Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-01-26


croied there for the purpose Of receiving the
stolen property Accordingly remarked that
| would like to have him accompany me for a
moment into his room On private business, to
which he readily assenicd, neither knowing me
nor having any suspicion Of the nature Of my
"business," i" for otherwise he might not have
so cheerfully complied with request.
On opening the door discovered a person
within who appeared to be wholly unoccupied.
except in smoking a cigar. Thinking il prob
able that he was in some way connected with
tho robbefes. considered it prudent to obtain
assistance before making known the object of
this Interview, and accordingly spoke TO three
or four persons who had been attracted to the
place by the unwonied movements. requesting
them 10 call one of the police officers, some Of
whom were generally in the vicinity Of the
railroad station.
During this delay, and in order to prevent
any aiiemp, to escape, put series Of ques.
tions to the baggage-masier, calculated 10 allay
the suspicion which began to be strongly indi-
Gated by his looks
''Dd you," | inquired, "fnd, in this morn
iog's train from H, a pockei-book lost
there by passenger If we can recover the
papers, the money is less of an object"
This seemed to relieve him considerably, and
be replied in cheerful tone.
81 have found no such thing. Il isn't my
business to see through the trains. but this
mans, pointing to the other person present.
"Ah, il's my mistake Did ggu see any
thing Of poekol.book,' asked turning to the
other person Indicated
NO" was the answer have You los, such
an arlielel''
! was relieved from the difficulty OF this
question by rap on the door from tho Chief
of Police, who was the man of all others HON
| wished 10 see.
As he entered, I iniimaied 10 him in whis-
per what was on foot, and then turning to the
basgage-masicr. without any prean,ble or for
maliy, requested him to hand inc the mall
key which he bad in his possession.
81 haven't any mail.key." was the dull res
ponse. "Nery WE'LL said |, "ihen We shall
have to search YOU"
lie turned pale, and remarked, with assumed
carelessness, IL suppose know what you
want"
One Of the side pockets of his over coat ap-
pearine. somewhat disleuded. | commenced my
investigation with that. The fret article that
appeared was the large package Of letters made
up that evening for delivery at the neighboriug
city, before alluded to, and the mex, dive bro't
to light heavy distribution package Tor the
same Office. Several other packages Of less
size were afterwards drawn forth. After the
search had been completed, the culpri was
hand cufTed and lodged in jail within half and
hour from the time when he had committed this
depreciation.
Aner we had dispatched ;his part of the busi-
ness, we turned our attention 10 The companion
af-'.a sf -i.,'.i-- hr-..--..--..,s...- ...h.. .I
most equanimiiy. though not without interest.
"Tha's rather hard on Ed" said be, as the
door closed on The culprit
Eyes" replied !, 'ii is. But believe we
must search you, for think you are concerned
in this affair"
~ never was searched in NY life." said he
smiingly, excepting when searched my own
pockets, and then | never found much Per-
haps you'll have better luck at any rate il
won't hurt me to have it tried" and thus say
ing he laid aside his cigar, and presea,ed him
.elf to undergo tho ORDEAL Bot nothing was
found to implicaie him in any way,
] then expressed fear that he might still
be an accomplice, as noticed the baggage-mas-
ter open and shut the door Of the lille room,
while riding the mails iha, night.
An honest laugh followed this remark, and an
explanation was given me, which satisfactorily
accounted for the suspicious circumstance.
1t seems that his dishonest companion, fear
ing that he might came out ofthe room, and de-
iecl him in the act, had opened the door, telling
him that he would have TO be locked ia ill the
train arrived. and turned the key on the outside.
This passed for a joke, and the imprisoned per-
son thought little oft, as he would have no oc-
casion to leave the ruom until the train arrived
when it would be his duty TO inspect the cars.
1t also appeared that this locking up trick had
been played several times previously, no doubt
for similar purpose.
Thus, was an honest man subjected 10 suspi-
cIon, by circumstances beyond his control. A
satisfactory explanation OF this however was
not beyond his power, his experience goes 10
increase the array Of testimony, 10 show the in-
eslible value of clear conscience in all exi-
gencies whatever.
The key of private desk in the baggage
room vas taken from the robber, and in this
desk was found about $40, 900 in bank drafts,
checks, &C., and more than hundred rifed
letters, which as their postmarks showed, must
have been the proceeds of one OF two nights
robbery. EveIything taken from the mails ex-
cept money, had been committed to the flames,
as the criminal himself afterwards confessed,
A large portion of Unavailable funds which
he had accumulated. was recovered aud restor-
ed to the lightlul owners.
In less than week from this time, he was
tried and sentenced to the State Prison for the
term Of t,penty-seren years.
The discoveries here detailed, gave rise to
great surprise and exclamation among all who
knew the guilty individual, for he had sustain
ed good reputation for sobriety, honesty and
industry.
His innocent family received the warmest
sympathy of the entire community, which in-
deed they deserved, for the culprit's wife was a
sincata chrietian woman a liVinu exnmnli flea