The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-02

fully removed the paper On the other
side we discovered, as had expected, the
letters 81. B." much blurred from wet
ting, but still legiolc. My friend agreed
with me that il was very important dis
covery, and in order to press it forward,
we called In the landlord aud questioned
him.
He remembered having received the
bill that morning, and had rather ques-
toned taking it on account of the fare
On being asked to describe the man, he
said:
GAS near as I recollect, he was about
five feet ten inches in height, and quite
stout in proportion He was dressed
entirely in black The only peculiar
mark that noticed was deep scar run
ming across his face, and his left eye was
gone-the place being supplied by piece
of black silk, which he showed very plain
ly when he winked"
think [ must have started very per-
ceptibly when | heard this description,
for / recognized the man Immediately as
runner for the firm of Bagley Il Mason,
of Boston, who had been IN our town for
about a week previous to the murder, and
had left the same morning. His own
name was James BurEham.
As we could learn nothing more from
the landlord, save that he ordered the
hackman to drive to the Boston depot, we
dismissed him and held a consultation
We both agreed that it was best to go
Immediately TO Boston, see Bagley &
Mason, and, if possible, learn of Burn
hams whereabouts. Carrying out this
plan, we learned from the firm the follow
ing facts
James Burnham was a good, reliable
business man. He had been in their
employment for about fifteen years, and
they were willing to trust him with any
amount of their funds He was now ia
Vermont, where he had been since leav-
ing l., and had not, tC their certain
knowledge, been at G..
This rather perplexed us, but at last
We determined that he must have de-
ceived his employers and although VIC
did not think that we had sufficient cause
to arrest him, still we determined to track
him. For this purpose, We went t. Yer
mont, and fell in with him at Montpelier
For a week we observed his every motion,
but at the end Of that time had discovered
nothing, save that he would stay in the
town about one week longer. Feeling
that my friend was fully capable Of watch
ing him alone, | had determined to 90 to
Boston to see if l could learn anything
new; aud accordingly on the morning of
the 2lst oe April, left, having first
arranged q system of cypher, by which we
could communicate with each other if
occasion required.
Early on the morning of the 22d, |
was standing on the steps of the = Hotel,
when paper dropped at my feet, appa-
rently from one of the upper windows
STOPPING dowr I picked it up, but discov-
cred that it was but an empty envelope,
and was about to drop it again, when the
name upon 1t caught my eye. twas that
of leading merchant of L.. Looking
up at the window, saw to my surprise
the face Of James Burnham, and that he
tnrned deadly pale when he saw me
Feeling certain now that he knew my
GRAND, [ saw that it would be safe to let
him escape no longer. Immediately
all hazards. Hurriedly writing dispatch,
which to the operator would read, 'Joln
me IN Portland tomorrow. Immediately
upon the receipt Of this you may close the
bargain which | spoke to you about yes
terday )" but to MY friend, "James Burn
ham is In Boston. Why are you not
| have a clue. Shall arrest him immedi-
sent it to the telegraph office,
and then hurried to the police station
Here | told my story in as few words as
possible, and in fifteen minutes more was
at the door of the room from which the
envelope had come. A noise as of some
one moving rapidly about told US that the
occupant was still there.
The door Of the room was not fastened,
but as the officers approached, Burnham
sprang forward to lock it; but they were
too quick for him, and had entered before
he could get it done AS we came in he
stepped back, and in no gentle tones
demanded the cause of the intrusion. In
answer to him, one of the officers said:
'"I arrest you, James Burnham, for the
murder of Charles Smith and the robbery
of the post office at l., on the night of
the 10th of March last.'
The effect was instantaneous. He
turned deadly pale, and sank iuto chair,
near by, but after moment reused him
self and said
"You have mistaken your man. My
name is not James Burnham, bur William
Chase"
We considered this, however, as but an
attempt to bully us, and he was accord
ingly led away. The search which fol-
lowed brought to light considerable money
in bills, and number of checks, many of
them payable to certain merchants in l..