The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-05-11
THE RIFLED LETTER.
BY A RETIREp ATToR

" Are YOU Mr.. Docketf asked an elderly
woman. dressed in black, as she entered NY
once.
LAM
MY poor bsy !, in trouble. he is in jail,
arr am sure he !. as innocent a, lamb Of
the crime"
perhaps he 10. madam but rou had bet.
ter let me know the facts in toe case. and
then shall be better able u form . judg-
ment.'s
"he is my only child, lad Of fourteen;
he is good boy, and does al. he can 10 help
his pour mother" and the poor woman wiped
away q food Of tears.
VERY likely. my good woman; but the
best Of boys are sometimes led away. The
city is full Of temptation"
THAT it is; but my George never goes
into bad company; and | an. sure he would
not do such thing a, steal money ont Of a
letter." sobbed she.
Then he is accused Of riding letter ."
Yes. sir; bat be didn't DC it. George
wouldn't do such thing"
Give me the particulars; IL | can d. any,
thing for you, will"
Here are twenty dollars, Il 10 about tile
last money hayej but an willing 10 60
hungry rather than that poor George should
suffer when he 10 innocent"
"Put pp your money, mr. good woman.
II yop are poor. ! will not charge you any.
thing for advice"
God bless you, Mr.. Docket"
PAY be seated and let me have the
facts a. directly a. possible"
She took q chair, wiped her tear, AWAY,
and collected herself so a. to speak with toll:
cradle eslmness.
The substances Of the case, as derived from
her and others, was. that her son, George
Paine, Who vas employed IN the ONCE Of a
broker, had been sent to the post Office with
letter containing fifty dollar bill. and that
tie money had been distracted from the let
Ter before the letter reached the Office. The
mail clerk, in taking the letters from the
box, observed that tie seal Of one Of them
was broken. The wafer bal the appearance
Of having been carelessly adjusted. and the
clerk concluded that il had been broken
open BY accident. lie opened the letter.
however, and saw the words, InelOsed,
please End fifty dollars" There was no mo
ney 10 the letter. II was evident that It had
been despoiled Of its valuable contents by the
one who deposited il in the Office, and who
had not sufficient skill 10 re-adjust the seal.
The clerk carried the letter TO Mr. Ward,
the broker, remarklng that. IN this mahnrr,
the post ONCE employers ~sre frequently
obliged to suffer tie oLlum Of crimes WHICH
did not belong 10 lLcm.
Sir. Ward VAS astUnishsd and indignant
He hal always regarded George Paine as
very honest boy but Tie evidence was 50
clear that he could not resist the conclusion.
lie accused George Of the crime, but he
ltoptly denied having opened the letter.
Mr.. Ward Was angry 81 hIs obstiEaie refusal
to acknowledge kis guilt. lie sas ifm, and
even when the broker offered 70 forgive him,
b. denied the charge.
An officer was sent for, and the boz was
required 70 turn out bis pockets. lie obey
ed and ia his wallet vas found three ten dol.
Lar bills, and some change. Both the broker
and the officer tried 70 make him disclose
what he had done with the rest Of the money.
but no steadfastly denied il. He vas commit
ted 70 Jail, and Mr.. Ward set himself 70 wvfk
10 obtain further evidence against him.
The three ten dollar bills we're u the Ma.
iional Bank; he inquired there II boy had
changed Fifty thst DAY. The teller was
sure no boy had be.a there upon such an .r.
rand. A bill u tie denomination mentioned
had been changed, bat IL had been presented
By an old woman dressed 10 black. Further
investigation assured Nc. Ward, hat il va,
Georges mother who had presented the bill.
The teller showed the bll--it was on the
Mechanics Bark but Ne. Ward could not
identify the bill he had inelosed IN the letter.
lie prompuy accused the old woman Of being
accessory 70 the crime, anu would have ar.
rested her with her svn. il ils could haze
tdeH,ibsd the vii.
Mrs Paine said The fifty dollar I'll ~ ilaa
ebIUgsd was the last VI small sum u mo.
nsy ~, her by hsr deceased husband. She
lad gone into toe bank ADD got f,s ten. 10
IL, nd zen three - &c = % pay the ren;