Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-11-16

slvely that it had been robbed and
that without doubt the keys and re-
volyer lad been taken at the same time.
Also that no trace of any stolen arti-
cles was found about me, my house, or
office; and that further if | had de-
sired to rob the mail | might have
waited until it had arrived at the Of
flee, and thus have saved myself the
crime of murder. Against the third
statement told the reason of my re-
naming in the Office so late, and
brought forward witnesses to prove
that | often did so on Wednesday
evening, in order that the mail might
be delayed as little as possible. Furth-
er, that the reason Of my remaining so
long in the Office was that [ could not
open the door, and brought forward
the fact that the keys woro missing, to
sustain my declaration.
Although these arguments were by
no means fully satisfactory to those
who took the ground that | was guilty,
still they were so far so that | was
released on bail of five thousand dol
lars, which | readily obtained. By
consent of the post office Department,
| turned the affairs Of the Office over
to my assistant. | was thus left free
to pursue every means to prove my
innocence, which [ felt could only be
done by discovering the guilty party.
[ accordingly placed the best of de-
tectives at work, with orders to COM
municate to me the first suspicious
that they entertained, for | found that
it was anything but comfortable to be
looked upon as a murderer, although
| knew that | was innocent.
Thus three weeks passed without
anything occurring, and at the end of
that time cOIld endure the suspense
no longer. Therefore, | wrote to an
old friend Of mine, who was then on
the detective forces of P, and he
getting leave Of absence came to me
at l., and together we set about
the search.
A week passed without bringing
more to light, and causing us to des-
pond, for we feared that the murderer
had so covered his track that it would
be impossible to discover him. We
had been at work two days in the city
of c., and being about to leave,
| entered the hotel office to settle
Having no small bills, there was con-
siderable change handed back, and
among it a ten dollar bill, which had
been torn in two. AS | turned it
carelessly over, found that the parts
had been fastened together with the
margin Of couple Of postage stamps
which had printed upon it No. 10
Plate. but the NO. and Plate had
been crossed out and substituted il
their place was Mar. and 1866 max
inc it read Mar. l4-1S64, which
was the day before the robbery anC
murder. This may seem all common
enough, but to me it was a ray of light
and hope; for the change was in my
own handwriting. | also remember
perfectly well making the change; al
so that had placed my initials on tht
underside, and that the bill must have
been in the safe at the time of the rob
berry. Calling my friend we went in
= to a side room, and there CAREFUL,
removed the paper. On the under
e side we discovered, as | had expect
= ed. the letters j. b. much blurred
t from wetting but still legible. NJ
/ friendagreed witnme that it was aver
|. important discovery, and in order t,
S press it forward, we called in the land
t lord and questioned him.
Y He remembered having receive
| the bill that morning and rather queS
n toned taking it on account of the teal
S On being asked to describe the maj
he said:
+ "As near as | can recollect, he wa
e about five feet ten inches in heigl
and quite stout in proportion. II
It was dressed entirely in black. Th
O only peculiar mark that noticed wa
IS a deep scar running across his fac
e and his left eye was gone,-the plaC
II being supplied by piece Of black sill
ii which he showed very plainly when /
1t winked,"
a. | think must have started vel
Il preceptibly when heard this desert
ton, for | recognized the man imme,
+ lately, as a runner for the firm
s, Bagley & Mason, Of Boston, who ha
m been in our town for about a wee
b. previous to the murder, and had lG
Us the same morning. His own nan
e. was James Burnham.
tn As we could learn no more from t
at landlord, save that he heard him ord
ey the hacl1man to drive to the Bost'
IS, depot, we dismissed him and held
H. consultation. We both agreed tn
S. it was best to 90 Immediately to b
of TIM, see Bagley d Mason, and II pos
ad BILE learn Of Burnham's whereabou
he Carrying out this plan we learned FRI
or the firm the following facts:
fe, "James Burnham was a good,
,ht liable business man. He had been
'or their employment for about fife
lly years, and they were willing to trl
zen him with any amount Of their fun
of He was now in Vermont, where
zen had been since leaving l., a
had not to their certain knowleC
led been at c."
me This rather perplexed US, but
the last we determined that he must h;
,m- deceived his employers; and althol
ite, we did not think that we had sufici
1he cause to arrest him, still we detern
vas ed to track him awhile. With I
the purpose we went to Vermont and
uld in with him at Montpelier. Fo.
be- week we observed his every mott
was but at the end of the time had disc
ing cred nothing, save that he would S