of some value, and opened up the way to
accomplish an object which William had long desired. He therefore
requested Mr. Silby to introduce John Manning to Mr. Crampton, and
directed Manning to accompany that gentleman to Independence, and by
their joint efforts endeavor to obtain a photograph of Edwards. This was
attended to at once, and in a few days, through the assistance of the
sheriff at Independence, we were enabled to secure an admirable likeness
of the absconding burglar, although the same had been taken nearly two
years prior to this. A number of copies of this photograph were at once
printed, and they were furnished to the various operatives who were at
work upon the case. Hitherto we had been compelled to rely upon the
rather unsatisfactory method of identifying him by description only, and
in many cases, except where persons are trained to the work of
accurately describing individuals whom they meet, there is danger of not
being able to identify any one who has no very prominent distinguishing
marks about him.

The first use to which this photograph was put was to exhibit it to Miss
Patton, the young lady who had been assaulted in the bank, and she
instantly recognized it as the picture of one of the men who had
committed the robbery, and the one who had attacked Eugene Pearson,
while the other intruder was engaged in the attempt to gag and bind her.
This was very important, and no further efforts were now needed to
establish the identity of Newton Edwards, or to connect him with the
robbery as an active participant.

After several days of unproductive watchfulness at the city residences
of Edwards' relatives, it became apparent that something more decisive
would have to be attempted. From the reports of the operatives who had
been detailed upon this part of the investigation, it seemed evident
that the inmates had become suspicious of the fact that their movements
were being made the subject of espionage, and it was resolved to adapt
another system of operation, and endeavor to have one of my men enter
the family, and by some means establish a friendly footing with its
members. By this means he would be enabled, while unsuspected, to learn
of the movements of the people whom he was watching.

I did not have far to seek for a man who would fully answer the purpose
I had in view, and one who would succeed if success were possible. I had
tried him in several operations where this kind of work was necessary,