The Burglar's Fate And The Detectives   By: Allan Pinkerton (1819-1884)

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