Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-11-26
Correspondence Of the spy.
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BosroN Nov. d. ISL


reasons known to them, have favored this man.
| Mr. Ham, our deputy chief of police said, in the
| hearing of the case before Justice Russell, that
he could not swear how many times he had taken
stolen goods from Jenkins. but sit was more than
twenty times; :" and yet Jenkins has never been
| punished. In the Municipal Court there are no
! less than dozen indictments against Jenkins
on file; yet neither Mr.. Cooley, the district at
torney, nor Mr.. Brewster, his assistant, has
thought It worth while to bring this worse than
thief" into court 1t is supposed that they,
too, have reasons for the Partially.
The statements of Graham and Kirwan make it
certain that the property stolen from Mr. Ethan
Allen was disposed of at the Central Loan Of
fce and it is pretty well established, that stolen
property from all parts Of New England, passes
through the "cubby -hole" in which the book bust
ness was transacted. Fonr hundred dollars
worth of shoes were stolen in Brunswick, Me-,
last week, and the thieves were traced to Boston,
part of the shoes being found in Jenkns's es-
Enlistment What this "noble and good phi
lanthropist, this honorable and Just man. this
friend to the poor and the suffering this thor
ough going determined benefactor of his race"
manages 10 do with all the ''crooked property"
which he buys, cannot conceiye-unless he may
have friends in Irregular business, who will re-
purchase them at low prices, but still highly re.
munerative to him. His impeached clerk, Mr..
Dan G. NortonI swore that Abah's business is
equal to 800, 900 a monitor 100000 a year.
If his profits according to the scale of the I'll
Illustrated Shakespeare bought for $780, and
offered for 81 50--he ought, by this time to be
able to retire. and give some other man chance
to make his fortune, in a business which is SO lu-
eratye, and to which the authorities offer no mo-
lestation. He can well afford the hypocritcal
liberality which misleadS those who are not ia
miaI with the devioua ways which he keeps.
His ''sef-sacrihcng spirit" cannot begrudge "his
means and his best energies - when they are ''put
forth only for the emolument of those he bene-
fits" What nobility of soul He will not fur.
nish his own parlor and library at an ordinary
expense, but purchases books at fifty per cent.
less than the lowest auction price-with no care
that his neighbours name adorns the fly -leaf-and
all in order that the poor shall suffer no want of
bread and garments. His enemies might as
well attempt to pluck the stars from Heaven, and
endeavor to soil their purity, as to defame and
blacken the character of Abijah Jenkins"
But am getting on too fast. Mr.. Jenkins, as
you undoubtedly know, was on Friday last con-
victed of receiving stolen goods-oooks belong
ing to Mr.. John Clark of the Boston Courier
The evidence was direct and unequivocal. The
books were first identified by Mr.. Clark. Ora
ham and Krwan unhestatingly testified that
bhSJ SbUl6 Ll6 uOOkSt ChETleu -lHGln " JeHhlls-
who knew they were stolen-and sold them for
less than half their value. The witnesses last
named were questioned in most unwarranta0ls
manner by Mr.. D. H Mason, Jenkins's counsel,
but he was signally rebuked in several instances,
not only by wellpu answer from the Witnsss,
but by the interference Of Judge Russell. Mr..
Ham said he found the books in Ar. 5sukins's
house In cross-exammation, however, he was
quite sure that Jenkins was entirely willing to
give up the books, without the least hesIta-
ton" That readily be believed, when it is
understood that Jenkins knew Of al the revela-
tiona made by Graham and kiruan, and consid-
cred it "gettiug off easy 10 gige up the books.
He did not suppose the usual course would be
departed from, and that a prosecution would
follow the delivery of the property else the
books might not nave been quite so "conspicu-
ous'' when NJ Ham made his morning call.
Then the defence brought in Mr.. Norton and
Mr.. Coffin. the first of whom quite ready
to that he was inithe store at various speci
fed times, and, among others, on the 18th of
September Sunday His memory was there
fore not much credited. when he swure that
Graham said he "periodical dealer" selling
out, and that he did not think such a state
ment singular or suspicious, He believed su@h
story told by notorious thief and burglar, AS
one of Mr.. Jenkns's newspapers calls him-and
thought it was all right And why not He is
too well accustomed to the presence of "periodi-
cal dealers" and 'ishoe Dealers, to see anything
suspicious in their selling their wares through
back door ''cubby hole" at a quarter of their
value That is perfectly ''straght" to him
And he was equally sure that no one had ever
called to see il the books were there or to stop
them if they should come. His dish was upset,
however, by Mr.. Galen Holmes and Mr.. House,
both of whom went to the store and were unable
TO find any traces of the books.
Then Mr. Mason argued his case to Judge Rus
sell, telling him how respectable his client
was how entirely exempt from suspicion, how
gt4villjnulv1 iall vi' no mn he
books, and how Hopen" and "honest" he was
proved, by the fact of his leaving the books in
sight in his paIor. (Query-How many people
ever enter Jenkins's parlor, who do not belong to
the 'terooked' circle y
Judge Russell then gave most clear and com.
prehensive summing up of the facts, maintaining
that the offence was clearly proven that Norton
was impeached, and Furthermore ought to have
| been included in the complaints that the receiy.
er worse than the thief, as maintaining manv
thieves and that Jenkins well deserved ten
months imprisonment in the House of CorIec-
| ton. This decision satisfied everybody except
Jenkins and his party who undoubtedly think
that he is saved from harm by the appeal to the
Municipal Court, and that the case will then
meet the fate accorded to the indictments" now
''fled" against him. / sincerely trust, for the
sake of the community, who have no safety in
their property so long as this "cubby hole" ex-
lists, and for the honor Of our laws and our Judi
cial reputation, he may at last have found "fe"
which will grind out the poisonous tseth of the
thievish and murderous system, which he encour-
ages and supports
Mister jenkins is not without friends, howev.
er. He readily finds bail when it is necessary to
keep him out of Jail, and defeats the ends Of
| Justice by "appeals" and exceptions" which
wear out the patience Of honest prosecutors, and
which give a ready excuse to the officials, Who
with completely or otherwise, are quite willing to
let the matter drop. The rumors in relation to
members of the police department being acces-
sorry to the cubby hole,' cannot repeat, as
they are not authenticated.
Mister Jenkins is " literary F" man land an
admirer of Shakespeare, illustrated, and Sat FIRE.
quent intervals, he was in the habit of inviting
members of the press and other literati, to par.
take OF his hospitality and enjoy an intellectual
recreation" At these monthly 'literary break
fasts." the institutions of Sudbury street.
"brokers" and keepers of billiard saloons-are
guests, as well as the miltary-the Light ORA.
goons--and if the police are not well represented,
numerically, common rumor bellies them. "The
Press, standing toast, is answered for by the
representatives of two Sunday papers (if not BY
any "daily" editor, as is quite possible)-Mr
Adams Of the Sunday Ne1os, and an attacbe OF
the Sunday Netos Letter. These papers are will
ling pleaders for Mr. Jenkins Advertising his
business, and putting his loan Office" and
the kindred institutions of ssPalace Hall" and
"Consttution Hail." The Netos Letter of les.
terday contains an elaborate article doubtless
written by the editor--the author Of the Kalloch
affidayts, which lost him his situation under the
| Government--arguing the case, will do him the
justice to say, much better than the lawyer did,
and concluding that "Mr. Jenkins is an houora-
BILE man, and his character will be indicated at
the right time" 1t will be a labor OF too much
magnitude for any sheet to attempt ayindication
1 Of such character.
| A last word about Mr.. jenkins and his chief