Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-12-21
MISCELL A n Y i.
From the B4faiO Commercial Adcertissr, Dse 2.
The Way of a TransgressOr,

Ivl l. ~ ~ IL IL AL IA 4N l.
From the Buffalo C1mmeroiaI AGUertiser, Dec. Q.
The Way of Transsressor,
HARLOW CAsE--THE GOVERNMENT DEFAULTER
AND HIS WANpERINGs.--In introducing the cor
respondence which We give below, 1t is necessa
ry that We should recount some preceding Incl
dents to which it aludes. Ii the plain recital OF
these circumstances, Or the agony of remorse
which speaks in these letters Can teach the les
son of marital tdelty to one who wavers, or
point out the weary pathway of sorrow which
awaits the betrayer, they will have accomplish
ed the object of their publication.
Some twelve or fourteen years ago Harlow
Case was respectable and esteemed citizen OF
Buffalo. He held the place of Assistant Post
master under Mr.. Dorsheimer, and was for many
years entrusted with the more important duties
OF the office. A member of one of the Baptist
churches, upright in every walk or life, married
and the father of family, he seemed to be as
firm in the straightforward paths OF virtue as
any other Removing to Sandnsky, Ohio, he re
ceived the appointment Of Collector of that port
under Mr. Fillmore. The appointment was one
universally approved, and the numerous friends
of Case in this city were rejoiced at his success
in life While holding that office he was init
mate in the family of Mr.. F., one ofhs assistants.
Mrs F. was young, beautiful, impassioned, and
fatal attachment grew up between the two,
which remained unsuspected until the truth was
made known by the sudden elopement of Case
with Mrs. F., and the simultaneous discovery
that he had absconded with government funds
to the amount of some $34, ,000 From that time
forward nearly all trace Of the guilty pair was
lost. The family of Case, bereaved and betray-
ed, remained hopeless in their grief. Mr. +. en-
gagged IN long but truitless chase OF the fugi
tives. And now from off the sea come tidings
"a broken, half told story OF lonely wanderugS
in foreign lands; full recital or never ceasing
remorse, with pitiFul and solitary deaths in far
away islands and on the stormy waters OF the
Indian ocean. Both victims of uuaallowed pas
sion are asleep-the mother in the groves OF Cey-
lon, the little child in the coral forests OF the sea-
The betrayer still wanders the earth, the heavy
hand of an avenging God upon him, and sends
to his abandoned home this message of his sor
rows.
We give first the letter of Mr.. f. to q resident
of this city, and follow that with the letter OF
Harlow Case:-
-, Wis, Nov. 26, 1868.
To DEAR SIR-Will you be pleased to
pardon this new obtrusi0n, after the lapse of SO
many years2 You know me quot, perhaps, un-
tavorably) in 1880, and nearly twenty years pre-
viously, when | used to leave the Buffalo Patrl-
OF at your Office. Your memory may fail to re
call me from that far period, but you will read
lily recognize me when name my former con
nection with the Post Office and Mr.. --;
and more dsastrousy with the Custom House
and Harlow Case, at Sandusky, Ohio. 1t was
the writer who was the victim of that misguid-
ed mans unlocked for villiany, and it was my
unfortunate and erring partner he seduced But
the most terrible atfiiction which bis crime
brought home to me arose from his robbing me
of my little daughter and only child-the one
who once, with comb in hand, climbed IN chair
by your side, at your visit to my house, and es
sayed To comb your hair. But where is now
that young and once buoyant spirt2 In heav-
en-, | trust, and the lovely tenement that held it
rests deep beneath the still or stormy waters OF
far Indian sea.
Still, as clasp this burning brain,
death scene rushes on my sight:
1t rises Ger and DER again.
Both these fated victims OF his guilt have look
ed their last Oh earth, while he, their worse than
murderer, still walks unscathed of the vengance
of God and human justice. | followed the fug
tives to the Isle of Malta, in December, 1853,
and lost all trace from thence. at last have ii:
dngs of their fate in the enclosed letter which
have lately reached me from over the sea. How
far entire reliance may be placed upon his state
ments cannot tell, but fear it is too fatally true
in its leading announcement that both mother
and child are gone TO their last account. After
many years of suffering and suspense-which
wrung my brain and drove me at times during
the first two years after the occurrence to the
very verge of dstraction-l had al last regained,
to great degree, my wonted elasticity of spir
its had sought bill legally releasing me from
my deserting spouse, and indulged new visions
of future enjoyment, when these sad tidings of
most fatal import whelm me again in wretched
ness that knows no hope As the best part OF
the life of the miserable man was spent in Butfa-
10, under your intimate acquaintance, and as he
was for some twenty years we'll and faVorably
known to nearly all the citizens of Buffalo, in
which city also learned my trade-in Ellicott
sQuare-(the printing Office being once directly
over the Post office where he was employed)-l
have thought it proper to enclose his communi
cation to you-because, also, | wish to ask the
favor that you will certify to the genuineness of
the letters, as from his hand, &c. A hundred of
his former acquaintsnces in Ohio might certify
his writing just as readily; but my residence is
soon to be changed to Minnesota, and | wish to
have the genuneness of the papers established
by some vouchers residing in Buffalo,
AF., il.
On BOARD SHIP AT SEA,
Lat. Al deg. South long. SO deg East,
August 20, 1868.
SIR:-Do not, entreat you, allow ejusJ in
dguation which know the sight of my hand
writing will cause you, to prevent you from
reading this communication. 1t cannot be more
painful for you to receive than for me to write,
and nothing but a sense of justice to you, and
solemn promise made to the dead, could induce
me to harrass you and to agonlze myself Twill
enter into no unnecessary details, nor weary or
disgust you with any protestations ofrepentance
or remorse.
If have sinned, God in heaven only knows
how hsve suffered, and ifin your cruel bereave-
ment you have cursed me, that curse is fearfully
fulfilled And now, sadly, TO the unhappy task
OF telling you what have so solemnly engaged
to do, and to fulfil the last duty to those | have
50 mised.
Your former wife died in Oeyop, in June, 18.
56, OF disease OF the climate, which was sggra-
waited by previous one from which she suffered
while in Mauritus. In that Island bothher and
myself were very i'll of the fever. My own re.
covery was thought hopeless, and, indeed, it was
reported that was dead. This, OF course com
ing to her knowledge, had severe and injuri- !