Page:Memoirs of the United States Secret Service.djvu/83

 McCartney, Fred Biebusch, at an early day in his experience, adopted a systematic plan in all his business matters. Upon being arrested, he always promptly gave bail to appear for trial in the future. Arrest never gave him the slightest uneasiness. His bondsmen were always ready, and it mattered nothing how many counts against him were embodied in an indictment, he was always prepared to furnish good and sufficient sureties to satisfy the Courts. After furnishing bail, he looked about him, and ascertained who were the witnesses likely to appear against him. These he would buy up and send away long distances, at his own expense. When the trial came on, these witnesses were not forthcoming, and Biebusch came boldly into Court, challenging proof of the allegations made against him, defiantly, and the government would find they had no case, for its witnesses could not be found!

This plan did not uniformly succeed, however. Then followed a resort to the other lever. In more instances than one, "weak-kneed" District Attorneys were found to enter a nolle prosequi just at the nick of time; and Fred would quietly walk out of custody, a poorer but a wiser man!

Under the former management of the Secret Service Department, as soon as the Division was fairly under weigh, originally, Biebusch, who had for years thus aptly managed his "delicate little affairs" in the south-west, cast about him to sound the subordinates engaged upon the U. S. force, with a view to ascertain who among them he could buy up—if occasion demanded. And having obtained such information in this direction as satisfied him that he was all "hunky-dory," in certain quarters, he rested—to await subsequent developments, looking towards his own interests. Under the early management of the Division, Biebusch was several times placed under arrest, but as often,