Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-01-29
IRAsBURGH, VERMONT FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1864.

to her eyes.
MY dear madam, restrain your feel.
ings an innocent party is never injured
by search
'Of course, sir, you are welcome to
examine his room but | must confess j
feel grieved that my brother should allow
the slightest suspicion to enter his mind.
Bot scome, sir, follow me
So saying, the old lady led the way
into her sons bedroom. 1t was small
apartment, comfortably furnished. A
large trunk was placed q aae side of the
room. / commenced my search with
this. found it locked, but soon succeed
ed in opening it. 1t was filed full Of
books, papers and drawing utensils. |
took each article out one by one, and laid
it on the floor after l had examined it
thoroughly. l proceeded in this manner
until the trunk was completely empty. l
had found nothing. / was ABOUT closing
the lid when | fancied part Of the lin
ing of the bottom vas slightly elevated.
| ripped it up, and pulled out large
quantity of bank bills. Tbeywere most
of them on the Merchants Bank, of
Baltimore. The whole amount discov-
cred was four thousand Two hundred dol
lars. Mrs. Legrand stood aghast when
she saw this money. She wrung her
hands in CONSERVATION, and could only
utter:
He is not guiltyl He is not guilty ?
To add to the painful character Of this
scene, Legrand's sister, beauiiful girl
eighteen years of age, entered the room.
When she learned what had occurred,
she added her lamentations to those of
her mother. She, however, soon recov-
cred herself.
Mr.. Brampton, said she, for she had
learned my name, i acknowledge appear
ances are against my brother, but do not
Judge hastily. l am perfectly convinced
that he is innocent of the crime imputed
to bin. cannot account for this money
in his trunk but rest assured he will be
able to give satisfactory statement. He
will be here in a quarter Of an hour to
dine. Wait until be comes, and then in
terrogate him.
had already made up my mind to do
so, and bowed acquiescence. Soon after
wards be entered the house. He certain
ly did not seem guilty from his bearing,
for be was in the best possible spirits, and
entered the parlor singing. When he
saw me, be appeared somewhat surprised,
but evinced no evidence Of guilt.
mfr. Legrand,' said /, "a painful duty
devolyes upon me. am compelled to
arrest you on suspicion of robbing your
uncle, Mr.. Morton.
'Robbing my unclep exclaimed the
young man, in a tone Of surprise. You
are jesting.'
No, indeed 1 returned, 'and | must
tell you the evidence is fear(ully strong
against you
Stuff he replied, i can Immediately
prove my innocence. I should as soon
think of committing murder as robbery.
You have made some mistake. What
are the grounds of your suspicious? ??
We'll, young man. l replied, L am not
obliged to tell you but | feel an interest
in you, and | assure you no one will be
more pleased to find you innocent than
myself. The evidence against you up to
the present time amounts to as follows.
Two days ago Mr.. Morton's safe was rob
bed of FIVE thousand dollars, chiefly in
Baltimore money. In the first instance
no suspicion at all was entertained OF you.
1t was supposed that some one had pos
sessed himself of key which would
open the safe, and by some means had
obtained access to the premises. | was
consulted. After examining the premises
/ came 70 the conclusion that the robber
must have entered the house by the attic
window. i also discovered that you
slept at Mr.. Carpenters on the night the
robbery was committed, and that you oc-
cupied the very room which opened out
on the roof. This morning when | call
ed on your uncle you were with him.
noticed something about you which i'm
medately struck me. When you 'elt
the room | inquired what salary you re
ceived; I was told then that it was eight
hundred dollars per annum.'
That is the truth interrupted the
young man but what was it you no.
ticed curious about me z
SWELL, thought it rather curious that
young man on so small salary should
possess such 8 magnificent diamond ring.
The young man turned deadly pale
and tottered into q chair.