less, armed with papers which it was subse quently claimed, were honestly believed to be sufficient, they endeavored to forcibly re move the criminal to the United States. The enterprise proved abortive and the detectives found themselves confronted with a charge of kidnapping. Governor Austin of Minnesota succeeded in working himself up into a fine state of frenzy over what was certainly a pretty plain case. Letters whose terms could scarce pass muster as diplomatic, were addressed to the Governor of Manitoba, and the aid of the State Department at Washington invoked to secure the termination of what was alleged to be the unlawful and wanton imprisonment of two inoffensive citizens of Minneapolis. Fortunately the good sense of the Federal officiais to whom appeal was made, prevent ed this government from assuming an ex ceedingly ridiculous position, for the act of Hay and Keegan was as indefensible from the sLandpoint of international law as might well be imagined. Governor Austin and Consul Taylor, after stirring up considerable of a teapot tempest ana getting themselves thoroughly laughed at, finally subsided and concluded to let Canadian justice take its course. Where upon, after three months' detention at Fort Garry, the prisoners were duly indicted, brought to trial and upon pleading guilty the judicial mountain was delivered of the unex pected mouse, in the shape of a sentence of twenty-four hours' imprisonment. Gordon blustered considerably over the affair and made all kinds of menaces to sue everybody concerned. Apparently he thought better of it upon finding that no compromise money was forthcoming, in response to sev eral threatening letters. But the career of this accomplished swind ler was now drawing to a close. He had
been arrested at Fort Garry on charges of forgery and perjury, but was released through the failure of the Crown to prose cute. He then fled to the small and isolated village of Headingly, hoping to enjoy a short respite in which to perfect new schemes. On the evening of August i, 1874, two officers arrived and immediately placed him under arrest, exhibiting what purported to be warrants issued in Toronto, based upon charges of larceny and forgery committed in England and Scotland. Gordon took the matter quietly enough, merely asking whether it was proposed to take him through the United States. He was assured that this would not be done. Thereupon, excusing himself for a few minutes, he stepped into an adjoining room, drew a revolver and blew out his brains. An inquest revealed the fact that the war rants were spurious and but another attempt on the part of the bondsmen. After being severely reprimanded, the detectives were permitted to depart without punishment. "Lord Gordon certainly had reason to dread English justice. He is known to have been the son of middle class parents, living near the borderland of Scotland. Expensive tastes and a desire for luxurious living were scarcely susceptible of gratification on the salary of a junior clerk in a commercial house. Resigning his position, he began to pose as Lord Glencairn, a wholly fictitious member of the Scotch nobility, allied it was claimed, to the Duke of Hamilton, and the Marquis of Hastings, and possessed of a rent roll of some ten thousand pounds a year. . His operations in the way of obtain ing goods on credit, principally from jewelers, are said to have netted him some fifty thou sand dollars. It was with this capital that he backed his venture here.
