Washington sentinel., 1853-10-19
@a sbingtou gtntinel.
RecOIiecti0ns Of a Police Officer.
T II l. PA X r y l. !

I
pale and agitated, called upon me with a note
from one OF the commissioners, enjoining me
to assist the bearer, Mr.. Edmund Webster, to
| the utmost OF my ability, if, upon examination,
! saw reason to place reliance upon his state
ment relative to the painful and extraordinary
circumstances in which he was involved.
"Mr. Edmund Webster" exclaimed, after
| glancing ut the note "You are the person,
then, accused Of robbing Mr.. Hutton, the corn
merchant, (the reader will, Of course, under
stand that make use of fictitious names,) and
whom that gentleman refuses to prosecutor"
"The same, Mr.. Waters. But although the
disgraceful charge, so far as regards legal pur-
suit, appears to be withdrawn, or rather is not
pressed, and my family shall not be the less
shamcd and ruined thereby, unless my perfect
innocence can be made manifest before the
world. 1t is with that view we have been ad-
vised to seek your assistance and my father
desires me to say, that he will hesitate at NO
expense necessary for the thorough prosecution
of the inquiry
"Very well, Mr.. Webster. The intimation
| of the commissioner is, however, of itself all
potent with me, although / hoped to be con-
cerned in no more such Investigations. Have
the goodness, therefore, to sit down, and favor
me mnutely and distinctly with your version
Of the affair, omittting, if you please, no cir
cumstance, however apparently trivial, in con
nection with it. may tell you,' added, open
ing the notebook, from which am now trans
scribing, and placing it before me in readiness
to begin--"I may tell you, by way of some
slight encouragement, that the defence you vol
unteered at the police Office was, in my opinion,
too improbable to be an invention; and l. as
you know, have had large experience in such
matters. That also, | suspect, is Mr.. Hutton's
opinion; and hence not only his refusal to
prosecute, but the expense and trouble he has
been at, to my knowledge, in preventing either
his own or your name from appearing in the
papers Now, sir, if you please"
Il shall relate every circumstance, Mr.. Wa
ters, as clearly and truthfully as possible, for
my own sake, in order that you may not be
working in the dark; and first ! must beg
your attention to one or two family matters,
essential to thorough appreciation OF the po-
sition in which am placed
$50 on, SIR; it is my duty to hear all you
| have to say.' ...
my father proceeded Mr.. Edmund Web
ster, " who as YOU are aware, resided in the
Regents Park, retired about FIVE years ago
from the business in Mark Lane which has
since been carried on by the former junior
partner, Mr.. Hutton. Till within the last six
months, Il believed myself destined for the army,
the purchase-moncy of a cornetcy having been
lodged ut the Horse Guards a few days after
| came Of age. Suddenly, however, my father
changed his mind, insisted that | should be-
come partner of Hutton's in the corn-trade,
and forthwith withdrew the money lodged for
the commission. / am not yet cognizant OF all
his motives for this seeming caprice; but those
he alleged were, first my spendthrift, idle llab-
| its-an imputation for which, | confess, there
was too much foundation, though as to whether
the discipline of the counting-house would, rs
he believed, effect a beneficial change, there
might be two opinions. Another, and | have
no doubt much more powerfully inducing mo-
tive with him was, that | had formed an at
tachment for Miss Ellen Bramston, the second
daughter of Capt. Bramston, of the East India
Company service, residing at Hampstead upon
his halEpay. Ny father strongly disapproved
of the proposed alliance: like most OF the sue
ccssful city men have known or heard OF, he
more heartily despiscs poverty with laced coat
on its back than in rags; and he knew no more
cifectual plan could be hit upon for frustrating
my wishes, than BY transforming my expected
cornetcv into a partnership i'll the corn trade,
nv imaginary sword into an actual goose-quill;
Can't. Bramston, who is dstantly related to an
earl being even prouder than he is poor, and a
manthat would rather seehis daughtern her cof.
fin than married to trader. at was condescen-
sion enough he angrily remarked, "that he had
permitted Ellen Bramston to encourage the adj
dresses of the son OF a city parvenu, but it was
utterly preposterous to suppose she could wed
an actual corn-chandler."
"Corn-chandlcr!'
THAT was Captain Bramston's pleasant
phrase. when informed him of my fathers
sudden change of purpose. The proposed part
ncrship was us distasteful to myself as to Cap
tain Bramston; but my father proved inexora-
ble-fercely so, ! may say--to my cntreaties,
and those of my sisters; and | was placed in
the dilemma, either of immediate banishment
from home, and probable forfeiture of my in
hcritance, or the loss of Ellen Bramston, to
whom, with all my foes, was and am de-
votcdly attached. After much anxious cogita-
ton hit upon u scheme, requiring for time
the exercise of a considerable amount Of deceit
and Discrimination, which would, hattered my
self ultimately reconcile interest with inclina-
ton; give me Ellen, and not lose my father"
"To which deceit and dissimulation you are
doubtless indebted for your present unfortunate
position.
you have rightly anticipated. But to pro-
cced. Mr. Hutton himself, | must tell you,
was strongly adverse to receiving me as part
ner though for some reason or other he burst
nOl ppPos' th' P'oJSS'' ii.'' '"''' "0''
Hutton, also bitterly objected to tt
"IIis son, John Hutton! i know the char
actcr of Hutton senior pretty well; pray what
Is that of his son?'
"Wcll, like myself, he is rather fast, perhaps,
but not the less good sort Of young fellow
enough. He sailed the week before last Tor
Riga, on business?' 49,.
"Betore you were apprehended?
uOn tho norninp of the same dav. Let me
see. where was II. Oh--Mr. Hutton's aversion
to the partnership the knowledge OF which which
suggested my plan OF operation. ! Inv ,iluueeu a'aa
him to represent to my father that should pass
| at least two or three months in the counting
house. before the matter was irreversibly con-
cluded, for his, Mr. Hntton's sake, in order that
i MIGHT be aseertained if there was any posi-
b;Gty Of tanning me into habits of method and
application; and l hypocritically enforced his
argument--you see am perfectly candid--by
promising ultimate dutfnl submission to my
tathers wishes, provided the final decision were
thus respited. The main object thought to
obtain by this apparent compliance was the
4 L., haI