DETACHED INCIDENTS.
Bank Letter lost--The Thief decoyed--Post-Office at
Midnight--Climbing the Ladder--An exciting Moment--Queer Place of
Deposit.
A Post Master in Prison--Afflicted Friends--Sighs and Saws--The
Culprit's Escape--How it was done--A cool Letter--A Wife's
Offering.
Moral Gymnastics--Show of Honesty--Unwelcome Suggestion.
"A hard road to travel"--Headed by a Parson--Lost Time made up--A
Male overhauled.
The Invalid Wife--The Announcement--A touching Incident.
During the whole of the author's official career, he has never been
brought into physical conflict with any one, nor exposed to any great
danger in the discharge of his duties. These duties have seldom called
him to undergo "moving accidents by flood and field," excepting so far
as severe weather, dangerous roads, fractious horses, or some other of
the inconveniences and perils incident to the different modes of
traveling, might be classed under that head.
An incident, however, once occurred while I was engaged in
investigating a case of depredation, which may be worthy of record
here, as it is not devoid of a certain picturesqueness, even aside
from the extremely interesting circumstance (to me) that my head, for
a short time, seemed to be in imminent danger.
The case referred to was that of the loss of a letter containing six
hundred dollars, posted by the cashier of a Northern bank. The person,
(a post-office clerk,) whom I suspected of being the robber, was
detected in taking a decoy letter which was placed in his office after
the loss of the one first mentioned. On the strength of this, I boldly
charged him with the first loss, and insisted that he should restore
the money. After the usual assertion of innocence, and some demur, he
intimated to me that the spoils were hidden somewhere in the
post-office.
This interview was held in the directors' room of the bank which had
suffered the loss, and I immediately proposed that we should go over
to the office and get the money. Accordingly we proceeded thither. It
was then after midnight. As soon as we entered, my companion locked
the door behind us, and preceded me, with a lantern in his hand. A
remark which I made respecting the lonely appearance of a post-office
at that time of night, drew from him nothing but a sullen assent,
which put an end to any further conversational efforts on my part.
The room (or rather recess) in which he lodged, was over that part of
the office devoted to the public, a space in front of the boxes, and
access was had to it by means of a ladder inside the office.
The clerk rapidly ascended this ladder and I followed closely behind,
without a word being spoken by either of us. The apartment, besides
the ordinary furniture of a lodging-room, contained a few shelves of
books, indicating some pursuit more creditable to their owner than
those which had rendered my interference with them necessary. I had
before been told that he was somewhat diligent in the cultivation of
his intellect.
Setting down his lantern upon the table, he reached up and took down a
rifle which was suspended to the wall, directly over his bed, a fit
emblem for one engaged in _rifling_ the mails.
Although the moodiness which he had displayed during our intercourse
that evening, had not surprised me, yet I was by no means prepared to
expect that he would resort to such extreme measures as his movements
seemed to indicate.
I was uncertain what to do. "The better part of valor" being
"discretion," it was by no means clear whether this same discretion
required me to rush upon him, or to make a precipitate retreat down
the ladder, or to jump and disappear in the darkness below. There was
evidently no time to lose, for the deadly weapon was already pointed
in my direction, and its desperate owner was fumbling about the stock,
as if, in the dim light, he could not easily find the lock.
Springing towards him, I seized the rifle by the barrel, remarking,
that I wished he would not turn the muzzle upon me, and then I saw
what he was attempting to do. He had crammed the stolen notes into the
"patch-box" of the rifle, and was endeavoring to get them out, which
he could not readily effect as they were tightly wedged in. I
cheerfully volunteered to assist him, and by our united efforts, the
debt was discharged instead of the rifle! In other words, I recovered
the identical bank-notes, deposited in the office by the cashier
several weeks previously, all in one hundred dollar bills.
The evidence furnished by the "patch-box," was of course amply
sufficient to convict the depredator, had other proof been wanting,
and he was recently sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in the State
Prison.
* * * * *
An ingeniously planned and successfully executed escape of a mail
robber from prison, occurred in Troy, New York, less than a year ago.
This person had held the office of post master in a place of some note
in the Northern part of New York. He was a man of education, and
connected by birth and marriage with some of the most respectable and
influential families in that part of the State, and in the Province of
Canada.
These favorable circumstances, however, did not prevent him from
becoming seriously embarrassed in his pecuniary affairs, by which he
was led, in an evil hour, to resort to mail depredations, continuing
them until this course was cut short by his detection and arrest. As
he failed to give the requisite bail, he was thrown into prison to
await his trial, which was to take place in the course of a few weeks.
As the efforts which he and his friends had made to secure the
intervention of the Post Master General for postponing the trial were
unavailing, and the direct and positive proof against him made it
certain that he would be doomed to at least ten years' imprisonment at
hard labor, the desperate expedient of breaking jail seemed to be the
only hook left to hang a hope upon.
He occupied a large room, adjoining that of the notorious murderess
Mrs. Robinson, and had for his room-mate a person who had been
committed for some minor offence.
He was frequently visited by his relations, whose high respectability
exempted them from the close examination which should have been made
by the jailor, to ascertain that they carried no contraband articles
on their persons. Respectability in this case, as in many others,
served as a cloak to devices from which rascality derived more benefit
than the cause of justice.
These afflicted friends, in the course of their visits, contrived to
supply the prisoner with the tools necessary to enable him to effect
his escape from "durance vile." Sighs and saws, regrets and ropes,
anguish and augers, were mingled together, supplying both consolation
for the past and hope for the future.
The time selected for the escape was a Sabbath night. The first thing
discovered by the jailor on the next morning, was a rope suspended
from a back-hall window in the second story, and reaching to the
ground, the window being open. On ascending the stairs, he found in
the partition separating the mail robber's room from the hall, an
opening about large enough to admit of the egress of a small person;
and on entering the room but one occupant appeared, who was fast
asleep; but the mail robber was gone.
It was with the utmost difficulty that the sleeper could be aroused.
He was evidently under the influence of some powerful narcotic, as was
fully shown by his replies to the interrogatories of the jailor after
he had sufficiently recovered from his stupefaction to understand what
was said to him.
His story was, that on the previous evening he was complaining of a
severe cold, whereupon his sympathizing room-mate remarked that he had
some medicine that was just the thing for such complaints, and offered
to give him a dose, if he wished to try it. To this the unsuspecting
victim of sharp practice assented; and the amateur "M. D." measured
out a quantity sufficient for the purpose intended, first pretending
to swallow a dose himself, in order to convince his patient that the
medicine was perfectly safe.
One of the last things that the patient remembered on the night in
question, was that about eleven o'clock he was affected by a very
drowsy sensation which he could not overcome, and that he lay down on
his bed to sleep. About this time his attending physician came to him
and inquired "how he felt;" to which he replied, "very sleepy." His
benevolent friend assured him that this was a "favorable sign," and
asserted further that he would be "all right by morning." At the same
time showing his solicitude for his companion's comfort by taking the
pillow from his own bed and placing it under his head.
The cause of these phenomena stood revealed, in the shape of a vial
labeled "Laudanum," which was found upon a table in the room. Near it
lay a note addressed to the jailor, of which the following is a copy.
Sunday Night.
Dear Sir,
Intelligence of a very discouraging nature, informing me that my
approaching trial is not to be postponed on any account, impels me
to make my way out of this place to-night.
Before doing so, however, I have to thank you for your kindness to
me. I am also indebted to Dr. M. for his attention to my comfort,
and I regret that interests of the highest importance require me
to take a step which may lead some people to find fault with you.
All that I can say about that is, that I have been fortunate in
eluding your vigilance as a public officer.
The effects I leave behind me should be sent by express to my
friends in P----, who no doubt will pay all expenses incurred by
me while I was with you. Any letters coming here may be forwarded
to me at P----, that is, after waiting a week when my brother is
to be at that place.
With a renewal of my acknowledgments for your goodness, I remain
Respectfully yours,
A. C. N.
To J. Price, Esq., Sheriff, &c.
Among the "effects," left behind, were sundry saws, files, and chisels
of the best workmanship and materials; a large roll of putty, to have
been used in concealing the saw-marks, in case a second night's labor
had been required; and a valise containing a variety of books, wearing
apparel, and letters received from his friend during his confinement.
One of them was from his wife, a young, lovely, and accomplished
woman. It is full of love, devotion, and Christian resignation, and
ends as follows:--
"The dear baby is quite well, and is growing finely every day. She
is a dear, beautiful child. Oh that God may keep her for us both,
for she will make us so happy, she binds us so closely together.
"Here are some lines which I have preserved for some time. They
have often comforted me, and I hope your feelings are such that
they may comfort you."
"GOD'S WAY IS BEST."
This blessed truth I long have known,
So soothing in its hopeful tone--
Whate'er our trials, cares and woes,
Our Father's mercy freely flows--
That on his bosom we may rest,
For God is good, "His way is best."
Trouble without and grief within,
Are the sure heritage of sin;
And e'en affection's voice may die
In the last quivering, gasping sigh;
But what though death our souls distress,
'Twere better thus--"God's way is best."
Misfortune's dark and bitter blight
May fall upon us like the night;
Our souls with anguish may be torn
When we are called o'er friends to mourn;
But what assurance doubly blest,
To feel that all "God's ways are best."
Yes, glorious thought! in yonder sky
Are joys supreme which never die--
That when our earthly course is run,
We'll live in regions of the sun;
And there, upon the Savior's breast,
We'll sing for aye, "God's way is best."
* * * * *
It was a doctrine advanced by Mahomet, that all men after death were
obliged to cross a fiery gulf, upon a bridge as narrow as a single
hair. The good always succeeded in effecting their passage safely,
while the wicked were precipitated into the depths below.
This idea might be extended to the present life, by way of
illustrating the difficulties which beset those who follow a criminal
course, and attempt to conceal the fact from the eyes of others. A
step too far, or not far enough, this way or that, is sufficient to
cause them to slip, and this kind of tight-rope balancing is a species
of moral gymnastics, in the execution of which few are successful.
A specimen of this was once furnished me by a post master against whom
serious complaints had been made to the Department, but who was not
aware of the existence of such charges. In the course of several
interviews which I held with him, I gave him not the remotest hint
that I suspected his integrity, yet (probably on the principle of
taking medicine when one is well, or thinks he is, in order to be
better) he resorted to several somewhat original expedients to
establish a character for honesty in my estimation.
The most striking of these was the following:--
As I entered the vestibule of the office one day, he pretended to pick
up a ten dollar note from the floor.
After the usual morning salutation, he said,
"I am in luck, this morning. I just picked up here a ten dollar bill,
and I must see if I can't find the owner;" and he forthwith proceeded
to write a flaming placard, announcing the finding of "a sum of money"
outside the delivery window, and to post it in a conspicuous place.
His singular manner, however, while speaking of the money, and while
engaged in drawing up the notice, attracted my attention, and I became
strongly impressed with the belief that the whole affair was one of
those silly devices which are as effectual in preventing the detection
of those who employ them, as is the device of the ostrich, in hiding
his head under his wing, to conceal him from his pursuer.
It occurred to me, after a little reflection, that I had seen a
well-known merchant in the place hand the post master a ten dollar
note the day previous, in payment for postage stamps. This fact was
confirmed by inquiries which I made of the merchant, who further
informed me that he could recognise the bill if he should see it
again, from the initials which it bore of a correspondent, who had
sent it to him by mail a few days before. Having ascertained what
these initials were, ("C. P.,") I took occasion to examine the note,
(which the post master had rather ostentatiously laid aside in a
drawer, to be ready for the _owner_ whenever he should claim it,) and
found the "C. P." upon it.
After the notice of the finding had been posted some twenty-four hours
without the appearance of any claimant, I suggested to the _honest_
finder, by way of annoying him a little in return for his attempted
deception, that as the money was found within the post-office limits,
the Department would probably require that it should pass into the
United States Treasury, in the same way as funds contained in dead
letters for which no owners can be found.
This view of the case did not seem to strike him favorably. He looked
blank, but attempted to pass it off as a joke, by saying that he
didn't know that the post-office was a dead letter.
The next morning the placard had disappeared, and the post master
informed me that a stranger had called late on the evening before, who
claimed and described the bill, and to whom it was accordingly
surrendered!
The termination of this case fully confirmed my opinion of the post
master's double-dealing in relation to this affair.
* * * * *
It sometimes happens that the ends of justice are best secured by
allowing criminals to go on for a time unmolested in their course, and
even by affording them facilities for the commission of offences,
which will be to them as snares and pitfalls. When means like these
are adopted for the detection of crime, a temporary check to the
operations of the suspected persons, from whatever cause arising,
creates some additional trouble and anxiety to those who are
endeavoring to ferret out the evil-doer, and provokes a degree of
exasperation toward his unconscious abettor.
Such an untimely interference with plans carefully laid, and carried
out at a considerable expense of time and effort, once occurred while
the author was attempting to bring to light an unscrupulous
depredator, in whose detection the public was much interested, as many
had suffered by the loss of money sent through his office.
I had been hard at work for a week in pursuing this investigation,
having for the third time passed decoy letters over the road on which
the suspected office was situated, (the road being one of the roughest
kind, about forty miles in length, and very muddy,) and was flattering
myself that _that_ day's work would enable me to bring my labors to a
conclusion satisfactory to the public and myself, if not to the
delinquent; when my hopes were, for the time, dashed to the ground by
the innocent hand of the village parson.
And it happened in this wise:--
The mail carrier was instructed to throw off his mail, as usual, at
the suspected office, and to remain outside, in order to afford the
post master a good opportunity for the repetition of the offence which
he was supposed to have committed, the Agent being all the time a mile
or two in advance, in another vehicle, impatiently waiting to learn
the fate of his manoeuvres.
As the part of the road where I was stationed, was in the midst of
woods, and the carrier had no passengers, no particular caution was
needed in conducting the conversation, and before my associate had
reached me, he called out,
"I guess you'll have to try it again; the Dominie was there and helped
to overhaul the mail to-day."
The sportsman, who, having just got a fair sight at the bird which he
has been watching for hours, beholds it, startled by some blunderer,
flying off to "parts unknown;" the angler, who, by unwearied
painstaking, having almost inveigled a "monarch of the pool" into
swallowing his hook--sees a stone hurled by some careless hand,
descending with a splash, and putting an end to his fishy
flirtation;--these can imagine my feelings when the mail carrier made
the above announcement.
"Confound the Dominie," involuntarily exclaimed I, "why couldn't he
mind his own business?"
I examined the mail bag, but nothing was missing except the matter
that properly belonged to that office.
But at the next trial, the parishioner did not have ministerial aid in
opening his mail, and accordingly, probably by way of indemnifying
himself for his forced abstinence, he not only seized the decoy
package, but several others.
The following day, instead of overhauling the mail, he was himself
thoroughly overhauled by an United States Marshal.
A man of such weak virtue, should hire a "dominie" by the year, to
stand by and help him resist the devil, during the process of opening
the mails.
Not the least painful of the various duties connected with the
detection of crime, is the sometimes necessary one of revealing a
husband's guilt to his wife.
I anticipated a severe trial of my feelings in making such a
disclosure during the progress of a recent important case where the
mail robber was in possession of a mail-key by means of which he had
committed extensive depredations. He was at length detected, and has
lately entered upon a ten years' term in the State Prison.
On his arrest he manifested much solicitude for his wife, fearing that
the intelligence of his situation would overpower her. "She is in
feeble health at best," said he, "and I am afraid this will kill her."
It was necessary, however, that I should see her in order to get
possession of some funds, a part of the proceeds of the robberies,
which her husband had committed to her keeping. Furnished with a
written order from the prisoner, and leaving him in the Marshal's
custody, I proceeded to call on the invalid, racking my brains while
on the way to her residence, for some mode of communicating the
unpleasant truth which should disclose it gradually, and spare her
feelings as much as possible.
On my arrival at the boarding-house, the note was sent to the lady's
room. It read as follows:--
My dear Susan:
Will you hand to the bearer a roll of bank-notes which I left with
you.
EDWIN.
The lady soon made her appearance. She was young, rather
prepossessing, and evidently in delicate health. Finding that I was
the bearer of the note, she addressed me, expressing great surprise
that her husband had sent a request so unusual; and with an air of
independence observed that she did not "know about paying over money
under such circumstances to an entire stranger."
Desiring not to mortify her unnecessarily by making explanations in
the presence of others, I requested her to step into a vacant room
near at hand, and after closing the door, I said in a low tone,
"It is an extremely painful thing for me, Mrs. M----, but as you do
not seem inclined to comply with your husband's order, I must tell you
plainly that the money was taken from the mails by him. There is no
mistake about it. He has had a mail-key which I have just recovered,
and has made a full acknowledgment of his numerous depredations. I beg
of you to bear this dreadful news with fortitude. No one will think
less of you on account of his dishonest conduct."
I expected to see the poor woman faint immediately, and had mentally
prepared myself for every emergency, but, a moment after, _I_ should
have been more likely to have fallen into that condition, if
astonishment could ever produce such an effect, for as soon as I had
finished what I was saying, she stood, if possible, more erect than
before, and with some fire in her eye, and one arm 'akimbo,' she
replied in a spirited manner,
"Well, if he _has_ done that, he's a dam'd fool to own it--_I_
wouldn't!"
She gave up the money, however, soon after, and although the
recklessness displayed in the speech above quoted seemed to make it
probable that she was implicated in her husband's guilt, it afterwards
appeared that this exhibition of "spunk" was due to the impulses of a
high-spirited and excitable nature, which sometimes, as in the present
instance, broke away from control, and went beyond the bounds of
decorum. Such an ebullition of passion indicated, in her case, a less
degree of moral laxity than it would have shown in one differently
constituted.
In a subsequent examination of their apartment in search of other
funds and missing drafts, a touching incident occurred, strikingly
displaying, when taken in connection with the outbreak just
mentioned, the lights as well as shades of an impulsive character.
During this examination, it became necessary to investigate the
contents of a well-filled trunk, and this was done by the lady
herself, under my supervision. After several layers of wearing apparel
had been taken out, she suddenly paused in her work, and wiped away a
falling tear, as she gazed into the trunk. Thinking that some
important evidence of her husband's crimes was lurking beneath the
garments remaining, and that her hesitation was owing to reluctance on
her part to be instrumental in convicting him, I reached forward and
was about to continue the examination myself, when she interposed her
arm and said sobbingly,
"Those are the little clothes of our poor baby,--they haven't been
disturbed since his death, and I can't bear to move them."
A second glance into the trunk confirmed her sad story, for there were
the little shoes, scarcely soiled, the delicately embroidered skirts
and waists,--all the apparel so familiar to a mother's eye, which, in
its grieving remembrance of the departed child,
"Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form."
A similar affliction had taught me to appreciate the sacredness of
such relics, and I waited in sympathizing silence, until she could
command her feelings sufficiently to continue the search.
She soon resumed it, and the contents of the trunk were thoroughly
examined, yet none of the lost valuables were found therein.