New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-08-18


family reputation, cir ~
6 In the eyes Of JN,. BaJJington, suppose
quietly remarked Mr. Wapart, with an unusual
degree OF sarcasm
" Mr. Babbngton is q gentleman, sir, and |
would thank you not to treat his name with dis
respect, retorted Mrs Walpart, with a look
and action of offended dignity '' He has a sim
cere regard for Julia, and yet hope that both
you and she will come to a sense of your own
interests
50 we probably SHALL" replied the rner-
chant; Sc but you must excuse me now, for
nave some business to attend to-
| AS Mr. Walpart spoke, he drew his chair up
to the table, and taking from his pocket a small
bundle of papers, he began to look over them.
His wife knew that further attempt at an ex-
! preston of her thoughts would be utterly use.
le2s and after remaining for few moments,
she arose from her seat and left the room.
+, On the next morning, ere Mr.. Wapart ar
rived at his store, a young man called to see
him, and on giving his name to one of the clerks
as James Albec, he was requested to step into
| the counting room, and await the merchants
coming James Albee had lust entered upon the
stage Of manhood, and a single look upon his
/ open. kindly smiling coumtenanee would at once
| disarI9 tae unpreiudced mind of all suspicion,
and yet he rested under the charge of t0rgerH
| A check for five thousand dollars, purporting
to have been signed by his employers, Messrs.
Folt & Babrook, had been presented at the bank
and cashed over n month previous; but as Al
! bee had the principal management OF the bust
ness, the firm had not, until within a week, dis
covered the fraud As soon as Mr. Folt saw
the check, he knew it to be spurious, and after
serious consultations with his partner, suspicion
was fastened upon James Albee. No palpab1e
circumstances showed that he had made any
| use Of the money, and an examination was
made Of his trunks: this proved nothing, how
ever, and while yet the firm were in doubt upon
the subject, they learned that young Albee had
| lately loaned to friend, who was about COM
mencing business, four thousand dollars. This,
together with the teler's evidence that Albee
himself had presented the forged check, was
deemed a conclusive evidence, and the young
man was accordingly arrested. bill was
found against him. and he was held in heavy
bonds for trial-Alr. Walpart, as the reader al
ready knows having recognized himself for the
required amount. There seemed no possible
way for the young man to clear himself Of the
fatal charge; and as he sat now in the mer-
chants counting room, there was a deep shade
Of sadness on his manly features; and his heart
lay heavy and sad in his bosom.
At length Mr., Walpart arrived, He greeted
young Albee kindly, and having consulted his
watch he called upon one of his clerks, and Civ
ing him two letters. bade him leave one Of them
at the Canal Bank and the other at the store Of
Folt & Babrook
I "Chcer up, James, said Mr. Walpart, short
} ly after his clerk had left ssIf am not great
" mistaken, all will yet come right
Have you clue, then, to the solution Of
the mystery 20 asked James, as he started for
ward and laid his hand neryously on the mer-
chants arm, while his eyes danced in flood Of
: hopeful light
], q think have; but we must wait lfor a
short time, and may then be enabled to give
you definite answer"
The merchantmen about arranging some o.
| his papers, while the youth took up paper
J and began to run over the mornings news. Al
; the end of half an hour the clerk returned, ac
ctmpanied by Messrs. Folt & Babrook and one
OF their statesmen, together with the teller o
the Canal Bank.
: :: Gentlemen said Mr. Walpart, as soon a
e the mornings salutations had been passed, sc
i have requested your attendance here in orde
e to ascertain it we may not clear Mr.. Albee fror
the charge that rests against him.
It Indeed, sir said Mr. Foft, with a rea
frankness, '' no one would be more happy a
7 such a result than myself; but yet must sa
I that things look dark against him.
: ''Pcrhaps they do returned Mr.. Walpart
r &c but nevertheless we may be able to thro,
some light upon them. In the first place, gen
tlemen, the circumstance of his having none,
is clear For eight long years he has beel
4 saving each quarter portion of his salary
' and this he has had invested in various ways
4 as can testify, and even at the present mo
/ ment hold some two thousand dollars of hi
0 money Now, sir,' he continued, turning t,
the bank teller, son what day did you pay tha
!, five thousand dollars upon the forged check =
t son the fifteenth of last month";
Q ''IIave you examined the book keepers ac
counts for that day, as | requested"
7 Yes, sir'
/ 's And what is the result 20
+, sE have examined the book-keeper's journal
e and fear that | may have given in my evdenc
+, at Mr. Albee's examination, with too much reli
9 ance upon my own memory returned the teller
! g for. upon examination. find that shortly afte
the bank was opened, | paid to the checks G
e Folt u Babrook eight thousand dollars; then
before that check of five thousand dollars wa
I paid, there are thirty-tour entrances upon tn
Il journal. so that the latter must have been pai
II some three hours later than the former, and at
Y time, too, when there was quite crowd abou
my desk, The eight thousand certainly pait
: to Mr. Albee, but have an impression now tha
the other sum was not delivered to him.
'Mr. Folt,' said MIR. Walpart turning to tha
t gentleman, sis not that the morning on whic
h yourself and MIR. Babrook went to Batavia ~
y g 1t is. returned Mr.. Folt; 81 and drew ou
e the eight thousand to use in buying up Hour
II CHOW, Mr. Russell, continued Mr.. Walpart
d addressing the young salesman who had accom-
. panied Folt \ Babrook, ''do you remember
s Mr.. Albee left the store that forenoon after hi
employers had gone"
Not until after two o'clock, SIR, returne
the young man, with a confident air, ss for re
: member that he sent his assistant clerk to dt
| posit and pay two notes at the bank, becaus
:. both our employers had gone, and there ws
considerable business going on
"Now, gentlemen said Mr. Walpart, rul
- bing his hands with considerable satisfaction
. you see how easy it is for men to be mistake
l. The bank teller knew that he paid thirtet
II thousand dollars on the fifteenth to the checks
n Folt 4 Babrook, and they knew that they onl
drew checks for eight thousand lie also lne
= that he paid money to James Albee, and tho
IS two circumstances, both put together, look COZ
= yincing but you now see that when thorough
1t sitted out they amount to nothing for you st
j. that it is impossible that the young man coul
20 have drawn the money, even though lie ha
+. forged the check, and that he did this of court
= there is no evidence now that the other is uI
d rooted"
s A moment Mr. Folt stood in deep though
ID with his hand upon his knit brow, and his elbo
d. resting upon the desk. Then while his countt
+. nance opened to n kind, frank look, he steppe
j, quickly forward and seizing the hand of I'll
T. suspected clerk, he said
james, know that you are not guilty
I'd this crime. | have suspected you, for | ha
n grounds but, what Mr., Walpart has brough
ia added to your whole exemplary life, gives bac
d, to YOU your untarnished honor"