HOW A “CANNY SCOT” DECEIVED A DETECTIVE CHIEF.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 420, 16 October 1875, Page 3

HOW A “CANNY SCOT” DECEIVED A DETECTIVE CHIEF.

A dilapidated, hungry looking', skinny Scotchman, who called himself John S. McEwen, was lately working the members of the St Andrew’s Society of Chicago by a very neat confidence game. Among others he ealted upon Allen Pinkerton, the detective chief, and produced some honest-looking and highly-sounding letters. Prom Allen he got more letters to parties in New York, asking them to help the poor old Highlander across the briny deep. From Pinkerton he also got 15dols in current cash and went on his way rejoicing. One of Pinkerton’s men looked inquiringly at the boss to see if he was really in earnest. He was flat-footed ; but, upon second thought, he sent out a shadower after his poor, dilapidated, hungry, skinny countryman. Me Kwen was shadowed into a place where there Avas an abundance of Scotch whiskey. He Avas not so hungry as he was thirsty. He was soon in high glee, just bordering on a big drunk, when Pinkerton, avlio had been advised, came in and saw lioav it Avas. McEwen thought he had seen Pinkerton someAvhere before. The latter assented and asked the “dead-beat” for those letters he had given him. The letters Avere forked over and McEwen Avas allowed to keep the money upon condition that he got out of town with what Avas left of it Avithin twenty-four hours. He forgot his promise to go, continued working Chicago, Avas arrested and sent to Bridewell for 100 days. The detective was, however, nicely taken in by his hungry countryman—suspicion of him being a clear afterthought. Probably nobody but a canny Scott could have done it. Pinkerton is decidedly of that opinion.