Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-12-22
THE INTERNAL MACHINE.

IT'S SECRET HISTORY AND DENELOPMENT'
1t was said by one ofthe ancients, whose
career, however, does not run very far back
into history; in short, by Sam Patch, of
Niagara Falls, Esquire, that "some things
could be done as well as others;" and though
not quite equal to Sam Patch; at any rate
not equal to him in jumping into futurity,
we think we may be allowed to adopt his
saying to our graduation, in the matter of
the famous Warner torpedo box.
In this we show to the public again, as
we did in the recovery of the Government
Jewels, that we can sometimes do what the
police cannot do, and even after they have
exhausted all their efforts and exerted all
their power to produce disclosure, can
take it up where they left it, and bring it to
successful issue. With this explanation
as a reason for once more bringing out the
Big Gun; a thing which we do only on
State occasions, we will now proceed to de-
tail, what the public will find to be most
extraordinary story, and we will do it in
that full, open and minute fashion which
all Just transactions, whether of police or
morals, will bear.
On the afternoon of the Sd of May last,
Thomas Warner, Esq, counsellor at law,
residing at No. IS, City Hall Place, left
the city for Philadelphia, TO return the next
day. His resolution was sudden, and he
communicated his intentions to no one but
his family. In the evening, after he had
gone, between half-past nine and ten o.
clock, violent ringing was heard at the
door, and the servant girl went to answer
it. As she opened the door, she perceived
by the gas light Immediately over it, short
man with black face, who was dressed in
cloak, and had handkerchief tied or
swathed around his chin and mouth. His
hat was slouched down SO as to hide the
upper part of his face as much as possible,
and the collar of the cloak he wore, which
was of a dark color, was so adjusted by
means of clasp and chain, as to assist in
the purpose of concealment. The singular
appearance of the man and the intense
blackness OF his face, at first startled the
girl, and she shrank back with a feeling OF
terror; whereupon the black man protru-
ding his hand from beneath his cloak, hand
ed her small but heavy box, about the
size of a segar box, which was wrapped in
a newspaper, saying with the motion "Give
that to massa Warmer" Glad to get rid of
such an apparition, the girl hastily closed
the door upon him and handed the box at
once to Mr.. Warners's son who had been
standing in the rear of the hall, and who,
though he did not see the man, heard the
expression which he used. 10
n, tol,;,, oT tho paxrct,at,p uhtcb Was
a copy OF the Epening Herald of March
Goth, 1S49, the box was discovered to be
of mahogany, with a groved or sliding
cover, and on the cover piece of writing
paper was fastened down with gum, which
bore the direction in bold business hand
"Thomas Warner, Esq, No. Is City Hal
Place." and on the lower corner Of the pa
per was added the word ssConfidential," il
back-hand, somewhat different from thu
other. Mrs. Warner sought to draw th
cover, but finding it firm, she at once de
sisted, and directed the box to be put care
fully away until MIR. Warner should return
The family then went to bed much con
cerned at the gir's description of the per
son who brought it, while the apparition o
l.hs negro and his intense tlackness, s
dwelt upon the Imagination Of the girl
that she obtained scarcely any sleep.
On the following day at 2 O'Clock, MI
Warner arrived from Philadelphia, and be
E ing in haste to attend reference at three
he sat down to dinner, which was prepare
# in the front basement, and told his sol
: when informed Of the arrival of the boz
u that ne had no time to examine it then, b,
s. directed that after the dinner was through
n n and he was gone to the reference, the so
G. should open it and examine its contents
The circumstances under which the bo
n. was left were then repeated with patic.
larity, whereupon the son was allowed
bring it down.. He sat it on the corner
the table between himself and his fathe
Mrs. Warner sat nearest the window iool
ing on. {
THE EXPLOSION. l.t
The string was cut by Mr.. Warner wi
the carving knife, the newspaper wrapp
of was taken off, and the box hefted and 9
vn amined with some suspicion. Mr., Warn
nd then sat il ON the table, and steadying