chief of police at St. Louis; a member of the police force of that city;
and Mr. C. B. Hunn, superintendent of the U. S. express company, arrived
in St. Paul on Saturday morning. These gentlemen came for the purpose of
establishing the identity of the robbers. They were satisfied those killed
at Northfield, were Bill Chadwell and Clell Miller, immediately
recognizing their photographs.
Chief McDonough is a straight, fleshy gentleman, with a military bearing,
a keen eye, and the appearance of a man possessed of the executive ability
requisite to control and conduct so great a force of men, (over five
hundred,) as compose the splendid police force of the city of St. Louis.
He had obtained from Hobbs Kerry, one of the gang engaged in the bold raid
on the train at Otterville, Mo., July 7th, detailed descriptions of the
other members of the gang, and early yesterday morning he visited the
capitol to view the body lying there. As soon as he looked upon it he
recognized it as Charley Pitts, whose real name is George Wells. Every
mark was found as detailed by the captured robber, and the chief was
evidently pleased to find that he had succeeded in getting so much truth
out of one of the members of a gang whose honor is pledged not to “peach”
on their comrades. One of the most noticeable peculiarities of Pitts, who
is a man of most powerful build, is his extremely short, thick feet. They
require but number six boots, and look inadequate to support the ponderous
form above. His hands, which are also small and fat, were roughened by
work, and covered with black hair, exactly as Kerry had said. From Mr.
McDonough, it was learned that Pitts is one of the men who are summoned
when “dirty work” is on hand. His home is in Texas, and he is known as one
of the boldest and most successful horse thieves in the country. His
knowledge of horses is so great, that the care of the stock of the gang is
always confided to him.