Cowboy Terry Caught Running Chinese Immigrants Across the Sumas Line

WHATCOM, March 5.—[Special.]—One of the most important captures ever made in the customs service in this part of the state was effected about 1 o'clock this morning on the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern road, about three miles south of Sumas, by Inspector Flanagan. The men arrested were two Chinamen and the notorious Cowboy Terry, who was shot twice in a fight near Sedro two years ago in which several officers were concerned and Deputy Sheriff Poor was killed. It will be remembered that that fight was the culmination of an attempt to smuggle a herd of Chinamen through to Seattle, and that Terry claimed to be aiding the officers to make the arrest. The story was not believed then, but was not disproved. For over a month Terry had been carousing and consorting with suspicious characters at Sedro, Sumas and across the line, and had been closely watched by officers. Last night after staying in a Sumas saloon and drinking heavily for some time he suddenly left. The fact of his going was made known to Inspector Flanagan, who, believing that Terry would undertake to run in some Chinamen, wired here for aid, but the hour was late and the office closed. The canny inspector then secured the aid of one man in town and went down the Lake Shore road three miles, obstructed the track and waited. At 1 o'clock a speeder, which was stolen at Sumas, was heard coming at a lively rate. The officers went up the track a short distance and challenged the men approaching, who stopped and were arrested without making resistance. Terry was brought here at [??] o'clock and returned to Sumas on the 9 o'clock train in charge of Deputy Marshal McGinnis and Deputy Collector Malone. He had a preliminary hearing before Commissioner Lawrence and was held for examination on the 9th and 10th instant on two charges, smuggling Chinamen and aiding and abetting smuggling contrary to the Geary law. Bonds were fixed at $2,000 on each charge, in default of which he was brought here at 1 p.m. and lodged in jail with the Chinamen. He said if he were only charged with aiding and abetting he would plead guilty, but as he is also charged with smuggling he will plead not guilty to both charges. One Chinaman offered Flanagan $75 and McGinnis $70 to let him go. It is also reported that a Chinaman was found in a tool box under a baggage car at Sumas about midnight, but escaped in the darkness.