The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-01-16

Inreply to an inquiry whether lie used
more than one sort Of letter paper, he in
formed me he had but one kind in his
study for several months. and at my re.
quest Immediately brought in several
sheets Of it. A comparison Of this with
the sheet upon which the ,iRed epis,le
had been written. showed that the latter
was totally different article from the
first the shape and design of the stamp,
tho size Of the sheet. and the shade of
the parcr were all unlike Moreover.
the waters used at the hank. where the
the letter containing it. sealed, were very
dissimilar TO either of those which ap.
pcnrcd upon the "postboy" letter.
From the consideration of all these
facts. | was satisfied that gross aud
contemplate fraud had been perpetratel
by the writer Of the letter. and lost no
time in proceeding to the village where
that lcrsonage lived. | called upon the
post master and made some inquiries
relative to the character and pecuuarY
circumstances Of the person in question
From the replies made. it appeared as
have already stated. that lis reputation
in community was good.
| thcught it might be possible that in
SO small il place, could ascertain
whether he had lately passed a hundred
dollar note. as be would Lave been like.
ly to have done. if it was true that lie
had not enclosed it il the New Haven
letter.
Calling at the store which received
most Of his custom, | introduced myself
to the proprietor. made conliiauC Of
him to some extent, and learned that the
very next day att9r that on which the
aforesaid letter was ml,cd its author
offered him Ia payment for blrrel Of
-four, a huudrcd-dollar note on the bauk
from which a bill OF the like denomiua.
tion had been obtained. as before men
tipned,iu cxclan,o f,r the small trash "
he merchant could not then change it.
but sent the -four, AID changed Il till
which lie supposed to DC the same. few
days afterwards.
Armed with these irresistible facts. |
proceeded to call on the adventurous de-
ceiycr Of the clergy, who had attempted
to make one member of that body second
hls Intention to cheat another. " Insa
tiate archer could no; one suffice y
Mr. r. said |. after some pre-.
llmluary conversatIon. Its of 10 use to
mmcc matters. The fact Is. YOU did not
send the monoy in that New Haven let
ter. You of-red it the day after YOU
pretended to mail it, at Mr.. C.'s store.
You see I've found out all about it. 50
hope you will not deny the truth in the
mattel.
then gave him his choice. to send
tie hundred dollars promptly to his New
Haven correspondent, or allow me to
prove in Il public manner, the facts iu my
possession.
Berg thus hard pressed and fudne
himself corncred, lac confessed that he
bad prepared the letter which was re.
caiyod in New Ilavcn-postscrlpt. double
waters and al!.-before lie left home and
that while crossing the street from the
bank to tho post.otfice, he substituted
this for the one ho wrote iu the clergy
maus study He promised to SEND the
money, aud pretedLod to have suffered
severely in his feelings on sccouut Of
this dishonest act
There is DO United States law proyd.
ing for the punishment OF such an Of.
fence, but public opinion aud private
conscience make nicer distinction than
the law can do, and often nete out well
deserved penalty to those who eludc the
less subtle ministers Of justice,
In the present instance, the foregoing
story was made public By direction Of
the Post Master General; aud the author
Of the trick, unable to sustain the iudig-
nation and contempt of the community
in which he lived, WIS compelled to make
hasty retreat from that part Of the coun
try.