Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-28
Gitrrarp 5cleftiolls.
THE FIRST STEPS IN CRIME.

THE FIRST STEPS IN CRIME.
The following sketch of a young mans
career in crime is from Mr.. Holbrook's
book, Ten Years Among the Mail Bags.
The literary reputation of one of the
Oldest and most celebrated seats of learn
ing in New England, was once Temporal
rily overshadowed by the 'eminence
that it attained in the eyes of all within
distance of fifty miles in every direction,
who ATTEMPTED to transmit valuable mat
ter through the mails. The period dur
ing which this state of things existed was
in the months of January and February
1854. Throughout those months a IA
tality attended all money-letters designed
to pass through the place referred to !;
the like of which has seldom been known
in the history of the Post Office.
AS well might one have attempted to
send valuable letter across the NIael-
strom, as to get it safely past that fatal
point. This point was like the lions
cave in the fable, into which many tracks
entered, but from which none were seen
to return. And the lion whoever he was
had an Unsuitable and indiscriminating
appetite, for he consumed the supplies
coming from three or four neighboring
counties in the State, and like feline
Oliver Twist, continually asked for
more
The effect Of these numerous losses, of
course, were confined to the vicinities OF
the sufferers, but were felt in remote por-
tions of the county.
But the loss of money and the conse-
quent inconvenience, were not the only
results following this wholesale robbery.
Perhaps no series of mail depredations
ever spread so widely the cloud of sus-
picion over those connected with themail
service. All the route agents, postmas-
tiers, post Office clerks, and mail messen-
gers, whose spheres of duty lay within the
infected district; all these officials felt
the severity of the test of character, which
existing circumstances applied. Such a
state of things as that which we are de-
scribing, often serves as a thunder-shower
to clear the moral atmosphere. Half
formed purposes of roguery, for the pre-
sent at least, are laid by; those already
guilty of speculation on a small scale,
cease from their operations, all wait in
breathless suspense for deeouaent of the
drama; and when the bolt falls, and the
offender smitten down, they breathe more
freely; and such catastrophe is notun-
frequently the turning point in the life Of
some young man, who has hitherto been
vacillating between good and evil.
The arrest and punishment of another
inspires him with salutary fear of similar
results in his own case, should he venture
like course. ~
And the effect of such occurrences
upon those who have never turned aside
from the path of rectitude, is no less de-
cided.
These are the times that 'try mems
souls 1t is hard thing for one to bear
up for weeks and months under a load OF
suspicion, though conscious of innocence
butthis is astill harder task, ifhe has moth
ing between the eyes of the public and
his inward rottenness but the thin shell
OF decent and false reputation. No
man can know to its full extent the value
of a good character, until he has been
through some fiery trial. in which moth
ing but such power could have saved
from ruin.
Yet those who, at the time of which
speak, were most firm in conscious integ
rity, did not escape the stiDgs of annoy
ing suspicious, and significant insinua
tions.
Gould it be a certain Route Agent
asked an oficious individual, perhap.
quite too willing to start such suspicion
the aforesaid agent having in pursuance
OF general instructions, denied him til,
privilege of the mail car. i saw him,
eontinued our virtuous friend, 'sportins
a iine turn out only last Sunday, anC
tney do say that he is rather fast for /.
young man on so small salary. /
"oulo netsurprise me much if they should
find that the trouble is there
Unfortunately for his theory. so wei
founded on the basis.of Sunday .tur,
out and they say the fast young ma,
could not have had access to one in =,
dozen of the lost packages.
This is a specimen of the endless sur
misses and conjectures that were throw,
out in the progress of the affair, much t
the annoyance of postmaster's clerks, an
other officials, whose honesty aided b
the strenuous efforts of the special Agen