Litchfield enquirer., 1861-02-14
1flisfel!anp.
THE YOUNG WIDOW.

A NARRATIVE BY A NEW YORK DEFECTIVE. Sitting in the front office one morning, en. gagged in perusing the New York papers, heard the chiefs bell jingle rather excitedy The ser geant answered it.
 "Send Brandon to me-" next reached my ear through the half opened door. 5o
 Before the sergeant could repeat the order, l had passed him and was by the side of my chief.
 Sit down, Mir. Brandon,' he said, as he con tinued making some notes in the register.
 I obeyed, and anxiousy awaited his con- mands
 "I have singular case before me this morn- ing" he began, and am about to try your in genuity to unravel it."
 My expectations were aroused.
 "On the 18th of last month the Hon. Mir. F. gave ball at his mansion in Fifth Avenue, which was attended by nearly all the elite of the city. ...... .,.... 3.
 II remember it," said.
 "Do you remember what occurred there ?'
 "Almost every lady in the room lest some ar ticle of jewelry," I replied. aaasa -a Exactly, for which none could account, as the party was select, and it would have been an outrage to have suspected any one present with stealing in such wholesale manner" s. acknowledged the justice of his remarks The chief continued:
 '" On the 18th of the month, Q grand prone made concert was given at the Academy of Mu sic, and the same thing occurred. This would not seem singular, as there were plenty of op portunies fer the professional pickpocket but the remarkable feature is that no gentlemen were robbed all who suffered were ladies'" 5a
 "This is indeed singular" replied. s
 Perhaps" responded the chief, in dubious tone. "Now for the last event. Yesterda, morning, as you have probably heard. Mir. w was welded to the daughter of Col. H., a Grace Church. The assembly was large, bu composed entirely of the ton. The bride receiv ed the congratulations of her numerous friends and left the church, but had notreached the car riage, when she suddenly discovered that one 0 her bracelets was gone. A search was immedi ately made in the church, but it was nowhere t be seen. Then came another and another CT, from various parties-all ladies, who had los one or another article ofjewelry, with an occs sional portmonaie. faea
 l was getting excited. .. s-.5s.g
 What tsare your conclusions" l asked.
 5"I would first have heard yours" said tn chief, looking at me closely, as though to tes my penetration.
 ing at present in fashionable society, who is second Babington in the lifting profession" S-~-S laughing at my simplicity; "but let us dete mine on something. For instance, is it ma , or woman 2" 4& SSH se45
 Most likely woman,' I remarked, 1" as non l but women suffered from the thief's adroit pra' ttice." f ga. 1 That would be the first conclusion,' said th chief-"b but on the other hand, a man migl perform the deed, confning his practice to W, } men only. to throw the blame on one of them. acknowledged the possibility of his sugge i tion, though it had little effect upon me. } " You now have the particulars" continue the chief. "I give you one week to solve u mystery and bring the adept to justice. He is list of the principal losers. You can tai your own course as to the plans you shall folio Good morning." fi sas f
 : knew this case had been placed in my ham
 as test of my skin, and Iresolved, if within u ? grasp of human ingenuity, to compassit. Nw
 most singular case occurring as it did, in u
 very heart and centre of first society, It " |. impossible to accuse any one on suspicion the e must be positive preof before word could
 uttered. How was t to be obtained.