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A Novel Plan Of Dealing With Highwaymen

A Novel Plan Of Dealing With Highwaymen image
Parent Issue
Day
15
Month
December
Year
1876
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The Chicago Iribune of a recent date says : " Quite a number of people have been stopped recently in well-lighted and well-traveled neighborhoods, and compelled to give up what money and valuables they had, at the solicitation of two or three highwaymen, who pointed pistola at them by w&y of suggestion. This class of gentry are hard to catch, since they never appear in the same vicinity twice. A novel plan, however, has been devised, which promises to be successful, although it may be attended with the shedding of blood. Tthas been called 'trolling.' Fifteen or twenty of the best-looking patrolmen are to be dressed like business men, and scattered through the localities where people live who are apt to be attacked for their wealth. They will walk along quietiy, assume to be under the influence of liquor if occasion requires it, and wait to be called upon to stand and deliver. They will deliver lead, not lucre, for the orders say ' Shoot if the highwaymen present revolvers.' To guard against being overpowered, two officers will travel together - not side by side, but one will be a balf-block or a block behind, with overshoes on, so that his footsteps canDOt be heard. This scheme will undoubtedly work well, and, as not over half a dozen men are doing this Claude Duval business, it cannot be long before they are either in the County Jail or in the Potter's Field. Assistant Superintendent Dixon, who is autho of this plan, is confident of its success, and it is to be hoped that he will not be disappointed. "The only way to get rid of the foot-pad, who is a meaner thief than a burglar, is to shoot him on sight. Public sentiment would justify the officers who do it, and a gold-headed cane would perhaps be presented the officer who kiĆ¼s the flrst one.:' The JLiondon Economist notlces as a remarkable fact that the American Government has, dircctly or indirectly, bought L200,000 of silver in the LDndon market for the purpose of coining, and shows that the export of silvor frotn tho United otates to Englaud has steadUy docrefled Riuoe 1874.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus