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PART IDETECTIVE STORIES FROM REAL LIFE
PART IITRUE STORIES OF MODERN MAGIC
Edited by Julian Hawthorne
REAL LIFE
Table of contents
PART IDETECTIVE STORIES FROM REAL LIFE
ARTHUR TRAIN
A Flight into Texas
P。 H。 WOODWARD
Adventures in the Secret Service of the Post…Office Department
An Erring Shepherd
An Aspirant for Congress
The Fortune of Seth Savage
A Wish Unexpectedly Gratified
An Old Game Revived
A Formidable Weapon
ANDREW LANG
Saint…Germain the Deathless
The Man in the Iron Mask
The Legend
The Valet's History
The Valet's Master
Original Papers in the Case of Roux De Marsilly
PART IITRUE STORIES OF MODERN MAGIC
M。 ROBERT…HOUDIN
A Conjurer's Confessions
Self…Training
〃Second Sight〃
The Magician Who Became an Ambassador
Facing the Arab's Pistol
DAVID P。 ABBOTT
Fraudulent Spiritualism Unveiled
A Doctor of the Occult
How the Tricks Succeeded
The Name of the Dead
Mind Reading in Public
Some Famous Exposures
HEREWARD CARRINGTON
More Tricks of 〃Spiritualism〃
〃Matter through Matter〃
Deception Explained by the Science of Psychology
ANONYMOUS
How Spirits Materialize
PART IDETECTIVE STORIES FROM REAL LIFE
Arthur Train
A Flight into Texas
The flight and extradition of Charles F。 Dodge unquestionably
involved one of the most extraordinary battles with justice in the
history of the criminal law。 The funds at the disposal of those
who were interested in procuring the prisoner's escape were
unlimited in extent； and the arch conspirator for whose safety
Dodge was spirited away was so influential in political and
criminal circles that he was all but successful in defying the
prosecutor of New York County； even supported as the latter was by
the military and judicial arm of the United States Government。
For； at the time that Dodge made his escape； a whisper from Hummel
was enough to make the dry bones of many a powerful and ostensibly
respectable official rattle and the tongue cleave to the roof of
his mouth in terror。
（The District Attorney's office in New York City is undoubtedly one
of the best watch…towers known from which to observe 〃Real Life
Detective Stories。〃
Arthur Train； sometime member of this prosecuting staff； has
opportunity to record several of these curious and exciting 〃True
Stories of Crime〃 （copyright； 1908； by Charles Scribners Sons）。
None yields less to fiction save in the fact that it is true； and
not at all in quality of dramatic interest； than 〃A Flight into
Texas；〃 here given。
Readers of the newspapers a few years ago will remember the names
of Abraham Hummel and Charles F。 Dodge。 The latter； a railroad
conductor； was alleged to have committed perjury at the dictate of
the former； known as one of the brightest； least scrupulous lawyers
in this city。 It was one of District Attorney Jerome's great
ambitions to bring Hummel to justice。 Here was an opportunity。 If
Dodge could only be forced to testify to this perjury before a
court； Hummel could undoubtedly be convicted of a crime that would
not only disbar him from the legal profession； but would put him in
jail。
Dodge had run away and disappeared as the storm seemed about to
burst。 Where was he？ Who could find and bring him backagainst
Abe Hummel's wish？EDITOR。）
Who could accomplish that in which the law was powerless？Hummel。
Who could drive to the uttermost ends of the earth persons against
whom not a shadow of suspicion had previously rested？Hummel。 Who
dictated to the chiefs of police of foreign cities what they should
or should not do in certain cases； and who could； at the beckoning
of his little finger； summon to his dungeon…like offices in the New
York Life Building； whither his firm had removed from Centre
Street； the most prominent of lawyers； the most eminent of
citizens？Surely none but Hummel。 And now Hummel was fighting for
his own life。 The only man that stood between him and the iron
bars of Blackwell's Island was Charles F。 Dodgethe man whom he
had patted on the knee in his office and called a 〃Mascot；〃 when
quite in the nature of business he needed a little perjury to
assist a wealthy client。
Hummel in terror called into play every resource upon which； during
forty years of practice； his tiny tentacles had fastened。 Who
shall say that while he made a show of enjoying himself nightly
with his accustomed lightheartedness in the Tenderloin； he did not
feel confident that in the end this peril would disappear like the
others which had from time to time threatened him during his
criminal career？ But Hummel was fully aware of the tenacity of the
man who had resolved to rid New York of his malign influence。 His
Nemesis was following him。 In his dreams； if he ever dreamed； it
probably took the shape of the square…shouldered District Attorney
in the shadow of whose office building the little shyster practiced
his profession。 Had he been told that this Nemesis was in reality
a jovial little man with a round； ruddy face and twinkling blue
eyes he would have laughed as heartily as it was in his power to
laugh。 Yet such was the fact。 A little man who looked less like a
detective than a commercial traveler selling St。 Peter's Oil or
some other cheerful concoction； with manners as gentle and a voice
as soft as a spring zephyr； who always took off his hat when he
came into a business office； seemingly bashful to the point of
self…effacement； was the one who snatched Charles F。 Dodge from the
borders of Mexico and held him in an iron grip when every influence
upon which Hummel could call for aid； from crooked police
officials； corrupt judges； and a gang of cutthroats under the guise
of a sheriff's posse； were fighting for his release。
Jesse Blocher is not employed in New York County； and for business
reasons he does not wish his present address known。 When he comes
to New York he occasionally drops into the writer's office for a
cigar and a friendly chat about old times。 And as he sits there
and talks so modestly and with such quiet humor about his
adventures with the Texas Rangers among the cactus…studded plains
of the Lone Star State； it is hard； even for one who knows the
truth； to realize that this man is one of the greatest of
detectives； or rather one of the most capable； resourceful； adroit；
and quick…witted knights of adventure who ever set forth upon a
seemingly impossible errand。
It is unnecessary to state just how the District Attorney
discovered the existence of 〃Jesse；〃 as we knew him。 It is enough
to say that on Saturday morning； July 23； 1904； he was furnished
with the proper credentials and given instructions to proceed at
once to New Orleans； Louisiana； and 〃locate；〃 if it were humanly
possible to do so； Charles F。 Dodge； under indictment for perjury；
and potentially the chief witness against Abraham H。 Hummel； on a
charge of conspiracy。 He was told briefly and to the point that；
in spite of the official reports from the police headquarters of
both New York City and New Orleans to the contrary； there was
reason to believe that Dodge was living； although not registered；
as a guest at the St。 Charles Hotel in the latter city。 A partial
and inaccurate description of Dodge was given him and he was warned
to use extreme caution to prevent any knowledge of his mission from
being made known。 Once Dodge had been discovered； he was to keep
him under surveillance and wire New York immediately。
Accordingly； Jesse left the city upon the same day at 4。45 P。 M。
and arrived two days later； at 9。15 on Monday morning； at New
Orleans； where he went directly to the St。 Charles Hotel；
registered； and was assigned to room Number 547 on the fifth floor。
Somewhere in the hotel Dodge was secreted。 The question was how to
find him。 For an hour Jesse sat in the hotel foyer and
meditatively watched the visitors come and go； but saw no sign of
his quarry。 Then he arose； put on his hat； and hunted out a
stationery store where for two cents he bought a bright…red
envelope。 He then visited a ticket…scalper's office； secured the
owner's business card； and wrote a note on its back to Dodge；
offering him cheap transportation to any point that he might
desire。 Armed with this he returned to the hotel； walked to the
desk； glanced casually over a number of telegrams exposed in a rack
and； when the clerk turned his back； placed the note； addressed to
Charles F。 Dodge； unobserved； upon the counter。 The office was a
busy one； guests were constantly depositing their keys and
receiving their mail； and； even as Jesse stood there watching
developments； the clerk turned round； found