Book of Knots Untied Or Ways and Byways in the Hidden Life of American Detectives by George S McWatters

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Title: Knots Untied
Or, Ways and By-ways in the Hidden Life of American Detectives

Author: George S. McWatters

Release Date: July 17, 2014 [EBook #46306]

Language: English

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Geo. S. McWatters

Photographed by Brady.

KNOTS UNTIED:

OR,

WAY S A N D B Y- WAY S

IN THE

HIDDEN LIFE

OF

AMERICAN DETECTIVES.

BY

OFFICER GEORGE S. McWATTERS,

LATE OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE,

NEW YORK.

—————

A NARRATIVE OF MARVELLOUS EXPERIENCES AMONG ALL CLASSES

OF SOCIETY,—CRIMINALS IN HIGH LIFE, SWINDLERS, BANK

ROBBERS, THIEVES, LOTTERY AGENTS, GAMBLERS,
NECROMANCERS, COUNTERFEITERS, BURGLARS,

Etc., Etc., Etc.

—————

HARTFORD:

J. B. BURR AND HYDE.

1871.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by

J. B. BURR AND HYDE,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Electrotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry,

No. 19 Spring Lane.

PREFACE.

I am aware that the preface of a book is usually the last portion of it which is read—if read it is—and, therefore, of little

import; and I have, consequently, deliberated somewhat whether I would encumber the following tales with a prefix or not,
but perhaps it is due to the reader to say (what, however, is apparent enough in some of the tales themselves) that the
experiences and observations therein narrated, are not all personally mine; that some of them have, at different times, been
detailed to me by old and tried personal friends, of deep knowledge of the world, and of extreme sagacity, and that I have
presented them here, together with my own, in special instances, as being equally illustrative with mine of subtle human nature.

What is specifically my own in these tales, and what little I am indebted for to my good friends, I leave to such as may be

curious, to determine for themselves. It must now suffice them (for in the experiment of "book-making" I have nearly lost my
best patience—amidst its multiplicity of perplexities; its "proof-reading," the awful blunders of the printers, the "bungling" of
the mails, the calls for "more copy" at inopportune moments, etc., etc.)—it must suffice them, I repeat, simply to know, that
whatever experiences here recited are not my own, are equally authentic with mine, and, in my judgment, add to the merits of
"Knots Untied" (if merits it has) rather than detract therefrom. So, since it cannot be that the reader will peruse my book for
my sake, but for the book's sake and for his own, let him thank me for whatever "clearer light" I have accepted from others
for his benefit.

It was only at the instance—I might properly say by the repeated importunity—of certain partial friends of mine, that I was

first induced to put into readable form some of the notes of my experiences and observations, particularly those running
through a period of a dozen years of official life, preceded by a dozen more of a quasi-official character. I would remark here,
that no chronological order has been observed in the collation of the tales composing "Knots Untied."

Having, from my early days, been interested with various sociological problems, it has been my wont to fix in memoranda,

of one form or another, such data as I conceived worthy, as simple statistics or eccentric facts, bearing upon the great general
question of human suffering and crime, and their causes, and the means of their depiction, and final extinction also (as I firmly
believe) in "the good time coming," when Science shall have ripened the paltry and distracted civilization of the present into
that enlightenment in which alone the race should be contented to live,—in which only, in truth, they can be fully content with
existence,—and which the now subject classes could, if they were wise enough to know their rights and their power,
command in concert, for themselves, and the ruling classes as well.

And these partial friends of mine have thought I might do some good, and that I ought to, however little it may prove, to the

cause of human happiness,—in the intent thereby of enlarging the security of the innocent from the machinations of the
depraved,—by the detail of certain wily "offences against the law and good order of society," while demonstrating therein
how sure of final discovery and punishment are the criminally vicious, however crafty and subtle, in these days, when the art of
police detection has become almost an exact science.

Authors are sometimes sensitive (I believe), about the reception which they, "by their works," may meet with at the hands

of the public; and not seldom do they, in more or less ingenious ways, attempt to cajole their readers, through well-studied
prefaces, into a prejudicedly favorable mood regarding the body of their books. Perhaps mine is a singularly good fortune, in
that my partial and importuning friends before alluded to, have given me consoling courage to "go forward" and publish what
they are so kind as to be pleased with, by the assurance that they will take upon themselves, and patiently bear, all the severe
criticism, the curses, the wanton blows, etc., which may be aimed at me by "hypercritical critics," or by vexed and wrathful
readers; while I shall be left to enjoy, unalloyed, all the "blessings" with which the rest of the public may be pleased to favor
me.

I regarded this as so excellent an expression of human[e] goodness upon the part of these my friends, that I consented to

honor it, by submission to their will. Hence these tales, in their printed form,—designed at first to beguile an hour for particular
friends in the reading, as the same had beguiled many long hours for me in the writing,—and not primarily intended to be put
into the form of a book. If any good to the world accrues from their publication, through the instruction which they may afford
to some, perhaps; or by their possibly enlarging the scope of the reader's charity for the erring, or in any way, I shall be
gratified; and so (it is but fair in me to add this, for they are human, and sensitive to the joys which "a good done" brings)—
and so, to repeat, will also be my aforesaid partial, good friends.

George S. McWatters.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

PUBLISHERS' INTRODUCTION.

18

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

OFFICER GEORGE S. McWATTERS.

PERSONAL DESCRIPTION—ALWAYS TEMPERATE—IN WONDERFUL PRESERVATION—"A

GOOD FACE TO LOOK INTO"—NEITHER SCOTCH, IRISH, NOR ENGLISH IN APPEARANCE.

21

WHERE HE WAS BORN AND REARED.

NO MATTER WHERE A MAN IS BORN—KILMARNOCK, SCOTLAND—NORTH OF IRELAND—

AMBITIOUS BOYHOOD—"THE BEAUTIFUL LAND BEYOND THE WESTERN WATERS"—
INTENSELY DEMOCRATIC—BECOMES A MECHANIC.

21

REMOVES TO LONDON.

FOLLOWS HIS TRADE IN LONDON—MARRIES THERE—HIS INTERESTING FAMILY—MISS

CHARLOTTE, HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER—HER MARRIAGE—SIGNOR ERRANI.

23

MIGRATES TO THE UNITED STATES.

OFFICER McWATTERS' GREAT SYMPATHY FOR CHATTEL AND WAGES-SLAVES—HIS

COUNTLESS DEEDS OF BENEVOLENCE LEAVE HIM NO TIME TO GET RICH—ANECDOTE OF
PROFESSOR AGASSIZ.

24

SETTLES IN PHILADELPHIA, AND STUDIES LAW.

A YEAR (1848-9) IN A LAW OFFICE—REVELS IN THE STUDY OF BLACKSTONE, KENT, CHITTY,

ETC.—A BEAUTIFUL DREAM.

25

A HEART TOO SOFT FOR A LAWYER.

THE BEAUTIFUL DREAM OVERSHADOWED—POOR ORPHANS AND POOR DEBTORS TOUCH

HIS HEART WITH THEIR SUFFERINGS—DISTRAINING GOODS FOR RENT—A TOUCHING
STORY—McWATTERS' BENEVOLENT DEVICE—HE QUITS THE LAW IN DISGUST.

25

DEPARTS FOR CALIFORNIA.

THE "GOLD FEVER"—IN THE NEW ELDORADO—THE RECKLESS WARFARE OF GREED AND

CRIME—MEN LOST THEIR CONSCIENCES THERE—RETURN.

26

BACK IN NEW YORK.

ASSOCIATED WITH LAURA KEENE, AS HER AGENT—FIRST CALLED UPON TO ENACT THE

PART OF A DETECTIVE—HIS SUCCESS, AND WHAT IT LED TO.

27

MR. McWATTERS AS AGENT AND LECTURER.

BECOMES EXHIBITING LECTURER, ACCOMPANYING A GRAND PANORAMA—IN THE CHIEF

CITIES AND TOWNS—THE COUNTESS OF LANDSFELDT, OR "LOLA MONTEZ."

28

ANECDOTE OF LOLA MONTEZ AND LAURA KEENE.

AN AMUSING STORY—LOLA BECOMES PIOUS, AND SELLS HER THEATRICAL WARDROBE—

LAURA PURCHASES A PART—A SPLENDID SILK DRESS PATTERN PROVES TO BE
FURNITURE CLOTH—ATTACKS AND RETORTS—THE GOODS FINALLY BURNED UP.

28

MR. McWATTERS SOLVING SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

HIS GREAT INTEREST IN SOCIOLOGICAL QUESTIONS—HOW SHALL THE GRIEVOUS BURDENS

WHICH FALL UPON THE LABORING CLASSES BE MADE LIGHTER?

29

OUR SUBJECT AND THE PUBLIC PRESS.

REMARKABLE RECORD—PUSILLANIMOUS HIGHWAYMEN—TWO KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD

FRIGHTENED BY A SPECTACLE-CASE.

30

McWATTERS ENTERS THE METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE.

DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF THEREIN IN MANY WAYS DURING A PERIOD OF TWELVE YEARS—

OFFICER MCWATTERS UBIQUITOUS—THE STARVING PEOPLE OF KANSAS (1861) ELICIT
HIS SYMPATHIES—A FORCIBLE PUBLIC SPEAKER.

33

PERSONAL INCIDENTS.

RESCUES CHILDREN AND MEN FROM WATERY GRAVES—ALWAYS AT HIS POST OF DUTY—

RECEIVES THE WARMEST PRAISE OF HIS CHIEF OFFICER, SUPERINTENDENT KENNEDY—
THE LATE SUPERINTENDENT JOURDAN.

34

OFFICER McWATTERS DURING THE LATE CIVIL WAR.

HIS
FORESIGHT—UNDERSTOOD
THE
MISERIES
OF
THE
SUBJECT-CLASSES—HIS

APPRECIATION
OF
REPUBLICAN
INSTITUTIONS—PREVENTED
BY
UNTOWARD

CIRCUMSTANCES FROM GOING TO THE FRONT—NOT OF THE "NOBLE HOME GUARD."

36

FIRST SEIZURE OF GUNS AT THE NORTH.

OFFICER MCWATTERS INTERCEPTS DAHLGREN GUNS ON THEIR WAY TO THE REBELS, MAY

11, 1861—HONORABLE MENTION BY THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE—FERNANDO WOOD'S
INFAMOUS APOLOGY TO TOOMBS—WOOD AND MCWATTERS COMPARED—THE
GRATITUDE OF REPUBLICS.

37

OFFICER McWATTERS' SERVICES THROUGH THE PUBLIC PRESS.

ABLE AND SPIRITED LETTERS TO THE PRESS—NOBLE WORDS ADDRESSED TO THE

WORKINGMEN OF THE NATION.

38

KINDLY AND WISE PROVIDENCE.

PRIVATE APPEAL FOR LEMONS FOR THE FAMISHING SOLDIERS, MAY, 1863—IT DID A BRAVE

WORK—EVENTUALLY INSPECTOR CARPENTER REVEALS THAT IT WAS ONE OF OFFICER
MCWATTERS' BENEVOLENT DEEDS—OTHER EFFECTIVE MODES OF AIDING SICK AND
WOUNDED SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

39

"RIOT WEEK," JULY, 1863.—OFFICER McWATTERS IN THE

THICK OF THE FIGHT.

THE STATE OF THE PUBLIC PULSE OF THE NORTH WHEN THE RIOT BROKE OUT—THE

NUMBER KILLED THAT WEEK IN NEW YORK ESTIMATED AT OVER FOURTEEN HUNDRED!
—McWATTERS AND HIS FELLOW-OFFICERS FIGHT THEIR WAY THROUGH THE MOB INTO
THE TRIBUNE OFFICE—McWATTERS FELLED TO THE GROUND; SPRINGS TO HIS FEET, AND
DEALS DESTRUCTIVE BLOWS UPON HIS ASSAILANTS.

40

OFFICER McWATTERS AND HIS LITERARY ASSOCIATES.

COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PUBLIC PRESS—HIS UNPRETENTIOUS CAREER

—"PFAFF'S," A FAMOUS RESORT FOR AUTHORS AND ARTISTS—AN INTERESTING SKETCH
OF THE PLACE, AND THE HOST OF McWATTERS' AUTHOR FRIENDS WHO MEET THERE; AN
ILLUSTRIOUS ARRAY—OF THE DEAD OF THIS GOODLY HOST—A MOST INTERESTING
RETROSPECTION—McWATTERS' AUTHORS' LIBRARY.

42

OFFICER McWATTERS AS THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

AS A PHILANTHROPIST OFFICER McWATTERS HAS MOST DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF—HIS

ACQUAINTANCE WITH SOCIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEMONSTRATES TO HIM THE FOLLY OF
FRAGMENTARY REFORMS; YET HE CONTINUES HIS WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL CHARITIES
—PATCHWORK CHARITY—HIS VITALITY OF BENEVOLENCE—McWATTERS IN THE RANKS
OF THE HOWARDS OF THE WORLD.

45

McWATTERS AND THE SOLDIERS.

THE POOR VETERAN SOLDIER'S BEST FRIEND—McWATTERS' GENEROUS ENTHUSIASM IN

BEHALF OF THE POOR SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES—HIS GREAT PASSION—THE
POETRY OF HIS CURRENT LIFE.

49

LADIES UNION RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

A GRAND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION—DISTINGUISHED LADIES OF NEW YORK AT ITS

HEAD—ITS SCOPE OF SELF-IMPOSED DUTIES OF BENEVOLENCE—ASSISTED BY AN
ADVISORY BOARD OF THE LEADING MEN OF THE CITY; OFFICER McWATTERS THE CHIEF
AND MOST ACTIVE MAN THEREOF—SUPERINTENDENT KENNEDY SECONDS OFFICER
McWATTERS' BENEVOLENT WORK—REV. DR. BELLOWS' WARM INDORSEMENT OF
McWATTERS' GOOD DEEDS—THE LATE SUPERINTENDENT JOURDAN CRUELLY INTERFERES
WITH McWATTERS' LABORS OF LOVE—DEATH CALLS FOR MR. JOURDAN: WHERE THEY
PUT HIM, AND WHO FOLLOWED HIS HEARSE—OFFICER McWATTERS RESIGNS, AND
LEAVES THE POLICE FORCE, IN ORDER THAT HE MAY CONTINUE HIS HUMANITARY WORK

—COPY OF HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION—APPOINTED TO A POST IN THE CUSTOM HOUSE
—COMPLIMENTARY NOTICES BY VARIOUS JOURNALS ON THE OCCASION OF
McWATTERS' RESIGNATION.

50

THE SWINDLING BOUNTY CLAIM AGENTS.

OFFICER McWATTERS' RELENTLESS OPPOSITION TO THE SWINDLERS—THEIR INFAMOUS

MODES OF OPERATION EXPLAINED—McWATTERS' PLAN OF WARFARE—HE ROUTS THEIR
FORCES AND WINS A GREAT VICTORY—SERIOUSLY THREATENED BY THE SWINDLERS—
McWATTERS APPEALS TO CONGRESS, AND GETS A NEW ACT PASSED—CHIEF MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS WHO GAVE HIM THEIR AID—PAYMENTS UNDER THE NEW LAW—THE
GRATITUDE OF THE POOR SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES—"HOW A POOR MAN FEELS!"—
THE NATIONAL CEMETERIES AND THE DEAD VETERANS—McWATTERS' FURTHER WORK
FOR THE SOLDIERS.

55

HONORABLE TESTIMONIALS TO OFFICER McWATTERS.

PRESENTATION OF A GOLD WATCH BY THE LADIES' UNION RELIEF ASSOCIATION—

COMMENTS THEREON BY THE PUBLIC PRESS—OFFICER McWATTERS' GREAT POPULARITY
—A RESUMÉ OF SOME OF OFFICER McWATTERS' GOOD DEEDS, BY THE SUN, TIMES,
TRIBUNE, ETC.

62

THE BELLEVUE HOSPITAL INIQUITY.

THE RASCALITY EXPOSED IN A MASTERLY WAY—THE HORRORS OF THE HOSPITAL

PICTURED—THE WAR CARRIED ON THROUGH THE PAPERS—OFFICER McWATTERS
DIRECTS THE BATTLE—THE SCAMPS BROUGHT TO TERMS, AND THE SICK POOR AT THE
HOSPITAL NO LONGER TREATED LIKE DOGS—THE CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION, AND ITS
CONNECTION WITH THE FIGHT—BENEFICENT RESULTS.

65

CONCLUSION.

OFFICER McWATTERS IN HIS CONTINUING LABORS OF LOVE—HIS FAMOUS LETTER IN

BEHALF OF THE POOR VETERAN SOLDIER ORGAN GRINDERS—ELOQUENT WORDS OF
SOCIAL STATESMANSHIP THEREIN—A GREAT MORAL DUTY—WHEN IT CAN BE PROPERLY
DONE—LABOR MUST BE PROTECTED—PARTING TRIBUTE TO OFFICER GEORGE S.
McWATTERS, THE TRUE MAN, THE STERLING PATRIOT, AND PRACTICAL PHILANTHROPIST.

68

THE ORGAN GRINDERS.

A WORD IN THEIR BEHALF—LETTER FROM OFFICER McWATTERS (REFERRED TO IN

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES)—A SAD STORY.

72

TEN DOLLARS A MONTH: A STORY OF GRIEF AND JOY.

("Man's inhumanity to man

Makes countless thousands mourn")

McWATTERS—PATRICK O'BRIEN AND HIS SUFFERING FAMILY—LADIES' UNION RELIEF

ASSOCIATION—A STORM OF GRIEF QUELLED BY THE VOICE OF TRUE CHARITY.

74

MACK AND THE VETERAN.

A TOUCHING TALE—THE POETRY AND PATHOS OF BARE FEET.

80

LOST IN THE STREETS.

OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU FOR THE RECOVERY OF LOST PERSONS—MISSING MEN AND

WOMEN—TROUBLES ABOUT LOST PEOPLE—WHERE AND HOW PEOPLE ARE LOST—LOST
CHILDREN—THE DENS OF MIDNIGHT—THE HORROR OF A BREAKING DAWN—MISERY,
SHAME, AND DEATH—FINIS.

89

AMONG THE SHARKS.

ADVENTURES OF A FALL RIVER WANDERER—HIS VALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK—

CATCHING A FLAT.

97

A SMART YOUNG MAN.

AN AFTER-DINNER COLLOQUY, AND ITS RESULT—A FUNNY AFFAIR.

104

A SUSPECTED CALIFORNIA MURDERER.

ARRESTED—CHARGED WITH KILLING FOUR MEN: A GERMAN FOR HIS MONEY, AND TWO

SHERIFFS AND A DRIVER WHO WERE CONVEYING HIM TO PRISON.

107

EXTENSIVE COUNTERFEITING.

SEIZURE OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN SPURIOUS POSTAL CURRENCY—ARREST OF THE

COUNTERFEITER—HIS CONFESSION.

108

THE GAMBLER'S WAX FINGER.

CHARLES LEGATE—A FORGER—STUDYING HIM UP—FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS HIS

"PRIZE"—DESCRIPTION OF LEGATE—NO TWO PERSONS EVER AGREE IN DESCRIBING
ANOTHER—A MARK HIT UPON—START FOR ST. LOUIS—MUSINGS—CURIOUS INCIDENTS
OF MY JOURNEY—A GENEALOGICAL "DODGE"—ON LEGATE'S TRACK AT LAST—ST. LOUIS
REACHED—OF MY STAY THERE—LEAVE FOR NEW ORLEANS PER STEAMER—A GENIAL
CROWD OF MEN AND WOMEN ON BOARD—CHARACTERISTICS OF A MISSISSIPPI
"VOYAGE"—NAPOLEON, ARKANSAS—SOME CHARACTERS COME ON BOARD THERE—A
GAMBLING SCENE ON BOARD—ONE JACOBS TAKES A PART—A PRIVATE CONFERENCE
WITH JACOBS'S NEGRO SERVANT—A TERRIFIC FIGHT ON BOARD AMONG THE GAMBLERS
—JACOBS SET UPON, AND MAKES A BRAVE DEFENCE—HOW I DISCOVERED "JACOBS" TO
BE PROBABLY LEGATE, IN THE MELEE—HE IS BADLY BRUISED—HIS LIFE DESPAIRED OF—
WE ARRIVE IN NEW ORLEANS—JACOBS'S IDENTIFICATION AS LEGATE—LEGATE PROVES
TO BE VERY RICH—CURIOUS VISIT TO AN ITALIAN ARTIST'S STUDIO—A NOVEL MEDICINE
ADMINISTERED TO SIGNORE CANCEMI—HE GETS WELL AT ONCE.

113

LOTTERY TICKET, No. 1710.

A DIGNIFIED REAL ESTATE HOLDER, VERY WEALTHY, LOSES SEVEN THOUSAND TWO

HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS—OUR FIRST COUNCIL AT THE HOWARD HOUSE—
VISIT TO HIS HOUSE TO EXAMINE HIS SAFE AND SERVANTS—A LOTTERY TICKET, NO.
1710, FOUND IN THE SAFE—HOW CAME THIS MYSTERIOUS PAPER THERE?—
CONCLUSIONS THEREON—VISIT TO BALTIMORE, AND PLANS LAID IN CONJUNCTION

WITH THE LOTTERY AGENT TO CATCH THE THIEF—THE TICKET "DRAWS"—THE NEW YORK
AGENCY "MANAGED"—TRAP TO IDENTIFY THE THIEF—THE SECURITY AND "SOLITUDE" OF
A GREAT CITY—A NEW YORK BANKER—MR. LATIMER VISITS A GAMBLING HOUSE IN
DISGUISE—IDENTIFIES THE SUSPECTED YOUNG MAN—THE AGENT AT BALTIMORE WAXES
GLEEFUL—HIS PLAN OF OPERATIONS OVERRULED—MEETING OF "INTERESTED PARTIES"
AT THE OFFICE IN BALTIMORE—A LITTLE GAME PLAYED UPON THE NEW YORK AGENT—
MR. WORDEN, THE THIEF, IDENTIFIES THE TICKET, AND FALLS INTO THE TRAP OF A PRE-
ARRANGED "DRAFT"—DISCLOSES SOME OF THE IDENTICAL MONEY STOLEN—WE ARREST
HIM—EXCITING SCRAMBLE—THE MONEY RECOVERED—WORDEN'S AFTER LIFE.

131

PAYNE AND THE COUNTERFEITERS.

AN IDLE TIME—A CALL FROM MY OLD "CHIEF"—THE CASE IN HAND OUTLINED—I DISCOVER

AN OLD ENEMY IN THE LIST OF COUNTERFEITERS, AND LAY MY PLANS—TAKE BOARD IN
NINETEENTH STREET, AND OPEN A LAW OFFICE IN JAUNCEY COURT—MAKE THE
ACQUAINTANCE OF MRS. PAYNE, LEWELLYN'S MOTHER, AND FINALLY GET ACQUAINTED
WITH HIM—HE VISITS MY LAW OFFICE—I AM INGRATIATED IN HIS FAVOR—I TRACK HIM
INTO MY ENEMY'S COMPANY, AND FEEL SURE OF SUCCESS—LEWELLYN FINALLY
CONFESSES TO ME HIS TERRIBLE SITUATION—CERTAIN PLANS LAID—I MAKE
"COLLINS'S" ACQUAINTANCE—VISIT A GAMBLING SALOON WITH HIM—A HEAVY WAGER
—$15,000 AT HAZARD, PAYNE'S ALL—THE COUNTERFEITING GAMBLERS CAUGHT
TOGETHER—SEVERE STRUGGLE—PAYNE SAVED
AT LAST, AND HIS MONEY TOO—A

REFORMED SON AND A HAPPY MOTHER—TWO "BIRDS" SENT TO THE PENITENTIARY.

153

THE GENEALOGICAL SWINDLERS.

PRIDE OF ANCESTRY IN THE UNITED STATES—IT IS SOMETIMES MORE PROFITABLE TO

OTHERS THAN TO THOSE WHO INDULGE IT—"PROPERTY IN CHANCERY"—A WESTERN
MERCHANT, HIS STORY, AND HOW HE TOLD IT—A FAMILY MEETING AT NEW HAVEN,
AND WHAT A MEMBER LEARNED THERE—THE GREAT "LORD, KING, & GRAHAM" SWINDLE
—THE WAY IN WHICH THE FRAUD WAS ACCOMPLISHED—A CUNNING LETTER FROM
"WILLIS KING," OF THE FIRM OF LORD, KING, & GRAHAM, TO ONE OF HIS RELATIVES—THE
CORRESPONDENCE OF THIS NOTED FIRM—THE SEARCH—THE TRAP LAID—THE
SHARPERS CAUGHT, AND FOUND TO BE EDUCATED YOUNG MEN OF THE HIGHEST SOCIAL
STATUS—THEY ARE MADE TO DISGORGE—A PARADOX, WITH A MORAL IN IT.

176

HATTIE NEWBERRY, THE VERMONT BEAUTY.

"SOCIETY, FOR THE MOST PART, CREATES THE CRIMES WHICH IT PUNISHES"—A BEAUTIFUL

GIRL ON THE CARS FROM RUTLAND, VERMONT, ON THE WAY TO BELLOWS' FALLS, BESET
BY NEW YORK ROGUES—A DETECTIVE RECOGNIZES IN HER THE FORMER PLAYMATE OF
HIS OWN DAUGHTER—HE ENCOUNTERS THE ROGUES AT BELLOWS' FALLS, AND KNOCKS
ONE OF THEM DOWN IN THE LADIES' ROOM—THEY ALL TAKE THE NEXT TRAIN, AND
MOVE SOUTHWARD, ON THEIR WAY TO NEW YORK—INCIDENTS OF THE JOURNEY—A
THIRD VILLAIN GETS ABOARD AT HARTFORD, CONN.—WHY HATTIE WAS GOING TO NEW
YORK—AN OLD TALE—THE DETECTIVE GIVES HATTIE MUCH GOOD ADVICE—A SKILFUL
MANŒUVRE, ON ARRIVING IN NEW YORK, TO PUT THE ROGUES OFF THE TRACK—A
PAINFUL DISCOVERY AT LAST—A DEEP, DEVILISH PLOT OF THE VILLAINS DRIVES HATTIE
TO DESPAIR, AND SHE IS RESCUED FROM A SUICIDE'S GRAVE—THE ROGUES PROVE TO BE
THE MOST HEARTLESS OF VILLAINS, AND ARE CAUGHT, AND DULY PUNISHED—HATTIE
RETURNS EVENTUALLY TO VERMONT, AFTER HAVING MARRIED HER OLD LOVER—THIS
TALE IS ONE OF THE SADDEST, AS WELL AS THE MOST INTERESTING OF EXPERIENCES,
THROUGHOUT.

192

ABOUT BOGUS LOTTERIES.

HOW THEY ARE "GOT UP"—THEIR MODE OF OPERATIONS DETAILED—HOW THEY MANAGE

THE "DRAWN NUMBERS" BEFOREHAND—THE GREAT SHREWDNESS OF THE OPERATORS—

THE SOCIAL RESPECTABILITY OF THESE—THE GREAT FIRM OF "G. W. HUNTINGTON &
CO."—THE IMMENSE CIRCULATION OF THEIR JOURNAL.—THEIR VICTIM, A MAINE
FARMER, WHO BELIEVED HE HAD "DRAWN" FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND
COUNSELLOR WHEATON, HIS LAWYER, A STORY TO THE POINT—WHO INVEST IN
LOTTERIES? CHILDREN, WIDOWS, CLERGYMEN, BANK CASHIERS, ETC.—HOW THE FIRM
OF "G. W. H. & CO." WAS CAPTURED—NO. 23 WILLIAMS STREET, NEW YORK—THEIR
PRETENDED BANKING HOUSE—HOW A BOGUS LOTTERY COMPANY SWINDLED ITS OWN
AGENTS—A QUEER TALE.

225

THE BORROWED DIAMOND RING.

THE DETECTIVE OFFICER'S CHIEF "INCUBUS"—AT WINTER GARDEN THEATRE—"HARRY

DUBOIS"—AN
EXPERT
ROGUE
EXAMINES
HIS
PROSPECTIVE
VICTIMS—SOME

SOUTHERNERS—HARRY "INTRODUCES" HIMSELF IN HIS OWN PECULIAR AND ADROIT
WAY—HARRY AND HIS FRIEND ARE INVITED TO THE SOUTHERNER'S PRIVATE BOX—
HARRY "BORROWS" MR. CLEMENS' DIAMOND RING, AND ADROITLY ESCAPES—MY
DILEMMA—VISIT TO HARRY'S OLD BOARDING MISTRESS—HIS WHEREABOUTS
DISCOVERED—ACTIVE WORK—A RAPID DRIVE TO PINE STREET—A FORTUNATE LIGHT IN
THE OFFICE OF THE LATE HON. SIMEON DRAPER—A SUDDEN VISIT FOR A "SICK MAN" TO
HARRY'S ROOM—HOW ENTRANCE WAS EFFECTED—THE RING SECURED—HUNT FOR MR.
CLEMENS—A SLIGHTLY MYSTERIOUS LETTER—A HAPPY INTERVIEW.

257

THE MYSTERY AT 89 —— STREET, NEW YORK.

"KLEPTOMANIA"—THE TENDENCY TO SUPERSTITION—AN OLD KNICKERBOCKER FAMILY—

A VERY "PROPER" OLD GENTLEMAN, A MR. GARRETSON—HE CALLS ON ME AT MY
OFFICE, AND FINDS A CURIOUS-LOOKING ROOM—HIS STORY OF WONDERS
—"EVERYTHING" STOLEN—TALK ABOUT DISEMBODIED SPIRITS—THE MYSTERY DEEPENS
—PROBABLE CONJECTURE BAFFLED—VISIT TO MR. GARRETSON'S HOUSE—MRS.
GARRETSON A BEAUTIFUL AND CULTIVATED OLD LADY—WE SEARCH THE HOUSE—AN
ATTIC FULL OF OLD SOUVENIRS—WE LINGER AMONG THEM—MR. GARRETSON'S
DAUGHTER IS CONVINCED THAT DISEMBODIED SPIRITS ARE THEIR TORMENTORS—SHE
PUTS AN UNANSWERABLE QUESTION—A DANGEROUS DOG AND THE SPIRITS—TEDIOUS
AND UNAVAILING WATCHING FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND NIGHTS—THE "SPIRITS" AGAIN AT
WORK—RE-CALLED—THE
MYSTERY
GROWS
MORE
WONDERFUL—THE
"SPIRIT"

DISCOVERED, AND THE MYSTERY UNRAVELLED—THE FAMILY SENT AWAY—THE ATTIC
RE-VISITED WITH MR. G., AND ITS TREASURES REVEALED—A RE-DISCOVERY OF THE
"SPIRITS"—THE FAMILY REVIEW THEIR LONG-LOST TREASURES FOUND—REFLECTIONS
ON THE CAUSES OF THE MYSTERY—A PROBLEM FOR THE DOCTORS.

273

A SORCERESS' TRICK; HOW SHE WAS CAUGHT.

CLASSIFICATION OF MEN—THE SUPERSTITIOUS ELEMENT IN MAN—THE OLD CULTS

CONTINUED IN THE NEW—FIRE WORSHIP—THE SORCERERS—MY LEGAL FRIEND'S STORY
A LAUGHABLE ONE INDEED—THE DESPONDENT OLD MAID, THOUGH ENGAGED TO BE
MARRIED—AN AUNT ARRIVES IN "THE NICK OF TIME"—THEY HUNT UP A FORTUNE-
TELLER—MRS. SEYMOUR, THE SORCERESS, AND HER PRETTY LITTLE "ORATORY"—THE
"PRIE-DIEU"—THE OLD MAID MARRIES—MRS. SEYMOUR'S PLAN FOR INSURING THE
AFFECTION OF HUSBANDS—HER POWERS AS A CHARMER—THE SACRED BOX AND ITS
FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS CONTENTS—MRS. SEYMOUR IS LOST SIGHT OF—SEARCH FOR
HER IN BROOKLYN AND AT BOSTON—THE CHARMED BOX OPENED BY MR. AND MRS.
——, AND THE CONTENTS FOUND TO HAVE CHANGED FORM MATERIALLY—MY LEGAL
FRIEND AND I LOOK AFTER MATTERS—A PORTION OF THE TRANSFORMED VALUABLES
FOUND—A MRS. BRADLEY, A "MEDIUM" IN BOSTON, PROVES TO BE THE IDENTICAL MRS.
SEYMOUR—THE HIGH-TONED DEVOTEES OF
BOSTON—SUDDEN PROCEEDINGS TAKEN—

MRS. SEYMOUR AND HER HUSBAND COME TO TERMS—RESULTS—RESPECTABLE VICTIMS
OF THE SORCERERS NUMEROUS—DUPES IN THE "ATHENS OF AMERICA."

309

DISHONEST CLERK AND FATAL SLIP OF PAPER.

IN AN UGLY MOOD WITH MYSELF—A VISIT FROM A CINCINNATIAN—A LOSS DETAILED—

THE FATE OF A BANKING HOUSE RESTING ON "COLLATERALS" STOLEN, WHICH MUST BE
RECOVERED—A LAWYER FIGURES IN THE MATTER AND IS BAFFLED—THE THIEVES
SPECULATING FOR A SETTLEMENT—THE SCHEME LAID FOR THEIR DETECTION—A
BUSINESS VISIT TO THE BANKING-HOUSE—THE CHIEF CLERK SENT TO CHICAGO ON
BUSINESS—A SEARCH REVEALING LOVE LETTERS AND A LOVELY LITERARY LADY—ON
TRACK OF MYSTERIOUS "PAPERS"—THE FATAL SLIP OF PAPER—THE WAY THE STOLEN
BONDS WERE RECOVERED—THE CHIEF CLERK, AND HOW HE WAS "ENLIGHTENED"—A
NOVEL AND QUIET ARREST IN A CARRIAGE—THE CLERK'S CONFEDERATE CAUGHT—THE
PROPERTY RESTORED—THE SCAMPS DECAMP—THE INNOCENT LITERARY LADY'S EYES
OPENED.

322

THE THOUSAND DOLLAR LESSON.

CHARLES PURVIS: TAKING HIM IN CHARGE AT A DISTANCE—HANGERS ON AT THE ST.

NICHOLAS
AND
OTHER
HOTEL
ENTRANCES—A
COLLOQUY,
SPICED
WITH

REMINISCENCES OF "OLD SAM COLT," OF THE "REVOLVER," IN HIS GAY DAYS; A PARTY AT
THE "OLD CITY HOTEL," HARTFORD, CONN., AND OTHER THINGS—TRINITY COLLEGE
BOYS—"GEORGE ELLSWORTH"—PURVIS AND HE START ON A WALK—"WHERE CAN THEY
BE GOING?"—GOING TO SEE ELLSWORTH'S "FRIEND"—AN EXCHANGE OF COATS—A
SURVEY TAKEN—A FIRST-CLASS GAMBLING SALOON—A NEW MAN IN THE GAME—
PURVIS DRUGGED—HIS "FRIENDS" TAKE HIM "HOME," BUT WHERE?—PURVIS IS RETURNED
TO HIS HOTEL IN A STATE OF STUPEFACTION; IS AROUSED; MISSES A THOUSAND
DOLLARS—PLANS LAID TO CATCH HIS LATE FRIENDS—WILLIAMS FOUND BY ACCIDENT,
AND QUIETLY CAGED—THE OLD IRISH WOMAN'S APPEAL—WILLIAMS "EXPLAINS," AFTER
PROPER INDUCEMENT—MOST OF THE MONEY RECOVERED—SUPPLEMENTS.

341

THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.

THE ANTIQUITY OF THAT SHEEP'S SKIN AND ITS PIOUS USEFULNESS—A LARGE LOSS OF

SILKS, SATINS, LACES, AND OTHER GOODS—A CONSULTATION—A LONG STUDY—THE
VARIOUS CHARACTERS OF SEVERAL CLERKS, WHAT THEY DID, AND HOW THEY KILLED
"SPARE TIME"—INFLUENCE OF THE CITY ON MORALS—NEW YORK CENTRAL PARK—A
MOST WONDERFUL SERIES OF THEFTS—THE MATTER, INEXPLICABLE AT FIRST, GROWS
MORE SUBTLE—A GLEAM OF LIGHT AT LAST—A BRIGHT ITALIAN BOY PLAYS A PART—A
LADY FOLLOWED—MORE LIGHT—AN EXTEMPORIZED SERVANT OF THE CROTON WATER
BOARD GETS INSIDE A CERTAIN HOUSE—SARAH CROGAN AND I—HOW A HOUSE IN
NINETEENTH STREET DELIVERED UP ITS TREASURES—"WILLIAM BRUCE," ALIAS CHARLES
PHILLIPS—A VERY STRANGE DENOUEMENT—A MEEK MAN TRANSFORMED; HIS RAGE—A
DELIVERY UP, WITH ACCOMPANYING JEWELS—A "WIDOW" NOT A WIDOW REMOVES—
WHAT SARAH CROGAN THOUGHT.

358

A FORCED MARRIAGE SCHEME DEFEATED.

GOSHEN, CONN.—A LADY STRANGER THERE—A PILGRIMAGE TO GOSHEN, VIA THE FAR-

FAMED MOUNTAIN TOWN OF LITCHFIELD—THE BEAUTIFUL WIDOW—AN UNPLEASANT
REMINISCENCE OF DR. IVES, LATE BISHOP OF NORTH CAROLINA—MORE ABOUT THE
WIDOW—SHE LEAVES FOR NEW YORK—AT THE "MANSION HOUSE," LITCHFIELD—A
MARKED CHARACTER ENCOUNTERED THERE—MR. "C. B. LE ROY" STUDIED AND WEIGHED
—THE BEAUTIFUL WIDOW AND LE ROY MEET—HER FACE DISCLOSES CONFLICTING
EMOTIONS—MR. LE ROY AND THE BEAUTIFUL WIDOW, MRS. STEVENS, TAKE A WALK
DOWN SOUTH STREET, IN THE "PARADISE OF LOAFERS"—SYMPATHIES SILENTLY
EXCHANGED—WE ALL START FOR THE "STATION"—THE STAGE-COACH "TURNS OVER"—
THE AFFRIGHTED LE ROY REVEALS HIS MANNERS—A PECULIAR SCENE IN THE CARS—AT
BRIDGEPORT I PRESENT MYSELF TO MRS. STEVENS—AT NEW YORK AGAIN—A TALE OF
COMPLICATIONS—MRS. STEVENS IN DEEP TROUBLE—A FRIEND OF HERS SEEKS ME—
REVELATIONS—A
FEARFUL
STORY—A
SECRET
MARRIAGE
AND
UNHAPPY

CONSEQUENCES—THE WRETCH LE ROY WANTS THE WIDOW'S MONEY—A TRAP SET FOR