The Empire County argus., 1856-02-23
L. Ell DORADO COUNTY, CAL SATURDAY, FEBRUARY g. 1856

1HE INVALID WIFE. Not the least painful of
the various duties connected with the detection of
CRIME Is the sometimes necessary one of revealing
husbands guilt to his wife.
/ anticipated severe trial Of nv feelings in ma
king such disclosure during the progress of q
recent important case where the mail robber was
In possession of o mailkey, by means of which he
had committed extensive depredatlons. He was at
length detected, and has lately entered upon ten
years term in the State prison
On his arrest he manifested much solcitude for
his wife, tearing the intelligence of his situation
would overpower her. ''She is in feeble health at
best" said he, land am afraid this will kill her"
1t was necessary, however, that should see her
IN order to get possession Of some funds q part of
the proceeds of the robberies, which her husband
had committed to her keeping. Furnished with a
written order from the prisoner, and leaving him
In the Marshars custody, proceeded to call on the
invalid, racking my brains while on the way to her
residence for some mode of communicating the un-
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 ladys room. 1t read as follows:
"Ny dear Susan: Will you hand to the bearer
roll OF bank notes which left with you.
EDWIN"
the lady soon made her appearance She was
young rather prepossessng, and evidently in deli
cate health. Finding that was 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 that she did
not know about paying over money under such
circumstances to an entire stranger"
Desiring not to mortify her unnecessarily by
making explanations in the presence of Others
requested her to step into a vacant room near at
hand, and, after closing the door, said in a low
tone:
ut is an 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 was taken from the mails by him
There is no mistake about it. He has had a mail
key which have ust recovered, and has made
full acknowledgment of his numerous depredations
beg of you to bear this dreadful news with forti
tude. No one will think less of you on account of
his dishonest conduct
expected TO see the poor woman faint immedi-
ately, and had mentally prepared myself for every
emergency but moment AFTER should have
been more likely to have fallen into that condition.
It astonishment could ever produce such an effect
tor as soon as had finished what | was saying
she stood, if possible, more erect than before, and
with some fire in her eye and one arm ''akmbo,H
she replied, in a spirited manner:
"Well if he has done that, he's darned fool to
own it wouldn't"
She gave up the money, however, soon after, and
although the recklessness displayed it the speech
above quoted seemed to make it probable that she
was implicated in her husbands guilt it afterwards
appeared that this exhibition of 'spunk' was due
to the impulses of high-spirited and excitable
nature which sometimes, as in the present instance
broke away from control, and went beyond the
bounds of decorum. paper.