sentenced to be hanged,
and paid the penalty of his crime upon the gallows.
As for my poor friend Lewis, he had already pleaded guilty to
manslaughter, and been sentenced to imprisonment for eight years. He
died before the term of his imprisonment had expired.
In those days, in the West, justice was far shorter and sharper than it
has recently been in New York. There was more pride in the detection of
crime, and considerably readier justice in its punishment. Red-handed
murder had especially little chance of escaping the prompt retribution
of the Law, and it will, I think, be granted by the inhabitants of the
metropolis that the consequent fear was a tolerably fair degree of
preservation for human life, considering the character of the various
elements from which life in that portion of the States was then
composed.
Having shortly after this returned to my home, I assumed the position
of under-sheriff to my parent, and lived for several months somewhat
quietly, being lionized in no small degree by my friends and neighbors
on account of the capture of Jackson. In a few months, however,
Pinkerton, who had evidently considered me a good "utility" man in the
detective line, wanted my services again. He was engaged in ferreting
out a gang of counterfeiters and horse-thieves, who had been circulating
bad notes, and thinning out the stables above Chicago. Their base of
operations had been made by them at the foot of Little Dalls, now called
Dallton. This was some twenty miles above Portage City.
Excitement was the only thing I lacked while under my father's wing, and
consequently, in spite of his remonstrances, I determined upon accepting
the offer of employment which Pinkerton made me.
Starting at once, after seeing my chief, I joined the party with whom I
was to work, at Madison. Here, after laying our plans, or rather,
arranging for the execution of those Pinkerton had laid out for us, we
separated, with the understanding that wherever we met, we were to
proceed as if we had been strangers. The following day, myself and a
companion found ourselves at Big Bull Falls. It would be unnecessary to
trace out our after-route from place to place. For some time we
discovered nothing which might afford any clue to the object of our
search. At last we arrived at Grandfather Bull Falls, when something
occurred which convinced us we had continued too far in that direction.
We consequently returned, and took a straight line towards Black River
Woods.
By the bye, the man who gave them this name must have had a hide tanned
to the toughness of a leather boot, or he certainly never would have
omitted to commemorate the plague of the mosquitoes which infest it.
Of all sections of the country populated with this delightful insect,
that I have ever crossed, this is decidedly the worst. So much so, that
I believe it must have been that part of it, in which the man we have
heard of, took refuge from these winged atrocities under an old
steam-boiler, amusing himself while in his fancied security by clamping
their murderous beaks, with an old hammer he chanced to have with him,
to the iron shell through which they were penetrating. The result of
this style of proceeding was perfectly unforeseen by him. In some hour
and a half, the muscle of the trapped mosquitoes was sufficiently strong
for them to raise the iron shell and fly off with it.
Be this as it may, it is a complete purgatory. You, in vain, try to
smash one mosquito whose fangs you feel in your forehead. While doing
so, another fastens on your nose, and half a dozen more upon either
cheek. The amount of profanity they caused on the tongue of myself and
my companion, I even now look back upon, with considerable contrition.
The whole of this portion of the country, as far as Black River, was
under Mosquito dominion; and when we quitted it, it was with the sincere
hope, upon my part, that nothing might oblige me to revisit it.
When we once more met the balance of our party at Stevens Point, which
had been as unsuccessful as ourselves in tracking out the game, it is
now a question to me how our swollen and disfigured faces could be at
all recognizable.
After some consultation, it was decided that portion of the party
should strike for the Little Eauclaire River, while another should go up
the larger stream called the Big Eauclaire. Myself and companion
remained for a few days at this place, and finding nothing determinate,
dressed ourselves as raftsmen,--in red shirts and overalls, making up
our minds to separate. Then, I hired myself out to run the Caughnaut
Rapids, on a trip to Plover Portage.
It was on our way in return, when "gigging back," as the raftsmen term
it, that I first caught a glimpse of success. One of the pilots, had to
employ a term well used in the west and south of the States, "cottoned"
to me. This was probably on account of my youth and apparent verdancy,
as well as my muscle. I was just the sort of fellow he evidently
supposed could be employed as a green hand in his illegal calling. We
had been talking of the ways of living in the West one morning, when he
said:
"Look here, young fellow, thar's many a way of making enough to live,
that's easier than your'n is."
"How is that?"
"D'yer see this?"
At the same time he pulled out of his pocket a lot of "queer," or
counterfeit bills. He must have had more than two hundred dollars of
bogus money of different denominations--fives, threes, and twos--with
him.
[Illustration: "'D'yer see this?'
"At the same time he pulled out of his pocket, a lot of 'queer' or
counterfeit bills."--_Page 34._]
"How rich you be!" I ejaculated, with an innocent look of wonder.
"Do you think so?" he asked, with a sly wink and chuckle.
"Good Lord!" I cried out, as if the idea had just come to me. "They're
not--"
"Ya-as! They ar'--but don't make sich a row about seeing them."
As he said this, he glanced around as if he had been afraid somebody
might have been within earshot of us.
"I only wish I could get hold of some of the blamed stuff."
"If yer do," replied he, "I'll introduce yer to them as makes it."
"Will you--re-eelly, do that?"
"Ya-as! young fellow, I will."
Accordingly, we started on the day after our return down the river, and
having passed Dutchman's Rapids, entered upon what is called the jaws of
the Little Dalls, at the Shingle. Thence, going by the Devil's Elbow and
the Sag safely enough, we came out at the foot of the Dalls proper. Here
my companion showed me the entrance to the cave in which the work of the
gang was carried on.
He then told me I would have to wait at Portage City, until he could see
his fellows in the business and obtain their permission to introduce a
new recruit to them. Otherwise, it might be dangerous.
Afterwards, he himself returned to the neighborhood of the Sag.
While remaining at Portage, I met portions of my party, to whom I
communicated the success I had met with. After talking the matter over
with them, it was suggested by me that I should enter into the
drinking-saloon business, which would not only afford me an apparent
opportunity for disposing of the false money, but render it easy for me
to bring my companions in contact with the counterfeiters. This was
agreed upon, and when the pilot returned, I suggested it to him. He
literally jumped at the idea, and ostensibly helped me in hunting up a
location for my _débût_ in rum-selling, as well as vouching for me most
strongly to the individual from whom I hired it. The rascal was well
known in the place.
The whole of the time since I had arrived in Portage City, I was in
constant correspondence with Pinkerton, who thoroughly approved of every
step I was taking, and gave me to understand he would be ready at any
moment to join me.
Well! my saloon was opened, and liquor-drinking was in full blast in it.
The pilot was as good as his word. At different times, he brought down
to me most of his accomplices, or rather of his employers, and I quickly
became a sort of licensed favorite with them. Of course, if I had been
detected in "shoving the queer," and found myself within the grasp of
the law, they wouldn't have cared one red cent, but while I apparently
bought their bogus notes, I was the best of fellows living. In the
meantime, I had gradually introduced them to most of my companions, some
of whom also took portion of their spurious money, paying for it in good
cash. It must be admitted that the whole of the gang were capital judges
of the genuineness of any of, or all, the currency of the various
States. "Wild-cat" notes nothing could induce them to take in exchange,
even for any of their own shinplasters.
Shortly after this, I found that the counterfeiters were to have a full
meeting in the cave, which I had now several times visited. It was, I
had reason to believe from what the pilot told me, for the purpose of
dividing the spoils of the last mouth, which had been, so he hinted to
me, unusually large.
My chief was immediately notified.
Very soon after, he joined me, with the United States Marshal, and made
arrangements with the sheriff and city marshal to pounce upon the whole
gang.
I say, he joined me. But this is scarcely the case, as he only saw me
once previously to the night on which I knew they were to meet at the
cave.
Arrangements, under his shrewd supervision, were capitally made. The
cave had two entrances, one at the side of it, some considerable
distance from the main one. A part of his men, with a section of the
local police, under the United States and city marshals, were to be
placed there to prevent any chance of escape. Himself and the sheriff of
Portage were to be conducted by me to the main entrance. It would be
needless to say, that as a desperate resistance to us was within the
probable chances, every man in either party was well armed. Our
suspicions respecting this were not, however, destined to be realized.
Pinkerton's precautionary measures had been too well taken. When we were
discovered, a rush had been made for the other entrance. Here, they
found out that they had been completely trapped.
Then, rightly believing that the party at the main entrance was the
principal one, they returned, and had a parley with the sheriff and
Pinkerton, or rather with the last, ultimately coming out and
surrendering.
After having been handcuffed, and placed in the boats, part of our men
were left in the cave to secure the spoils, while the rest of us
returned with our prisoners to Portage. It was one of the largest hauls
of counterfeiters, with their implements of trade and spurious money, as
well as a fair amount of good paper, which had up to that time ever
been made in the West, and redounded very much to the credit of my
chief, as well as myself--the last, mainly on account of the warm way in
which he was pleased to compliment the share I had taken in it. Most
certainly it resulted in the breaking up of the gang at that time known
as the Guy Fox band, whose depredations had extended for several years
from the Lakes to the Gulf. It had been the terror of the country, as it
had resorted to every species of crime with the view of furthering their
schemes. In due time they were all convicted and sent for various terms
to the Penitentiary. All of them had the satisfaction of serving out
their time, with one solitary exception. This was my friend the pilot of
the raft, whose wish to make me a tool had led to their apprehension.
He was not, in every respect, a bad fellow, and his look of bewildered
astonishment when, with the handcuffs on his hands, he saw me on the
boat with Pinkerton, was so miserably pitiable, that I could not help
feeling some tenderness towards him.
In the fulness of my heart, I spoke to my chief about him on the same
night after our return to Portage.
"I will see about it, Mose," he replied, with a dry smile. "But, if you
had as long an experience as I have, you would know how useless mercy
would be to him. What is in the bone will out in the flesh."
The fellow was released, upon Pinkerton's application, some twelve
months afterwards, and, as I have heard, verified my chief's
appreciation of rascality. It has been said he was shot by a stalwart
farmer, some three years afterwards, in the neighborhood of Dubuque,
Iowa, in consequence of an attempt at highway robbery. This fact,
however, I am unable to verify. So, let my readers charitably hope, the
lesson he had received bore the good fruit of turning him again into the
paths of honesty.