Business Rivalry--Country Gossiping--Museum of Antiquities--New
Post Master--Serious Rumors--Anonymous Letters--Package
detained--Bar-room Scene--_Ram_ifications of the Law--First
Citizens--Rascally Enemies--Lawyer's Office--Gratuitous
Backing--Telegraphing--U.S. Marshal arrives--The Charge--The Fatal
Quarter--Enemies' Triumph--The Warrant--Singular Effects of
Fear--A Faithful Wife--Sad Memories--The Squire's Surprise--All
right.
The jealousies and rivalry often existing between persons of similar
occupations, which supply the truth contained in the old proverb, "Two
of a trade can never agree," are fostered and strengthened in small
towns to an extent which is not as conspicuous, and perhaps not as
frequently observed in larger places. For this general spirit of
emulation and strife is greatly aggravated by the interest that almost
all the inhabitants of small communities feel in the sayings and
doings of their neighbors.
This interest is too often manifested by reporting from one to another
hasty and ill-considered speeches, which should be suffered to die
where they are born; but thus set in motion by careless tongues, for
the benefit of itching ears, they roll on like snow-balls, and attain
a size and shape hardly recognisable by those who gave them their
first impulse.
An incidental, but an important consequence of these circumstances, is
the ready formation of parties about almost every quarrel that may
arise in such a village. The tranquil surface of country life is in
this way disturbed, like that of a still lake by the plunge of a stone
into its bosom, and the resulting waves, in both instances, extend
indefinitely in every direction.
The bustling little town of H. was not exempt from the evils at which
I have glanced, for the half-dozen shopkeepers who supplied the
inhabitants with their necessaries and luxuries, fully exemplified the
truth of the proverb above quoted. Their rivalry, however, was not
exercised by and toward one another impartially, but it was rather a
contest between the old, established merchants of the place, and one
whose coming was of a comparatively recent date. It was, in short, a
competition between Old and Young America.
The old school merchants affected to look with contempt on their
younger brother and his goods, suggesting that, however alluring his
prices and commodities might be, his customers would find to their
cost, that "All is not gold that glitters." Hints were thrown out
about calicoes that "did from their color fly," and sugar that was not
entirely soluble in hot water. It was also darkly intimated that B.
(the merchant in question) couldn't stand it long at the rate he was
going on, rashly keeping his assortment full all the time, instead of
cautiously waiting until an article was ordered, before he sent for
it. This sort of thing would never do. It was sure to bring him to
ruin.
On the other hand, the enterprising B. ridiculed the clique of "old
fogies," as he termed them, and characterized their establishments as
"Museums of Antiquities." In accordance with the spirit of the age, he
lined his shop with vast hand-bills, printed on type of stupendous
size, so that he who runs might read; with such headings as "The only
Cheap Store!" "Fresh and fashionable Goods at Low Prices!" "This Stock
of Goods bought within the present Century!" and other wonderful
announcements, which drew the susceptible public within his doors to
a greater extent than was agreeable to the feelings or the interests
of his "slower" competitors.
And as if all this was not enough, by way of climax to his prosperous
course, B. received the appointment of post master. The post-office,
as a matter of course, always brings an increase of business to the
store where it is kept; and in the present instance, B. did not fail
to secure all the advantages arising from his position.
And so successfully did he manage his affairs, with this additional
impetus, that one or two of his opponents, finding many of their
customers deserting them by reason of the superior attractions of the
"new store," abandoned the field in disgust, determined, however, to
lose no opportunity of undermining the object of their jealousy, or at
least of injuring his prospects.
Rumors, detrimental not only to his reputation as a man of business,
but to his character as a post master, soon got abroad. How they
originated, no one knew; whether they had any foundation in truth, no
one could say. The baseless reports which malice invents, have no more
permanent effect upon an upright character, than have flying clouds
upon the mountain which they may temporarily obscure; and it is only
when rumors are weighted by truth, that they can injure materially the
object at which they are aimed.
"Honor dwelling in the heart,
Welcome friends or welcome foes.
Whensoe'er it doth depart,
Smiles are weak, but strong are blows."
Anonymous letters were despatched to the Post Master General,
expressing a want of confidence in the management of the office, and
hinting at something of a more criminal nature than mere official
carelessness and neglect; but as such complaints are always
disregarded when unaccompanied by responsible names (being considered
the result of personal rivalry or malice), nothing was done in the
premises.
These unknown correspondents, however, did not cease from their
machinations, and it soon came to the ears of the obnoxious post
master, that he had been assailed at head-quarters; unjustly, as he
claimed. So he lost no time in repelling the "vile slanders" through
the medium of sundry long-winded communications to the Department, the
burthen of which was, that business rivals had done it all; and that
the ridiculous stories which had been set afloat, originated entirely
in the unworthy design of building up their authors on the ruins of
his good name. And in the most indignant terms he courted, and even
demanded, a careful investigation of his official acts and his private
character.
These various communications on both sides were all referred to the
Special Agent, that he might establish either the truth or the falsity
of the charges made against this post master.
The first step was to obtain a private interview with some of the
complainants, who were traced out by means of the specimens of their
hand-writing furnished by the letters they had sent to the Department.
They readily admitted themselves to be the authors of those documents,
after having been assured that the Government had no other object than
to ascertain the truth, and to protect the rights of the citizens who
had an interest in the post-office. I gave them to understand that the
Department required something more than mere assertion as a ground for
decided action; and suggested, that if those charges were well
founded, which represented the loss of valuable letters posted at that
office, their truth could be shown by furnishing a list of such
letters, and a statement of all the facts, by the parties immediately
interested.
As had been stated, the accusers of B. proved to be his rivals in
trade, and their active friends, animated and impelled by that bitter
competition of which I have already spoken.
In addition to the causes to which I have alluded as especially
influential in country places, to produce such a state of feeling,
may be mentioned a sectarian spirit, the bane of many small villages,
creating needless prejudices, dividing the community into discordant
fragments, and forcing a man to stand, in a degree at least, not on
his own merits, but on the preference of the sect with which he may be
connected. This sentiment is in some measure natural, and unavoidable.
Similarity of opinion tends to create favorable prepossessions toward
those who thus agree, but is ever liable to produce an exclusive
feeling which does injustice to all concerned.
Thus arises much of the sympathy and preferences which are so strongly
felt in small communities, especially towards merchants and
professional men.
Dr. Wilkins goes to our meeting, therefore he is a good doctor,
whatever other folks may say. Mrs. Garfield, the trader's wife, is
_such_ a good woman, and did so much in fixing up our church and the
vestry, that we must all "patronize" her husband, and sustain him
against his enemies, who oppose him solely on account of his activity,
and that of his family, in building up "our society." Dr. Wilkins may
not be eminently successful in the treatment of his patients, and Mr.
Garfield may be far from remarkable for his moderate prices, yet their
enthusiastic friends stick to them through thick and thin.
All these things must be taken into the account in pursuing
investigations like those which I had just commenced, and due
allowance made for the disturbing forces acting on the minds of those
who undertake to furnish the required information. The rubbish of
selfishness and gossip must be thrown aside, and only those statements
regarded which are corroborated by sufficient evidence.
Acting upon this rule in the present instance, but willing, in justice
to the accused as well as to the public, to follow up even the
accusations of open enemies, I instituted careful inquiries in the
right quarter, which soon established the fact that there was a screw
loose not far from that post office, if not directly in connection
with it. But for some weeks previous, no letters had been disturbed
which were deposited in or addressed to this office, the failures
having been confined to the mails which passed through it and were
there assorted. This circumstance rather confirmed suspicion than
otherwise, for the post master being aware of the complaints sent to
Washington, would consider it necessary to use greater caution in
carrying on his depredations (if he were guilty,) especially in regard
to the class of letters taken. But in such cases, as in those that
come under the supervision of medical art, various applications are
required according to the changes in symptoms and circumstances.
For instance, I might perhaps have worked to this day in the ordinary
line of experiments, such as depositing special test letters in that
office, or sending them to be delivered there, and all to no purpose.
They would, for a time at least, have been the object of special care,
and particular pains would have been taken for their safe dispatch;
while if dishonesty really existed, it would seek out and avail itself
of such opportunities as would not be likely to betray it, or to
attract the attention of the self-constituted "vigilance committee,"
which had already sounded the alarm.
With such views, I adopted a species of "decoy" which I thought best
suited to meet the exigencies of the case. In the first place a
document was prepared addressed to an imaginary firm at Rouse's Point,
New York. It read as follows:
Boston, March 20, 1850.
Messrs. Baxter & Clark,
Gentlemen,
Herewith you will receive twenty-five dollars and fifty cents, the
balance of my account, and for which you will please send me a
receipt as soon as convenient.
When does either of your firm intend to visit Boston? I like the
articles you last sent me very much better than the former ones,
and so say my customers,--will send you another order before long.
Very Respectfully Yours,
F. P. CRANE, Jr.
Bank notes of a small denomination were used to make up the
twenty-five dollars named in the letter, and two American quarters
enclosed, to make it more attractive; both bills and specie having
been marked, and a full description of them taken.
Another letter, written in a different hand, addressed to a lady, and
containing nothing of value, was also prepared and placed in a note
envelope, to accompany the above _business letter_. Here is a copy of
it:--
Boston, March 19, 1850.
My Dear Cousin,
Since you visited us, we have experienced important changes. Our
family is pretty much broken up by George's death. Father and
mother depended so much on him to manage our out of doors affairs,
that they don't feel like keeping house any longer, and have gone
to boarding, and as I shall not have any particular household
cares, I expect to be floating about, like many others of the
sisterhood of old maids, ready to make myself generally useful.
Perhaps I may inflict a visit on you in the course of the summer,
and help you to take care of _that baby_. I can't stop to write
any more, for we are hardly settled after moving. Father and
mother send love to you and husband.
Your Affectionate
SARAH.
My object in sending this second missive was to prevent any suspicion
that otherwise might arise in regard to the money-letter. For it might
reasonably be presumed that the accused post master would be on the
watch for anything that could by any possibility compromise him; and a
solitary letter containing funds, passing through his office, might
"give him pause," in case he should have any desire to appropriate its
contents.
Both letters were directed to Rouse's Point, N. Y., regularly
post-marked at the Boston post-office, and the post bill also made out
for Rouse's Point. But on the outside wrapper was purposely written
the name of the office which I wished to test. This would excite no
suspicion, for mistakes such as this appeared to be, do sometimes
occur in the hurry of making up the mails. Instead of putting the
package into the mail, however, I conveyed it myself to a point near
the town of H., and saw it placed in the pouch just before it reached
that office.
The question now to be settled was, whether on taking off the wrapper
(marked "H." as the reader will remember,) and finding the enclosed
letters directed to another place, he would forward them to their
address, as was his duty, or would appropriate them to himself,
believing that they had come there in consequence of a mere accident,
and that if he should see fit to take possession of them, the
circumstances of the case would effectually conceal his crime, and
render search unavailing.
It may be said that this was carrying temptation too far. By no means.
What degree of integrity should be reasonably required, let me ask, of
a person in the service of the public, occupying a responsible
position like that of a post master? upon whose fidelity depend the
prompt and safe transaction of business, and the security of many
other interests of social life. Will a valetudinarian virtue answer
the purpose? a virtue strong against weak temptations, but weak
against strong ones? The man whose principles cannot withstand every
degree of enticement to dishonesty, is unfit for any place of trust.
Furthermore, the combination of circumstances which I have just
described, might occur in the experience of any post master throughout
the country, and the sufferers by the unfaithfulness of an official so
tempted, would hardly be satisfied with being told that he could have
resisted any ordinary enticement, but that such an opportunity was too
good to be lost.
It should be borne in mind that up to this time, the party whose
character was involved in these investigations and experiments, was
totally unaware of the visits of the Agent to his neighborhood.
The _mis-sent_ package referred to, arrived at the office in H. on the
evening of the day that it left Boston, and should have been remailed
and forwarded on the following morning; but a close examination of the
contents of the mail-bag soon after it left H., failed to bring to
light the hidden treasure. No package for Rouse's Point made its
appearance.
This, however, did not make out a clear case against the "persecuted"
official, neither did it justify his arrest.
It occurred to me, on failing to find the letters referred to, that
the wrapper in which they had been enclosed, might have been used in
sending off other letters that morning, it being the custom in most of
the smaller offices, as a matter of economy, to use the same wrappers
several times by turning or reversing them. A short search produced
the paper in question, which I removed from the package it enclosed,
and substituted another in its place.
Here was an additional proof that the decoy package had reached the
office at H., and had been opened, as the new address upon the wrapper
was in the post master's hand-writing. He could not therefore say that
he had never received such a package at his office, or should he make
such an assertion, as he would be very likely to do if he were guilty,
the production of this envelope would shut his mouth, and go far to
prove his evil intentions.
But the case, at this stage, was very far from being a clear one
against him, and he yet had a chance, if he were an honest man, of
coming out triumphant over the efforts of malice, and the wiles of his
"persecutors."
The removal of the wrapper and its use in enclosing other packages was
all natural enough, being, as I have said, agreeable to the frequent
custom in such small offices, and even the non-appearance of the
Rouse's Point letters might yet be accounted for on the supposition
that he had laid them aside to be forwarded, and had forgotten them;
or that not observing the name of the town to which they were
addressed, he had placed them in the "general delivery," where they
might at that moment be lying unmolested.
Desirous of affording the suspected man a fair chance to prove his
innocence in this matter, if that were possible, and acting in
accordance with the above-mentioned charitable suppositions, I allowed
two other opportunities of remailing the letters to pass, but after
searching in vain for them on both occasions, I resolved to wait upon
the post master and talk over freely and frankly the subject of his
enemies' attacks, believing that he would not for a moment dream that
I had any connection with the missing package, even if he had
purloined it,--a calculation which afterwards proved to be perfectly
correct.
Accordingly I proceeded to the hotel at an early hour in the morning,
intending not to seek an interview with him till after breakfast, and
while waiting in the bar-room I overheard the following conversation.
For convenience' sake I will indicate the different speakers by
letters of the alphabet.
Mr. _A._ (to C. just entering the room.)--"Good morning, Mr. C. Are
you 'armed and equipped as the law directs' to go over to F?" (a
neighboring town.)
_C._--"You mean by that, I suppose, whether I have laid in enough
cigars to last till I get there, and patience enough to hold out till
I can get back."
_A._--"It will be a tedious business, that's a fact. Here's nobody
knows how many going over from this town; no end to the witnesses, and
no end to the case, _I_ don't believe; at least not this term of
court."
"Yes," broke in a rough-looking bystander, "the court'll set and set,
and never hatch out nothin' but a parcel of goslins for the lawyers to
pluck."
_A._--"We can't dispute you, L., for you've been one of those same
'goslins,' I believe."
_L._--"No I haint, I've been a darned sight wuss,--a great goose. I
swow it makes me mad with myself whenever I think on't."
"Come, daddy L.," spoke up a free and easy specimen of Young America,
"tell us about that great law-suit of yours. I never heard all the
particulars."
"Wal, young man," returned L. solemnly, "I'll tell you all about it,
hopin' it'll be a warnin' to you never to have nothin' to do with the
law.
"About fifteen, mebbe sixteen year ago, afore you'd got through
hollerin arter your mammy, I used to keep considerable of a lot of
sheep, and one year I bought a ram that I'd taken a fancy to jest
because he was sech an all-fired big feller, and had sech thunderin'
curly horns. I got him pretty cheap, and arter I'd had him awhile, I
found out the reason on't. He was the darndest buttin', jumpin' feller
that ever _I_ see. There couldn't a calf nor a colt nor nothin' about
his size come into the pastur where he was, but what he'd be arter it
and knock it into a cocked hat if he could git a lick at it. Fact, he
pretty much killed two or three likely calves that I had, but the
colts was mostly too lively for him. He couldn't often hit 'em.
"Wal, I kinder hated to kill the feller, he was such a buster, so I
shet him up in a little three-cornered lot so's to have him out of the
way till the calves was killed off or had got bigger. But what did the
rascal du but go to buttin' agin the stone wall that kep him out of
neighbor Bliss's patch o' rye; and afore he'd bin there tew days, he
knocked a hole in't and got into the rye. It was a kinder out of the
way place where the lot was, so he had a chance to stay there all
night, and 'praps a little longer. Anyhow, when Bliss found it out, he
was hoppin' mad.
"He's rether techy any time, but he'd bin a braggin' on this ere field
o'rye, how he was goin' to beat the hull town on it, and to have that
old ram a nibblin' and trottin' threw it, and a spilin on't, sot his
dander up. I was willin' to a' paid him suthin' for damages, but his
charges was tew hot for me. Told him I'd see him darned afore I'd be
imposed upon in that shape. Wal, he said he'd sue me, and sure enuff
he did.
"We kept a lawin' on it considerable of a spell. Fust the court gin
him his damages; then I 'pealed, and the case kept a gettin' put over
somehow or other, till the 'all wool _suit_,' as the lawyers got to
callin' it, come to be a standin' joke, and I was heartily sick on't.
Wal, finally we contrived to settle it, and arter payin' Bliss about
what he fust asked, I had my costs to see tu, and I went to Squire
Sharp, my lawyer, to see what _he_ was a goin' to charge me for his
_sarvices_, as he called it. He was jest as smilin' and clever as a
baskit o' chips.
"'Take a seat, Mr. L.' says he, 'I'll find your little account in a
minit. Pleasant mornin', sir, good growin' weather.'
"Wal, I set down and found out purty soon that I'd got 'bout fifty
dollars to pay for his _sarvices_,--blame 'em!
"'Now,' says I, 'Squire, that air's a good deal o' money for a man
like me tu pay, and I don't blieve I can raise it all tu wonst. P'raps
you'd take part out in _pro_duce, jest ter 'commodate.'
"'Oh, yes,' says he, 'Mr. L., I'll take anything you've a mind to
bring.'
"'So,' thinks I, 'I'll git red of one plague by the means;' and I went
home and got the old ram and carried him up to the Squire's house.
"'Good mornin', Squire,' says I, 'I've brought the fust instalment on
my little account.'
"'The deuce you have,' says he, 'what do you suppose I'm going to do
with that old buck?'
"'Donno, Squire,' says I, 'all I know is that you said you'd take
anything I was a mind ter bring, and this ere ram is _legal tender_,
anyhow.'
"Wal, he saw he was kinder stuck, so he 'greed to take it, and 'low me
five dollars.
"I heerd arterwards that the Squire put the ram into an empty hog-pen,
to keep him until he could sell him, but the darned critter went over
the top on't, and tackled Miss Sharp, the Squire's wife, that happened
to be a stoopin' down, weedin' her posies in the gardin, upsot her,
and then put arter little Jim, one of her boys, and floored him, and
ended off with knockin' down a crazy old well-curb, pitchin' into the
well, and breakin' his neck, or drowndin' himself, I donno which.
"That's the end of my experience in law. The old ram cost me, fust and
last, about a hundred dollars."
After the conclusion of this instructive narration, the general
conversation, which for the time had been suspended, was resumed, and
I gathered from what was said that the post master was one of the
principal witnesses in the trial above alluded to by Messrs A. & C.;
that arrangements had been made for an early start, as the place where
the court was to be held was some twelve or fifteen miles distant, and
that the hotel where we were was the place of rendezvous.
I observed narrowly every new-comer, and soon a well-dressed,
intelligent-looking man, apparently about thirty years old, entered,
whom I took to be the very gentleman I wished to see. My conjecture
respecting him proved to be correct, for it was not long before some
one addressed him, inquiring whom he had engaged to take charge of the
post-office during his absence.
Deeming it unsafe to delay longer, I beckoned him out of the room,
unnoticed by others, and in a friendly and familiar manner, introduced
myself, taking care to throw him off his guard by remarking, that
being in that vicinity I had concluded to make him a call and satisfy
myself whether the complaints made to the Department respecting him
were just or otherwise, adding that in many of these cases similar
complaints had their origin in personal disagreements, or business
rivalry.
"I am delighted to see you," he replied. "I am gratified that the
Department has at last authorized some one who is impartial, to look
into its matters here, and if I can have a day with you, I will
convince you by the testimony of the best men of all parties, that the
stories detrimental to me are the invention of enemies, who seem
determined to put me down if possible. But they haven't succeeded yet,
and what's more, they can't succeed. Things have come to a pretty pass
when a man can't carry on a more flourishing business than his
neighbors, without being set upon and slandered out of his life.
"I am summoned to-day to attend court, but if it is inconvenient for you
to wait till my return, I shall run the risk of being in time
to-morrow, with my testimony, as this business is of vital importance
to me and mine, and must not be neglected, come what may."
"It _is_ very important," I replied, "and my advice is to risk the
displeasure of the Court, and ask some of your friends to explain your
non-appearance."
He concluded to follow my recommendation, and we walked over to the
post-office, and retired within its sanctum, where we remained some
time, combining pleasure with business, by inhaling the vapor of as
good cigars as the mercantile department could furnish, while
examining the post-office books, and the post master's general
arrangements, and discussing various matters relative thereto.
My chief object was, if possible, to get a sight of the contents of
the boxes where the two "decoys" should be if they had been mistaken
for local letters, and placed in the "general delivery." The one
enclosing the bank-notes and specie would come under the initial B.,
and this box contained quite a number of letters which I thought it
unsafe to examine particularly. While I was endeavoring to devise some
plausible mode of getting a satisfactory view of them, some one
fortunately entered the store and inquired if there were any letters
for John Barstow. All the B's were at once taken down by the post
master, thus giving me exactly the opportunity I wanted of observing
each letter, as he was running them over. The last one was reached,
but the _mis-sent_ document did not appear; so one important requisite
for proving his innocence seemed entirely cut off.
Soon after, we started out to call on some of the "first citizens," as
he termed them, but I readily discovered that the select few to whom I
was being introduced, although evidently sincere in the opinions they
expressed, were a little biassed in his favor by one motive and
another; and that they were quite as likely to be deceived as those
whose interests, perhaps, fully as much as their regard for a
faithful administration of the post-office, had led them to scrutinize
more closely the conduct and principles of our injured friend.
Among those of his backers on whom we called, was a lawyer of some
note in that region, who had recently received a nomination for
Congress from one of the leading political parties. On our way to this
gentleman's office, the post master, as my readers will easily
suppose, took care to inform me thoroughly respecting these important
particulars. Squire W. was evidently a tower of strength to him, and
he spared no pains to impress upon me the great truth, that whomsoever
the Squire thought fit to endorse, possessed irrefragable evidence of
an immaculate character. We fortunately found the would-be future M.
C. in his office, no other person being present than a law student,
also a warm friend to my companion, who quickly withdrew, owing
probably to some silent intimation from one or the other of the
gentlemen present, that his room was, for the time being, better than
his company.
This was not, by the way, the post master's first visit here to-day,
for he had stopped in as we were passing in the morning, leaving me a
moment for that purpose, on which occasion he doubtless suggested our
visit, and the importance to him of a pretty strong backing.
He appeared immensely delighted to think that he had been able to
bring me, a "green" Agent, upon whom his character with the Department
depended, into contact with one whose assurances were to dispel all
the clouds that lowered about his head, and reveal him to the
community with the double effulgence of injured innocence and undimmed
integrity. This pleasing prospect seemed to beget an exuberance of
spirits which rather astonished his friend, the Squire, as I judged by
the occasional expression of his countenance.
"Now, Squire," said the post master, slapping him gently on the back
in a persuasive manner, "I want you to tell this gentleman just what
you think about the opposition made to me in this village. You know we
have always been opposed in politics, and of course you are entirely
disinterested in the matter. All you want is to have the office here
well managed. You have heard all about the charges that some of my
rascally enemies have made against me, and I believe I told you the
other day, that they had sent complaints on to Washington. We'll see
how their slanders turn out when the Agent here gets through with
investigating the matter. All I want is the truth."
"Yes, yes, I see," said the Squire, clearing for action, by putting an
extra stick into the stove, and materially lessening the contents of a
good-sized snuff-box that stood upon the table. "It's just as my
friend B. says, Mr. H----," continued he; "we've always belonged to
different parties in politics, and are connected with different
religious societies,--in fact, we don't seem to agree on anything of
that sort. But I never mean to allow such things to affect my estimate
of a man's character, and I hope I shall always be ready to do any one
justice, however he may differ from me in opinion.
"The case, Sir, stands thus: Here is a young man fortunate enough to
be possessed of more industry and enterprise than some of his
neighbors, and accordingly succeeds in business better than they do.
Their envy is excited, he incurs their ill-will, and they attempt by
slander to ruin his character. I don't think any of them would lose by
exchanging characters with him. No, Sir," (fortifying his position
with another pinch of snuff,) "all these charges are utterly without
foundation, save in the brains of those who produced them,--a narrow
foundation enough, in all conscience, for anything.
"I have, perhaps, as great an interest in the proper management of the
post-office here as any one, as I receive and send through it probably
more important correspondence than any other man in town; but I have
never had cause to complain, and, so far as I know, everything has
gone right."
Here a moment's pause followed, which the lawyer improved by
replenishing the stove and his facial promontory. The post master
cleared his throat, gave the Squire an approving nod, and rocked back
and forth upon the hind legs of his chair, picking his teeth in a
nonchalant way, apparently much at his ease.
"By the way, Squire W.," he broke out, rather suddenly, "perhaps the
gentleman would like to hear about that letter that Marshall mailed
here to go to New Haven, Ct., and which was misdirected to New Haven,
Vt."
I replied, that I should be happy to hear any statements that would
throw light on the subject in hand.
"Well," said the Squire, "there was a great handle made of that
affair. You see, this Marshall is a careless, absent-minded genius,
and he wrote a letter, into which he put fifty dollars for his old
mother in Connecticut, and it didn't get there. Well, he came and
consulted me about it, and wanted me to sue B. here, for the money.
"'Why, Mr. W.,' said he, 'I'm confident that B. has got it. People say
he can't be trusted, and I believe it now.'
"'But see here, Marshall,' replied I, 'there are twenty offices or
more between this place and the one where you sent your letter; and it
is, to say the least, quite as likely to have been purloined anywhere
else as here. You had better wait a few days, and I will make
inquiries, and do what I can to find out whether B. knows anything
about it. If it should appear at all probable that he does, I can
assure you that I will not hesitate to sue him.'
"So I put off matters for a little while, and before Marshall got very
urgent again, the lost letter turned up in the New Haven, Vt.,
post-office; no one being to blame but the very man who had made all
the fuss! The enemies of our friend here, who had all the time been
chuckling to think they had him on the hip, felt flat enough, I assure
you, when the letter came to light, for they would rather have paid
over the fifty dollars themselves, than to have lost this chance of
confirming their accusations against him."
This turn in the conversation gave me an excellent opportunity of
trying the nerves, or the innocence of the post master, without
exciting his suspicions in the least; so I remarked,
"The New Haven, Vermont, post master must have been an honest man, or
this money letter might never have been seen again; as no one would
have thought of looking there for it, and if they had, it wouldn't
have been very easy to prove that it ever went there."
Here I glanced at B., but his countenance betrayed no consciousness
that my observation was designed to hit him, and with an aspect of
unruffled coolness, he proceeded to say,
"That New Haven case reminds me of something very similar, which
happened in this office only a day or two ago. A package of letters
came here from Boston, which were intended for a town in New York. By
the way, Mr. Agent, I wish the next time you are in the Rutland office
you would request the mailing clerks to be a little more particular in
addressing their wrappers, as our packages, both of letters and
papers, frequently go astray, while those for other offices sometimes
come here. Surrounded, as I am, by so many prying and fault-finding
people, failures caused in this way are likely to be seized upon to
make me trouble."
I replied, that I would try to bear his request in mind, being all the
time well satisfied that it was a device adopted to turn attention
from the _mis-sent_ package, to which he had unguardedly referred, and
to prevent further allusion to it, which might awaken suspicion, and
even betray guilt. He was indeed treading on dangerous ground. His
voluntary admission, that a package similar to my decoy package had
been in his hands, and that he had noticed the name of the place to
which the letters were directed, was all that was wanting to confirm
my belief that they had been purloined, since I already knew that they
had not been forwarded from his office.
After our worthy legal friend had exhausted every illustration, and
brought to view every fact at his command, corroborating his very high
estimate of the post master's character, both personal and official,
and had given the "enemies" the extremely low and degraded position
which they, as maligners of spotless worth, and conspirators against
tried honesty, ought justly to assume,--in short, after he had said,
if not done, all that even the object of his advocacy could have
desired, I proposed an adjournment for dinner, more for the sake of
securing in that way an opportunity of telegraphing for the United
States Marshal, than for administering to the wants of the inner man.
The victim of calumny and myself separated at the door of the Squire's
office, agreeing to meet again soon after dinner; and while he was
dispatching his meal, I was dispatching a telegraphic message, which
ran thus:--
"----, Esq., U. S. Marshal:
"Come here by first train. I will join you at the depot, and
explain business."
Just as I had left the telegraph office, I was addressed in a very
private and mysterious manner by a substantial-looking citizen, whom I
had before observed eyeing me very closely. He wished to know whether
I was the United States Mail Agent.
I informed him that such was the title of my office.
"Then I want an opportunity for some conversation with you about this
business of the post office. I suppose you are here to examine into
this affair, and are willing to hear both sides. There are some things
in connection with the matter, which I think you ought to know."
"I was just going to the hotel for my dinner," said I. "Government
officers must eat, you know, as well as other people, and for a while
after dinner I shall be engaged; but if what you have to communicate
is of importance, I will endeavor to confer with you before I leave
town."
"I hope you will; and allow me one word now. I understand that you
have been closeted with Squire W., and I want you to know something
about his position in this matter. Everybody allows him to be an
honest and a sincere man, but the fact is, he has been very active in
effecting the removal of the site of the post-office from the other
side of the river to its present location, and could hardly be called
a disinterested witness in such an investigation as you no doubt
intend to give the subject."
How far this dig at the Squire was just, I could not then certainly
know; but a glance at his law dispensary and the post-office, distant
from each other only a few rods, both being a good quarter of a mile
from the old post-office site, gave some plausibility to the
intimation that the Squire's interest and love for justice, happened
in this instance, to run in the same direction.
My presence in the village had become pretty generally known, as
appeared by various unmistakable indications, particularly some not
very flattering remarks which I overheard at the dinner-table, such as
"a one-sided affair," "consulting interested persons," "don't know how
he expects to find out the truth," and the like; all of which I
pretended neither to hear nor to notice. It was very evident that our
man of letters hadn't many friends in _that_ house, for those of its
inmates and frequenters who were not in some way influenced by rival
interests, were no doubt more or less disaffected by the removal of
the post office from that immediate neighborhood.
As I was one of the last to leave the table, the usual cloud of
tobacco smoke had taken possession of the bar-room, and was enveloping
its occupants in an atmosphere
"Darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,"
when I entered the apartment devoted to the production of this
mollifying vapor. The narcotic herb seemed to have lost its ordinary
soothing power, for the company then and there present bestowed upon
me glances cool and scrutinizing enough to dispel effectually any
inclination I might have had for indulging a short time in the
delights of social intercourse. So I seized my over-coat, and passed
out; and this movement was the signal for a spasmodic giggle by the
entire assemblage, in which the landlord joined, as I supposed, for I
distinctly recognised his grum voice just as I closed the door,
uttering, in a contemptuous tone, the following remark, "I guess the
Agent don't like tobacco smoke!"
I was little disturbed, however, by these and sundry other indications
that I was not establishing a reputation for impartiality and
shrewdness with a majority of the citizens. If I were to listen to all
they might be ready to tell me, I should be spending valuable time to
no sort of purpose, for the proofs of the post master's delinquency
which I had thus far obtained were derived, not from them, but from
himself, and it was in that direction only that I could reasonably
expect to obtain conclusive evidence of his guilt, for all the
accusations which his enemies had sent to the Department had been
supported by nothing better than the opinions of those who made them.
If I failed in securing what I expected from the course I was
pursuing, it would then be time to see what other proof could be
procured from different quarters; and until the result of my
investigations should be known, I was content to rest under the cloud
of misapprehension which appeared to be gathering about me, knowing
that thus I could best serve the interests of justice, and that time
would set me right with those who were now disposed to look on me as
one whose mind had been preoccupied by the artful tales of the post
master and his friends.
I must confess that I was somewhat amused to think what a complete
metamorphosis my character would undergo in the eyes of almost every
member of this little community, when the truth should come to light.
I had sufficient confidence in the uprightness and candor of the
Squire, to believe that he would readily acquit me of trifling, in the
course I had pursued with him, and that he would acquiesce in the
adoption of whatever measures the public interest might seem to have
required. Nor was I in this instance the victim of misplaced
confidence, as will hereafter appear.
The post master and myself soon met again at the post-office, when
cigars for two were produced, and as we sat smoking them, I could not
avoid a feeling of melancholy, at seeing him apparently so cheerful
and happy, and sincerely regretted the necessity that compelled me to
persist sternly in a course which would assuredly end in the blight of
his hopes and the ruin of his character.
He was evidently certain of having fully established his innocence,
and of having inspired me with some of the contempt for his
persecutors which he felt himself. "We have met the enemy, and they
are ours," seemed to be the language of his looks and actions, if not
of his lips. The sky over his head appeared bright; the clouds, to his
eyes, had dispersed; and he dreamed not that the roar of the next
railroad train would be to him like the peal of thunder which
accompanies the lightning's quick and deadly bolt. Yet I consoled
myself with the reflection that my motives were such as should actuate
every public officer in the discharge of his duty, and that I was not
responsible for the consequences which might follow the carrying out
of plans judiciously devised for this end,--an end which, in an
important case like this, fully justified the means.
This train of thought was interrupted by the post master, who rather
abruptly asked,
"Well, Mr. H., I suppose you have satisfied yourself about this
affair; and, if it isn't asking too much, I should be glad to know
what sort of report you are going to make to the Department?"
I was unprepared for this, and I confess I was for a moment
nonplussed. But I evaded a direct answer, by relating what I had heard
and seen at the hotel, and how displeased they all were with me for
not giving them a chance to be heard in the course of my
investigation. And wishing to divert his mind still further from the
troublesome point on which he had touched, I ventured upon a few
remarks about the painful and often disagreeable duties of a Special
Agent, introducing, by way of embellishment, an anecdote of Post
Master General Collamer.
In the course of a conversation between that officer and one of the
western Special Agents, the matter of an increase of salary, among
other things, was briefly discussed. Says the Agent,
"You know, Sir, that many times we are called upon to do things which
can hardly be made to square with the code of honor; and in fact, we
sometimes have to resort to downright duplicity and deception."
"Well, well," replied Judge Collamer, "I suppose you find yourself
perfectly at home at that!"
This diversion answered the purpose, and nothing further was said
about my intended report. Just as I had fairly extricated myself from
this ticklish position, a messenger from the telegraph-office
appeared, with a reply from the Marshal to my dispatch, which response
I managed to read without the least suspicion of its nature on the
part of the individual who had such a momentous interest therein.
The contents of the dispatch were simply, "I will leave by first
train."
After having been introduced to a number of other swift witnesses for
our friend, who _happened in_ at the post-office, and holding some
conversation with them on the all-absorbing theme, the iron horse's
shrill neigh announced the approach of the train by which the Marshal
was to arrive; and without much ceremony I took my leave, to meet him
at the depot, promising to return again. He was the first man to
alight on the platform, and was soon made acquainted with the business
in hand. We thought it best that he should go directly to my room at
the hotel, where I was presently to join him, in company with the post
master; and ten minutes more found us there, sitting around as
pleasant a fire as ever irradiated and comforted with its genial
warmth, such a trio of officials. I had introduced the Marshal by his
proper name and title, yet the announcement produced no visible effect
upon the unsuspecting post master. He seemed as cool and unembarrassed
as if he had been in the habit of forming the acquaintance of United
States officers every day. This rather astonished me, as it did the
Marshal, and he (the Marshal) favored me with a glance and a slight
motion of the head, which intimated that, in his opinion, I had
mistaken my man.
I had set it down as a fixed fact, that the appearance and
introduction of the Marshal in his own character, would at once excite
the apprehensions of the post master, and lead to inquiries from him
which would render it comparatively easy for me to enter upon that
decisive course of questioning and examination which the present
advanced state of the affair required. But all my calculations were
frustrated by this unexpected move on the part of my antagonist, and I
was left _in statu quo_, so far as regarded any help I had hoped for
from him. In this condition of things, all that remained for me was to
make a bold push at once, and break the ice as speedily as possible.
So, turning to the post master, I thus addressed him:
"Were you, Mr. B., at home, last Monday evening, when the Boston mail
arrived?"
"I was," replied he, after some hesitation.
"Did you open and assort the mail yourself on that occasion?"
"I did."
"And did you find a package of two letters, mailed at Boston, and
addressed to Rouse's Point?"
Here, for the first time, a change came over his countenance; and,
after a moment's reflection, he answered very firmly, that he did not
recollect any such package.
"One of the letters," continued I, "contained twenty-five dollars in
bills, and fifty cents in specie, and the other contained no money,
and was addressed to a lady."
He listened attentively, and repeated that he did not see any such
letters as those I had described.
"Well, Sir," I observed, "we must now trouble you to show us the money
you have about you."
He readily complied with this requisition, by handing me his
pocket-book. It was well filled, but among a tolerably large roll of
bank-notes, none of those included in the decoy letter appeared. His
knowledge, of the absence of these important witnesses against him,
easily accounted for his promptness in submitting to the examination,
and as he received the wallet from me again, and returned it to his
pocket, his air of assurance, which for the moment had been dimmed,
reappeared in all its native lustre, and with an assumed expression of
wounded pride, he requested to know if he was to understand that I
suspected him of interfering improperly with the letters I had been
inquiring about. To this I answered,
"Yes, Sir; you _are_ so to understand me; and further, that I believe
you have robbed and destroyed those letters!"
The Marshal was looking on all this while, evidently somewhat
incredulous as to the justice of my accusations, for he had long known
by reputation the young man against whom they were made, being an
acquaintance of the family, and always supposed him to be an
enterprising, honest person. Indeed, he told me afterwards, that he
really thought, to use his own expression, that I "had put my foot in
it." In fact, I began to think myself, that however certain B.'s guilt
might be, it was likely to prove more difficult than I had supposed,
to establish the fact legally.
One thing, however, remained,--to examine a quantity of specie, which
I knew he had in his pocket, as he had frequently exhibited it during
the day in the way of making change at his office. This also,
amounting to some six or eight dollars, was promptly produced at my
request, and laid on the table.
"Now," thought I, "the last card is dealt; let us see whether it will
turn up a trump."
The evil spirit, which so enticingly leads people into scrapes, and is
so reluctant to get them out again, true to its fatal instincts, had
safely preserved the evidence of guilt in the present case. A moment's
inspection of the different coins, brought to light one of the
identical pieces which had been placed in the missing letter! It was
thus described in the original memorandum to which I referred:
"American quarter--dot over left wing of eagle; slightly filed on
lower edge under date, 1850."
"Here is one of the quarters," said I, holding it up, "that was in the
Rouse's Point letter,--marked and described in my memorandum, so that
I could swear to it anywhere."
"Well, Mr. H.," said the post master, "I suppose this circumstance
appears to you very strongly against me, and perhaps it is. But I
should like a few moments' private conversation with you, if you have
no objection."
Agreeably to this hint, the Marshal retired; but the post master
remained silent for a while, resting his chin on his hand, and gazing
into the fire with a countenance overshadowed by dejection and
discouragement. The gloom on his features grew deeper and deeper, but
at last he roused himself, and looked me full in the face, saying, in
almost despairing tones,
"_Can_ anything be done to save me? Oh, Mr. H., for heaven's sake, put
yourself in my place for a moment! Think what it is to fight as I have
fought for years, to defend my reputation against enemies who wanted
to pull me down, and build themselves up on my ruins; and after
holding my ground so long, to be blown to pieces, as it were in an
instant! How they'll all exult! There's old P.; I can see just how
he'll look, shaking his old fox head. 'Ah, I knew something was rotten
all the time!'
"What can you do to get me out of this trouble? I can't have it so; I
_must_ have something done to save me from becoming the laughing-stock
of my enemies."
"But," said I, "your enemies, as you call them, could have done you
no harm, if you had not supplied them with weapons yourself."
"That may be," replied he, mournfully, "but I assure you that this is
my _first_ offence. I had never dreamed of meddling with letters till
this Rouse's Point package came in my way; but it didn't seem as if it
could ever be discovered, so the temptation was too much for me."
(It is a curious fact, by the way, that almost all the cases of post
office robbery we meet with are "first offences;" even those whose
boldness indicates some little previous experience in such things.)
"What," inquired I, "did you do with the bills that were in the
letter?"
"I sent them away," replied he, "the same day that I took them. Now,
I've told you frankly all about the affair, and I hope you will
contrive some way to save me from disgrace and ruin. Couldn't the
business stop here, if I refund what I have taken, and resign my
office as post master? I should be willing to do more than that, if it
should be necessary."
I assured him that I had no power to make any such arrangement, and
that I must leave the matter with the Marshal, who I supposed would be
under the necessity of serving the process.
Thus speaking, I stepped to the door, and called that gentleman into
the room, who proceeded forthwith to read the warrant issued against
B. During the reading of that instrument, a sudden change came over
the countenance of the unfortunate post master. He turned pale, and
would have fallen, had I not prevented him. The Marshal and I assisted
him to a bed that stood in the room, where he lay for a long time,
prostrate in body and mind.
As I stood over him, attempting to revive him by the use of such means
as were at hand, I thought how great must have been the shock which
had so overpowered his faculties. His strength of body, and pride of
soul, were, for the time, laid low. What a pity that he had not
possessed the right kind of pride; not merely the ambition to rise
above the machinations of his enemies, and put them under his feet,
but the pride that despises a mean action, and dreads a crime more
than its consequences. Such a feeling would have been a safeguard; but
I was sorry to observe that, while he was confessing his guilt, the
thought of his enemies' triumph over him was uppermost in his mind.
He had now somewhat revived, and wishing to calm his exasperated
feelings, (which I supposed were in some measure the cause of his
present condition,) by turning his thoughts to another channel, I
inquired of the Marshal, in a rather low tone, whether he had any
family.
"He has a wife, I believe," was the reply, and in a moment B. was
saying to himself, his eyes still shut,
"Jane, Jane, what will _you_ think? Don't despise me, if you can help
it."
He went on for some little time in this strain, displaying a high
regard for his wife's affection and good opinion, and an apprehension
that he might have forfeited them by his misconduct; an apprehension
utterly groundless--so far, at least, as regarded affection, for the
undying flame of love in a true woman's heart cannot so be quenched.
Mrs. B., as I afterwards learned, was a most estimable woman, whose
influence had doubtless been of great benefit to her husband. Alas!
that the power of his good angel could not have triumphed over the
temptation to which he yielded!
When he had recovered sufficiently to walk about, the Marshal took him
in charge, and conveyed him to a neighboring town, where the United
States District Judge resided, for examination. His friends, who were
highly respectable, were informed by telegraph of his arrest, and gave
the required bail for his appearance at trial.
Thus we have traced out an important part of the career of one whose
character was laid low, not by his enemies, but by his own hand. And
whenever I pass through the pleasant town which was the scene of these
transactions, a shade of melancholy comes over me, entirely at
variance with the general cheerful appearance both of the place and
the surrounding landscape.
On one of the last occasions that I was in that vicinity, the train on
which I was traveling stopped for a few moments at this station. It
was a delightful summer's day, and if the objects which met my eye, as
I gazed up and down the street, had not been, many of them, monuments
to me of a melancholy history, I should have thought that the place
yielded in beauty to few of the villages which adorn New England. But
a stranger occupied the store where the unfortunate B. maintained the
contest with his rivals; the post office was in other hands; and I was
just turning away from a scene that suggested nothing but unpleasant
reminiscences, when Squire W. emerged from the station-house, and
cordially addressed me. This was the first time I had seen him, since
our memorable interview in his office.
"Good morning, Mr. H.," said he; "how is the rogue-catching business
now? I suppose you have disposed of a good many since you despatched
B. so summarily. When I first heard of his arrest, feeling sure of his
innocence as I did, I don't know that I should have been much
surprised if you had come after me next; and I felt a little sore, to
tell you the truth, to think that my endorsement of him had so little
weight with you. But I have since seen that you were perfectly right
about it, though I am sorry that poor B. should have turned out so
badly."
Here the iron horse began to manifest indications of impatience, and
shaking hands with the worthy Squire, we went our several ways.