Washington telegraph., 1851-05-07
halt closed his eyes. and theaugh the
other half watched all the motions of his

'''S ~ySSs UAAN 'a1S$fS0 sAsS
other half watched all the motions of his
company.
my ameis Wood. am celebrated
as burglar. The police know it. But
we have mutual interest in supporting
each other. If there were no burglars,
society would need no police. If there
were no police, burglars would be TOO
abundant. AL would become burglars,
| and the business would become unprofta-
ble."
"Curious philosophy"
"Good as any other, sir. besides being
practical and founded upon acknowledged
social facts, instead of intellectual theo-
res"
"Well. we:l-go on"
Il robbed Mr.. -'s store. in Market
Street, the other night You must have
heard of it. Seventeen thousand dollars
worth of goods missing in three hours!
/ fatter myself that was a neat job,
creditable even to msy handiwork.
Our editor started.
20. it's all right, sir. The police know
it very well. But they have not the
proof They put. therefore. one half the
reward offered in one private spot, and in
another. the next day. they find all the
missing goods. This. you'll perceive. is
fair business transaction Aud as the
law must have a victim, a green horn,
whom l took into the speculation with
me 10 watch the door. gets nabbed by
the police, and goes to the penitentiary. to
keep him out of further bad associations" "
us it possiSle?" unused the editor.
"But did not come here to boast.
And now, after this preface. which you
will find was necessary, to enable yon
fully TO comprehend my position, sir. let
me explain the purpose of my visit. J.
have family-a wife and three daugh-
ters. They are respectable, as the world
calls it. They eat we'll, drink we'll, dress
well, and were happy until you, sir. in-
terfered with their felicity and tried to
render them miserable"
II, sir; pooh!' said the startled editor.
"Yes, sir, yOu--but indirectly, of course.
My family did not share in my ignominy.
They passed in society by another name,
and having comfortable means. were al
ways welcomed by troops of friends, in
every quarter. Yes, sir. they aCe1e happy.
And if ever enjoyed myself in my life,
it was in those moments when, having
completed some professional job in truly
artistic manner, / have gone home con-
tented, and listened to the endearing pratt
tie of my light-hearted and innocent chill
dren."
Here the burglar wiped away tear,
and then continued:
"You, sir, have put an end to all this
felicity. You have snatched from me
my only cup of consolation. You have
plunged four unsuspecting. guiltless crea-
tu:es, into anguish and distress; and
have Aow come. sir. to see if you have
the heart of man. or are disposed to
strew with poison the life-path of these
helpless beings. as an atonement for what
yo1s may conceive my depredations upon
the community?
II don't understand you, sir.
Il was temporarily arrested the other
day and discharged. The next day l
started off for Wilmington to place my
daughters at an elegant school, to fit
them with the accomplishments that
society deems Indispensable. Ileft them
there-went to Baitimore-returned to
Wilmington. At the school | found your
paper, sir; and your reporter, not content
with publishing my arrest, and speaking
of me in terms calcu.a ted to induce every
body 10 look upon me as leper. gave
my dLias-the name under which my
family had lived so long and so happily,
untainted with my professional reputation.
My daughters were courteously turned
out of the school, When arrived here.
I discovered that my wife had been COM
PEELED TO abandon our home. The ban
was upon US. We had no friends! No
home. The finger of scorn met us at
every footstep! And though l could we'll
have borne this myself, it almost breaks
nv heart to see my innocent wife and
children thus stricken down. as it were,
by the lightning of the press, at my feet
upon my soul, it IS hard" exclaimed
the editor.
Hard, sir. could have killed you-but
murder is not my line, and is seldom
pro6tab BILE. My family are now about to
take up new residence, under new
name. Let that name be sacred, and
they may again be happy. Expose 1t.
and as life will be no longer valuable to
me. yours will have, certainly, tenure
limited only by my own. You understand,
sir!"
"Perfectly. Their name shall never
be mentioned-not on account of your
threats. however, but on the score OF
humanity"
Mr.. Wood bowed his thanks and with
drew
This incident is truth-e7ery word OF
it-although it may resemble romance.
The Charleston Courier mentions the
arrival. few days since, at that port. OF