Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-25
slorr ii RreaIIn,a nefalrnlInn.

following story, which Is 10 be read with .
good many grains Of allowance:
Although Il is not in the line Of war cor.
respOndenoe, feel Inclined to narrats q
curious story have heard recently, about
the Breslin dafaloatioR in Ohio. You will
perhaps remember that Rreslin published q
statement after he fcd iose esnada, that he
could account for the amount Of his defal-
cation, excepting the large sum Of "about
two hundred thousand dollars.p That be
could not account for in any way. Soon
after thsstatement appeared, my informant
said, be was walked up street in the town
Of Akron, when he happened to meet Jam
Brown, o notorious ex.OonVict Of TIE Ohio
] Penilenisry He asked the former for
something 60 read. Ny informant replied,
| jOoosely, that he could give something in
his line-a story Of raso8lity-Rnd suitng
the aotion to the word, he returned to his
office and gave Brown q copy Of the report
upon the Breslin case, and at the same time
/ gave him newspaper, containing Breslin's
last statement concerning the $500, ,000
/ Net long after Brown called ct the Office Of
my informant, and solicited private inter-
view, msnifesting considerable agitation.
Il vas granted, after some hesitation, when
| Brown, after some man@uvFeing, said that
he was confident he could account for the
$500 600 mentioned BY Hreslin. The sug-
gestiop was ridieuled, and my informant
declined 20 be made the confident Of q man
whose intimacy was not desirable. Finally,
however, Brown offered to pay the expenses
Of the former 70 visit Breslin In Canada,
with him, IN reference to the subject, but
the invitation was declined. Brown then
proposed 10 present his theory Of the dissp-
pearance Of the 100000, provided my In.
formant would communicate 1t TO Breslin
This was assented to, and Brown unfolded
his theory. BE said that the rogues In the
State with whom he had confedersted were
accustomed TO consult him when they got
into trouble. While Breslin was Treasurer,
be said, the term Of Imprisonment in the
penitentisry Of one Of the most notorious
burglars expired. BE was penniless, and
he determined torob somebody at Columbus.
While waiting an opportunity, he conceiv-
ed q scheme to rob the State Treasury. AZ
ter revolving It In his mind, he entered into
a conspiracy with several other persons at
Columbus, and devoted himself 70 the enter
prise. By constant surveillance, be finally
discovered that "Jake," the porter who was
IL lEG VI bun ALultoALJ OAAllo ~ nAhubt
was accustomed 70 lesYe II unguarded Sunday
nights to enjoy the society Of his German
friends. Watching his opportunity, and |
being q skillful mechanic, he obtained an
impression Of the safe lock, by which he was
enabled to make a key by which he could
lock and unlock the safe. Much time |
and patiencs was required to accomplish his |
object but be did It finally, and he succeeded |
In carrying of large amount of bank bills !
This he left in custody Of his confederates
The next Sunday night he committed sec
ond robbery, and again deposited the fruits |
with his confederatss The whole amount |
taken was nearly $20O, ,000 In asking for q |
division Of profits bis associates put him of |
with small sum, and he determined to make
third effort on his sole account. He got |
into the Office, but for some reason could not
unlock the safe, and be finally coneluded he
wonld give up the Job. Feeling revengeful
against his associates, he repaired 70 Summit
county to see Jim Brown, and ask his advice
in the premises, detailing to him the whole
story, giving the names of his associates
Brown advised him to drop the matter, and
the scoundrel left him.
MY informant says he communicated the
story to Breslin, and the latter Immediately
sent for Brown, offering to pay his expen-
ses IL he would visit him. Brown repaired
to Breslin Immediately, and detailed his
theory. Breslin wrote 10 my informant
that be believed Browns theory was sat-
isfactory exploitation Of tho mystery, and
he also communicated his views to rela-
ton in Ohio, who visited him upon this
subject, and he too was satisfied with the
story. The facts we're then reported by my
informant to Attorney General Wolcott
Who together with the former, had an in
terview with Brown. Mr.. WOlcott was in
credulous. Nevertheless, he deemed it
worthy Of investigation, and he requested
| Brown to find the burglar. Brown said
! be was working on the canal somewhere
about Toledo, and was sure he could find
HIN My informant states, however, that
Wolcott had no confidence in Brown, and
TO make things sure, sent for Captain Ruff
fin, Of Cincinnati, to accompany the for
mer. Brown, who had been captured pre-
viously by Rufan, and was put in irons by
him, was offended, and although they went
together to Toledo, the burglar whom they
sought was not found. Rufhn finally re-
ported ct Columbus, and the case was
given up as an idle invention. My inform
ant is not convert to Browns theory, but
he said if WOleott had managed him prop
erly, it might have resulted in the elucida-
| tion Of important facts. He says that the
proper mode to treat him would have been
TO have given him hundred dollars and
told him to produce his man, but placing
him under the surveillance Of q noted po-
lice officer whom he hated, gave him Of
fence which he would not overlook.
My informant says that Brown showed
very satisfactorily that he had no interest
in exposing the burglar, that he could
make nothing by telling a lie, and thst he
had no hope Of making anything by stat
ing the facts upon which he based his the.
ory. Upon inquiry how it was possible the
treasury could be robBed Of an amount so
large without exciting instant attention,
/ well informed parties tc whom the story
was told replied that nothing was easier in
department % loosely managed as the
treasury was by BresIin. jim Brown Is
now q convict in the Michigan penitenti-
cry, am told that Breslin's porter, OF
that time, Was q German, and that his
name was aJRke" And my informant
saws that some time after old Brown had
divulged, be was informed by prominent
citiEen Of Ohio that on one Monday morn
/ ing, about the period when the robbery
was said to have been committed, It WAS
found impossible to open the door Of the
safe in she ordinary way, and that 1t was
finally forced open. Readers must decide
upon the merits Of this curious story for
themselves. / tell it as twas told me-"
A sIsNlFIoAEq BEr.-Tf is said that 3