Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-12-19

made some inquiries relative to the question From
| the replies made, it appeared, as have already
| stated, that his reputation in the community was
good .
thought it might be possible that in so small a
place, could ascertain whether he had lately pass
ed a hundred dollar note, as he would have been
likely to have DONE if it true that he had not
enclosed it in the New Haven letter.
Calling at the store which received most of his
CUSTOM introduced myself to the proprietor mace
a confdant of him to some extent, and learned INA!
the very next day after that on which the AFORESAID
letter mailed, its author offered him in payment
for a barrel of -four, a hundred dollar note on the
bank from which a bill of the like denomination tad
been obtained, as before mentioned in exchange
for the small trash. The merchant could not
then change it, but sent the flour, and changed
bill which he supposed to be the same, few days
afterward.
Armed with these irresistible facts, I proceeded
to call on the adventurous deceiver of the clergy
who had attempted to make one member OF that
body second his intention to cheat another - lnsa-
tiate archer! Could not one suffice?"
"Mr. ." said |, after some preliminary
conversation, cts of no use to mince matters. Inc
fact is you did send the money in that New Ha-
ven letter. You offered it the day after you pre-
tended to mail it, at Mr.. C.'s store. You see I've
found out all about it, so hope you will not deny
the truth in the matter.
then gave him his choice, to send the hundred
dollars promptly TO his New Haven correspondents or
allow me to prove in public manner, the facts IN
my possession. .
Being thus hard pressed, and finding himself cor
which was received in New Haven-postscript, dou-
bic waters and all-bcfore he left home, ana that
while crossing the street from the bank to the post
Office he substituted this for the one he wrote in
the clergyman's study! He pretended to send the
money, and pretended to have suffered severely IN
his feelings on accout of this dishonest act.
There is no United States law providing for the
punishment of such an offence, but pubilc opinion
and private conscience make nicer distinctions than
the law can do, and often mete out we'll deserved
penalty to those who eude the less subtle ministers
of justice.
In the present instance the foregoing story was
made public by direction of the Post Master Gener-
al and the author of the trick unable to sustain
the indignation and contempt of the community Ill
which he lived, compelled to make hasty re-
treat from that part of the country.
Here is an incident of another nature, and more
dramatic, perhaps, than the last:
THE INVALID WIFE.
Not the least painful of the various duties con-
nectcd with the detection Of crime, is the some
times necessary Of revealing husbands guilt to
his wife.
l anticipated severe trial of my feelings in
king such disclosure during the progress OF a re-
cent important where the mail robber was IN
possession OF mail key, by means of which he had
committed extensive depredations. He was at length
detected and has lately entered upon ten years
term in the state prison.
On his arrest he manifested much sollcitude Tor
his wife fearing that the intelligence of his situa-
ton would overpower her. 'She is in feeble health
at best, said he, " and l am afraid this Will Kill
her."
1t was necessary, however, that should see her
in order to get possession of some funds, part OF
the proceeds of the robberies, which her husband
had committed to her keeping Furnished with
written order from the prisoner, and leaving him in
the Marshals custody, proceeded to call on the in
valid, racking my brains while on the way to her
residence for some mode of communicating the I'M
pleasant truth which should disclose it gradually,
and spare her feelings much as possible.
On my arrival at the boarding house, the note was
sent to the lady's 1t read as follows:
My dear Susan: Will you hand to the bearer a
roll of bank notes which left with you.
The lady soon made her appearance. She was
young, rather prepossessing and evidently in deli
cate health Finding that was the bearer of the
note, she addressed me, expressing great surprise
that her husband had sent request so unusual;
and with an air of independence observed tina she .
did not " know about paying over money under such !
to an entire stranger"
1T is extremely painful thing for me, Mrs. |
NJ, but as you do not seem inclined to comply /
with your husbands order, must tell YOU plainly
that the money taken from the mails by him.
There is mistake about it. lie has had mail !
Key which have just recovered, and has made
ull acknowledgement of his numerous depredations.
beg of you to bear this dreadful news with fort-
ude No will think less of you account of
lis dishonest conduct"
| expected to the poor woman faint immedi-
ltcly, and had mentally prepared myself for every
but a moment after, L should have been
more nkely 10 nave Ialtn lNlO tual IL as
enlistment could ever produce such effect; for
IS soon as | had finished what | saying, she
tood if possible, more erect than before, ana with
ONE fire in her eye and one arm "aklmbo," she
eped, in a spirited manner
C Well, if he has done that, he's darned fool to
wn it wouldn't 2"
She gave up the money, however, soon AFTER and
Though the recklessness displayed in the speech !
bove quoted, seemed to make it probable that she
implicated in her husbands guilt, it afterwards
ppeared that this exhibition of "spunk" was due
0 the impulses of high-sprited and excitabe
ure, which sometimes, as in the present instance,
roke away from control, and went beyond the
ounds of decorum.
On the subject of unjust complaints against the
areessness and culpabty of post office clerks the
blowing illustration will be found of interest:
THE Bitter BIT.
A lady of very genteel and respectable appearance
aster, with latter in her hand, which she insist
had been broken open and re-sealed. She hand
the letter to the postmaster, who examined it,
nd appearances certainly seemed to justify the as
rtion She further declared that she well knew
hich clerk in the Office had broken it open and
lat he had previously served several Of her letters
the same way. Upon hearing this the postmas-
r requested her to walk inside the Office and point
1t the person whom she suspected.
Such unusual phenomenan the appearance
lady inside the Office, produced, as may be sup
osed, decided sensation among the clerks there
sembled. Nor was the sensation diminished in in
nsity when the postmaster informed them that the
dy was there for the purpose of identifying the
,rson who had been guilty of breaking open her
tiers.