The Boastful Prisoner Who Talked Himself Into Federal Custody

Among the arrivals in the city last evening was Henry C. Grady, United States marshal for the district of Oregon, with headquarters at Portland. Mr. Grady is an old resident of Seattle and has a warm spot in his heart for the city. He said last evening that he felt perfectly at home here, although it had been six years since his last visit. He thinks Seattle is bound to become a big town and has backed his judgment by making large investments in real estate. He is the owner of eleven lots adjoining the Hill tract on Jackson street and of a block near Lake Washington, and declares that if he had the money he would buy more. His visit at this time is in reference to this property, and today he intends to join the throng in the treasurer's office to pay his taxes.

Mr. Grady also came to Washington on official business. Yesterday he delivered into the hands of United States Marshal Drake at Tacoma P. C. Pomeroy, who is charged with breaking into a country store and postoffice near Goble. Pomeroy's arrest by Marshal Grady in Oregon for an offense committed in this state was the sequel of a peculiar chain of circumstances, which no doubt will teach the prisoner the truth of the saying that 'silence is golden.'

Pomeroy had fallen into the hands of Alfred Sears, sheriff of Multnomah county, and was in jail awaiting trial for his offense. One day he put on an air of braggadocio and informed the sheriff that there was no need of holding him, because the crime for which he was held had been committed outside the state of Oregon. He then detailed all the circumstances, except to name his accomplices, and told the sheriff that he might as well be released.

The outcome of the conversation, or confession, was that Mr. Sears went to Mr. Grady's office and told the whole story, and when Pomeroy was set free he was almost instantly nabbed by the United States officers. Mr. Grady then informed the Washington officers, and has now delivered his prisoner to Mr. Drake. Pomeroy, to use a common expression, feels like kicking himself. He might be free, but he has confessed, and there is little chance for him to escape a term at McNeil's Island. Mr. Grady thinks he has the accomplices 'spotted' and may yet make it warm for them.

Pomeroy probably did not at first intend to rob a postoffice. He and his companions broke into a country store, with a postoffice attachment, and after helping themselves to boots and other articles, made off with about $40 worth of postage stamps. The crime was committed some three months ago.

Mr. Grady is a robust, rather heavy-set man, of light complexion, with a round, smooth, pleasant-looking face and a hearty manner. He is about 45 years old, but looks to be only 30, and is just as active as he was years ago when a conductor on the Oregon Railway Navigation road, saving his money and investing in Seattle lots. He took an active part in the last presidential campaign in Oregon, and was rewarded by appointment to the position he now holds. He was in Seattle in 1874 with a surveying party, when the town was a hunter's paradise, but even then he picked the place as a winner in the race for commercial supremacy.