The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-02-14
Commissioner OF Deeds.

<oW vi Jduudfy, 1000.
B. T. B,
Comm missioner OF Deeds.
Being satisfied thai young lad of suffi.
cient abilities 10 compose these documents
in such style, could not have been made
The innocent dupe Of any one, especially a
stranger, determined 10 lay the whele mat
Ter before his employer, prominen, men,
Der of the New York bar. He had heard
nothing Of it before, and was much panied
10 hear my narration, for he was warmly at.
tached to The young student, who, up 10 that
time had enjoyed his entire confidence, and
for whose improvement and legal education
he had taken unusual pains.
A moments referenc to The Law Regis.
Ter, work containing the names and resi-.
dences of all the members of the legal pro-
lesson in every Stale in the Union, and to
be found in almost every law Office, showed
the source whence he had obtained the list
which had been "dropped by ca'elessness"
into the postoffice, for pencil marks appeared
against the names of most of the country law
yers, but including none of those that had
ever been correspondents of The firm with
which he was connected!
The opinion that there was no accomplice,
nor even principal, in the case, beyond the
boy himself, was fully coincided in by his
employer, and it was al once decided 10 call
10 call The lad up for private examination.
thought, as he entered the room, cap in
hand, and with an all of perfec, nonehalanee,
that | had seldom seen a more expressive
and intelligent cnnnienanee. His high FORE
head, adorned with graceful curls of brown
hair, his full and laughing eye, and the regu-
lar features of his face, seemed made for
some better use lEan 10 delude unwary vic-
Tins.
"George," said his employer, "what do
these Joliet letters mean tina, you have been
sending all over the country g.
BoY.-'I will tell you all know about it,
sir. Some weeks since as was coming in
town one morning, in the Harlem cars, man
calling himself Joliet"
! AeENT.-"Siop, George, and hear me a
moment before you go further. We don't
want 10 hear that story. We know there is
no such person as Joliet, and if you go on
with such statement before Mr.. F." (his
emplyer,) your pride will render it hard for
you 10 make the acknowledges that l
know you must come 10. You have no ac-
complice, and il you will bring me the Law
Register, will show you where you got the
names of the lawyers TO whom you sent the
letters"
Ma. F.-"Now, George, you see that Mr..
H. knows all about ii, and hope you will not
attempt TO deny The truth. I am deeply pain
cd 10 find you have been gully Of such
misdemeanors and / trust, for your own
sake, that you will make clean breast OF
itn
After pause Of a few moments, the young
man acknowledged, that, being hard up,' he
had resorted 10 this plan TO obtain fluids, and
that he knew no such person as civilian H.
| Joliet"
AGEEr.-"How then could you have sworn
TO the statement you sent to the Brooklyn
posl-m You must have been aware
that in so doing, you were committing per.
jury"
! BoY.-"Ah but did not swear 10 il. MY
name is attached TO the affidavit, 1t 10 true,
but having prepared it beforehand, spoke
TO The Commissioner just as he was leaving
the officer, and he signed it, bu! in his hurry
he forgot 10 administer the OATH"
AGENT--"But that omission must have
been merely accideutal. Supposing he had
required the usual ceremony, what would you
have done % l ~.
Boy.-'I have so often seen him omit it
that took that risk. II he had insisted,
should have backed out.
Subsequent inquiry satisfied me that the
Commissioner in question, having often hat
occasion to sign affidavi,s for the young man
in the course Of the office business, was no
always particular in administering The oath
and that it was no doubt neglected in thu
present instance. s,'f z.sas"
\ The punishment inflicted in this case, wa
all that The most indignant victim oflhe fraus
would have demanded and there is reason
to believe that permanent reformation II
the character of the young man bas been III,
result; and that the rare talents which he pos
sesses, will yet be found arrayed on the sid'
of honesty and virtue. 80.
: Answers 10 the Joliet letters continued Il
! arrive from all parts OF the country, for SOM
time afer the discovery of The fraud, as hef'
related. The letters that had accumulated il
the Brooklyn post office, were sent TO hi
Dead Letter office, opened, and subssquentl,
} returned to their respective owners, wnl