Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-02-09
SAD CAST-A SCHOOLMASTER IMpRys-
ONED FOR BOOk-STEALING.

tFrom the Rochester American. Feb-uarv,1
a sad case of moral obliquity has Just come
10 hght, In the case Of a young man who ia
now under arrest here, charged with a number
OF petty larcenies. His name is A. ]. Hanna.
and he is the principal of school in Victor,
ontario county, where he has resided since Oc-
tober last
something like three months ago, Hanna
made bis first appearance in Rochester and
commenced frequenting the bookstores. Main
tanning a respectable, not to say genteel ap-
pearance, and being of good address and zen
tlemaniy manners, he was not long in estab-
fishing an acquaintance with the proprietors
and clerks, which soon assumed so much of
familiarity in some cases that he was allowed
TO make himself at home, and do pretty much
as be pleased. His favorite haunts when in
the city were at Cole 4 Adams Steele, Avery
d Co 8, and Darrow's Occasionally he would
call at Dewey's and the other bookstores.
On Saturday last Hanna dropped in at Dew
ey s, and was looking over the books, when
sJmethlng in his manner excited the suspicious
OF Henry Scranton, one of the clerks, who de-
termined to keep close watch on him. Henry
communicated his conjecture that Hanna was
not what he should be to the clerks, and a trap
was lald TO catch the rogue, if rogue he really
was. 1he result was, that twice Hanna was
seen to thrust books beneath his coat when he
thought no one observed him, and twice be
went away 10 dispose of his plunder The last
time he was followed into Cutts's saloon by
oncer Charles CoszOu, of the Arcade and sur
pTlsed IN the very act of slowing away in n
carpet bag, the volumes be had stolen. Hewas
arrested At once, and taken to the Police office
Were his carpet-bag was searched About
80 worth OF books, magazines, and gold pens
were found, all of which were identified as the
property OF Mr.. Dewey. Hanna was sent to
JAN to await further examination
Mr. Hall apent in ~, -,
Pieton Co.'S publications. who has had his
headquartcrs at DaTrow's, finds that he has
been ylctimIzed by somebody to the tune of
ABOUT fifty dollars in school Biographies: and
6y strange coincidence, il turns out that
Hanna has recently sold to VIM Alliny about
forty dollars worth of just such books; and |
Steele, Avery & Co are said to have purchased
about fifteen dollars worth more.
Tn Hanna S person at the time Of his arrest,
was iound letter from Nellie" young
lady at Eoe.lin, Ohio, acknowledging the re.
ceipt from him of beautiful writing desk as
present. This desk is supposed to have been |
stolen from DarrOw's, where such an article |
Wss missed not long since.
Yesterday morning Messrs Steele Cole
arren Crom Dewey's,) and Charles Coszou,
TOOK the cars and preceded TO Victor, for the
purpose of ascertain whether they could iden-
THY any property at Hanna's place of resi-
dence They found the people of that place in |
SO"ie surprise at the absence of the school |
tsacner, VINO mad violated an engagement with |
the school trustees of the village on Saturday |
evening, when he had agreed to meet them for
tne purpose Of making arrangements to con-
tlnue In charge of the school, which under his |
control, has fou urished exceedingly They were |
greatly astonished when they learned the in
voluntary nature of his absence and couId |
scarcely believe their own ears. The family |
with whom Hanna boarded was greatly affect
ed at the disgrace which had befallen him as
ne had made himself q fayOrite with every
member OF it. So, in fact, he had with every- |
body With whom he had come in contact an1 his |
standing appears to have been as high as that of
any other person in the community Parents |
and children alike loved and respe It'd him.
search OF his room was made, and a large |
quantity Of books, stationery, p4ns'pt nciIs A.
were found, which are Ir bably The plunder |
obtained at various times from the bookstores |
In the city. Enough was found TO fill a large
boy, trunk and to make up several gooi.sized |
packages. lot of other articles belonging 70 |
the dry goods business were also found Slowed |
away In Hanna's trunF, including some woolen |
hoods such a; ladies affect extensively now-a-
days. 1he things were all brought to the city
on the o 90 train last evening, when the explor-
ing party returned.
Hanna remains in Jail, bowed down with |
shame and grief. He has scarcely eaten a
since his incarceration. The evidence
against him is so direct and conclusive in some |
respects that there seems to be DO hope of his |
being able to clear himself but he has. never
tneiess, devoted portion Of $50 in money,
which he had when he was arrested, to retain
r lawyer for his defence. 1t is stated that |
Hanna came to Victor from Pennsylvania, were
ho mas mother living who is dependent upon
him In graat measure for rsupport. We hear,
also, that he expected to be married soon TO a |
young lady of respectability and worth-prob-
ably ths "Nellic" to whom the desk was sent. |