No. 147 American Hotel.
Please write me an answer to-day, so I may know how to proceed
to-morrow. If I find him I will be very happy to see you before
I leave in behalf of Major Roney, in whose business I am now
engaged. I.M.T.
Some one, however, who had a hand in the first letter, referred the
Major to Passmore Williamson, Seventh and Arch Streets. To Mr.
Williamson's surprise the individual who had addressed Mr. C. appeared
at his office with the identical letter in his hand that had been
addressed him by Mr. W. (with W.J.C.'s signature.) On addressing Mr. W.
he held out the letter and inquired: "Are you the author of this letter,
sir?" Mr. W. looked at it and remarked that it appeared to have been
written by a man named Canby. "My name is Williamson, but if you will
walk in and take a seat I will attend to you in a few moments."
Accordingly, after occupying a little time in adjusting some papers, he
signified to the stranger that he was ready to answer any of his
questions. Said Mr. W., "I say frankly that I am the author of that
letter." He then paused for a reply. The stranger then said, "I have
come from Virginia in behalf of Major Roney, in search of his boy,
Tucker White; the Major was very anxious to recover him, and he would
gladly reward Mr. W. or anybody else who would aid him in the matter."
He then asked Mr. W. if he knew anything of his whereabouts. Mr. W.
replied: "I do not at present; for a long time I have heard nothing of
him. I must tell you that I am very sorry that Major Roney gave himself
the trouble to send all the way to Philadelphia to re-capture his 'boy
Tucker White,' and with regard to giving information or assistance, I
know of but one or two men in this city who would be mean enough to
stoop to do such dirty work. Geo. F. Alberti, a notorious kidnapper, and
E.D. Ingraham, equally as notorious as a counsel of slave-hunters whom
everybody here despises, might have served you in this matter. I know no
others to recommend; if anybody can find the 'boy,' they can. But should
they find him they will be obliged to take legal steps in arresting him
before they can proceed. In such a case, instead of assisting Major
Roney, I should feel bound to assist Tucker White by throwing every
obstacle that I possibly could in the way of his being carried back to
Virginia; and to close the matter I wish it to be understood that I do
not desire to hold any further correspondence with Major Roney, of
Dinwiddie, Virginia, about his 'boy,' Tucker White."