The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-01-05


now. We will go 10 the house and CON
'front.' him with the other boarders. It's not
"Slnce you will have it so, sir, and ladies' ~
said !, ~ suppose ] may as well 20 with
you, especially as have plenty Of leasure.
But l. prefer TO take a carriage, II you do
not obiect--at my expense, Of course"
80 the policeman, the gentleman, and
myself rode to Mrs, Jones clearinghouse
In Blanque street.
I'VE shall take no unfair advantage OF
you, Mr.. Smith" said the gentleman. ''HOu
shall enter the dinlng-rOom alone. The
officer will remain in the hall and listen. II
the boarders receive you as q stranger, very
well hut otherwise"
obeyed orders; entered the dining-room
and took seat ut the table.
why, you're back soon, Mr.. smith,"
said gentleman In spectacles at my left
And then the bonrtiers ali about the table
looked up and nodded their salutatio to
me.
Its all right" said the policeman, en-
tering. "Nothing could be snugger. Come
on, my man."
"One moment" said !, arising to my
rect. 81 appeal to the ladies and gentle
men here present to scrutlnize me with
careful eyes. l am not Mr.. Smith There
Is some strange mistake. NV name Is
Edward L. st. Clair. Here is my card. /
reside at No. =, Fifth Avenues and can
prove my identify to themost stubborn ap-
preCiation"
The male boarders shook their heads.
The ladies simpered, and exchanged
gianccs that said, ''Did you ?" as plain
ly as you ever did.
Come along my gentleman" /" said the po-
hceman, "we're up TO all that sort Of thing,
you know; 1t won't work. | want you
now" m
He took me. Nothing easier.
In vain asked that be taken TO my res
idence--that one of my friends be sent for
Judge Carmel, the Reverend Percy Fitzs-
pout the Honorable Samson Montgomery,
any one. ''I
"Don't you want to see Barnum, or Fer
mandy Wood ?" queried the officer sarcas-
tically. "You must think I'm fat. It's
played out, tell you."
In the shadow ofthe falling night he led
me away TO the Tombs.
felt quite chill run over me as was
ushered Into the long corridor ofthat cheer
ful abode of murderers and cut-throats.
The first thing found there was mans
hand In my pantaloons pocket. He was an
officer. He "went through me" with great
celebrity, took away my pocket-book and
watch, scrntinized Seenly the ring of keys
he found In one pocket, and demanded
geniolls silver MATCHBOX that | brought
from Paris, and which he clearly thought
was some burglarious utensil. They put
my name and ollense down in big book
and then man tapped me on the shoulder,
with gesture 10 follow him.
"But ! have done nothing" said ],
meekly. ..
"Them never has as come here" said he
cheerillly.
"What are you going to do with me2"
asked rs followed.
"Lock you up" he said in the most cold
blooded manner ''till morning"
He put me into a cell and turned big
bolt on me; and there ] was, behind an
iron door, with no light save that which
came through grated opening in the door
there being no lamps in the corridor.
soon became accustomed TO the light
and surveyed my cell. The dirt there was
astounding. There were two rungh look
ing men already occupying the apartment,
and the soles of their bare feet were crusted
with the dirt from the stone floor. There
was a narrow bed, with a most disgust
ing mattress and hidoous flannel blanket,
for US three to sleep on.
Us three! one jam satisi
One of MS was sailor. He was In, he
said, on charge OF robbing a messmate.
"And did you 2" asked
III.
proud scorn.
certainly thought he did, but / didn't
say so. offered him a cigar instead.
The other of us WAS In for attempted
burglary.
"And did your"
"WhoP MeP No! It's a damn con-
spiracy"
lie took a cigar also.
D Fortune never quite fOrsake us. That |
alFufr - IaW
In this wide ocean of distress. kept my |
self awake with them through all the long |
night, during which never onced LEFT my |
feet. The bed was 80 nasty even TO sit on, |
of course, and the only other seat in the |
cell was still nastier. so paced the floor |
till day broke. ! can't say was especially |
ln mental sense. / rather--lIp- |
on my word-l rather liked the idea Of Il, |
viewed as an idea. But was very tired In |
a physical sense.
They stuck three tin dishes full of some
mess through the door some- |
where about seven O'Clock, | judged Il |
hadn't my watch, you know one mess for |
each OF us. My companions ate their |
messes with greedy relish. Then they ate |
mine, and relieved me very much by doing !
80, as was not entirely certain but that |
prison discipline would compel me TO eat Il,
and fear II was a little too rich for nv |
stomach, and should certainly have thrown
Il up II had ever got Il down.
or course when was taken before the
magistrate, twas a simple matter 10 estab-
ish my identity. a1
There was great Indignation In our set
Or few days about II, and all sorts oil
yehgefpl threats were made, principally by
yOung fellows like Perkins Porter, Jr.
who would run from a caterpillar with its
jack up.
One was going 10 have Acton discharge
hat policeman OF the force.
'Ilet him alone" said l ''he did his duty.
{ was no fault of hls.p
Another was going 20 cowhide that young
,entleman---Ilarrls his name was. He M,ns