The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-24

from suspicion or arrest; his conscience, ''stea-
ing away his brains, f" led him to talk, talk,
talk; and now it appears, by the official cor
respondence of the State Department, that
this confession of identity TO Surgeon McMil-
Ian was the first positive trace obtained of
him. He was closely watched, but finally
mysteriously disappeared, and all trace of
him was again lost, until conscience impelled
him, through his insane desire to talk of him
self, to seek confdant in a oomrade in the
Papal Zouaves, in which troop he had en-
listed. Mr.. Detective Conscience found a
co0perator in this man, and, aided by him, the
agents of the Government again resumed
the pursuit. Arrested, Surratt escaped
and fed to Alexandria, Egypt, but was again
arrested and sent to this country. On the
voyage he repeatedly denied that he was Sur
ratt; but on being asked, on his arrival at
Washington, in an authoritative tone by the
United States Marshal, els your name John
H. Surratt H'' he quickly and nervously an
swered affirmatively. The pursuit of Surratt
was continued for nearly two years. If any
reward for his detection is ever paid it will
doubtless 60 to Mcmillan and st. Marie but it
should, in all justice and honesty be trans
ferred to Treasurer Spinner's Conscience
Fund" for undoubtedly Surratt was hunted
down by his own guilty conscience, and the
chief witnesses against him have been, as one
might say, subp9naed by conscience.
There has lately been recorded another less
prominent but not less remarkable instance in
which conscience has revealed a crime, and
given additional proof that Hudibras was right
when he declared that
"Ill.gotten gains befog mems brains;
IQ-gotten wealth reveals the stealth"
A paymaster in the United States Navy
named Belknap was rubbed in 1863 of Govern
ment funds to the amount of $l30,000. His
4I,a, afa1
in the most mysterious manner; no trace was
left by the burglars, and their success was COM
plete. Mr. Belknap could not explain his loss,
much less give any clue to the robbers; the
burglary became more complicated the more it
was inquired into; and finally Mr.. Belknap fell
under suspicion, and a Board of Inquiry had his
name dropped from the rolls. Nothing could
be proved against him, however, and no
criminal prosecution followed. But Mr.. Belk-
nap was not content to remain quiet under
the unjust suspicion of the Government, and
actively continued his search for the culprits.
Nearly three years were spent in the search
without finding any clue likely to lead to the
detection of the robbers when professional
detective heard that broker in Wall street,
named Dewitt G. Wright, had declared that
Paymaster Belknap had lost the money at
cards. The detective, who appears to have
held this theory to be the true one, sought Mr..
Wright and heard the declaration from his
own lips. He also promised to give full
particulars of the time, place, and circum-
stances under which the money had
been lost; but though repeatedly urged to do
so, finally avoided giving the facts in detail.
The detective set to work, and soon satisfied
himself beyond doubt that Belknap had never
gambled in his life. Naturally this discovery
led to inquiries as to the motives of Wright in
making the statement; inquiries led to suspi-
cions; suspicious were confirmed by certain
facts elected. A year was devoted to learning
about Wright's antecedents. By this time he
had left New York and gone into business at
Charleston, South Carolina. Here he was
| dogged, hunted down and finally arrested,
| it having been discovered that he had not
only committed the burglary in question, but
many others, and that he had been des-
| perate character in England. The sole clue
by which he was dogged, and finally detected,
was furnished by himself in his insane and
useless attempt to further secure his own
safety by destroying the character of the man
| he had robbed.
Conscience has not only done universal SER
| vice as detective, but has played not insig-
nifcant national part as United States Reve-
nue. oficeI and very considerable amount
stands on the books of United States Treasurer
| Francis 4. Spinner to the credit of the 'COnsci-
ence Fund, " as the account is technically called
| The history of the Conscience FUND.- is not
|
count was opened in 1861, soon after the break
ing out of the Rebellion, and on the receipt Of
the sum of $4,000, forwarded in bonds, and ac-
companied by a statement that the restitution
which had long been due the Government was
prompted by Conscience. This gave the ac-
count its name. 1t has since remained open,
and all amounts returned to the Treasury in
consequence of the prickings of the inward
monitor (Which in too many instances seems
to be iron cad) have been credited to it until il
showed, at the end of 1866, balance of over
thirty-fve thousand dollars. The sums vary in
size ranging from one cent, contributed by one
who signed himself "Beggar jimmy" to the
original remittance of $4,000. Treasurer Spin
ner has preserved great many OF the letters
which accompanied the remittances, and by his
kindness in severing the red tape OF the esta
blishment | was enabled to get copies Of few
of the more interesting. The majority OF bOnt
fde conscientious correspondents either gave
no explanation, or contented themselves will
very brief statements of the reasons for the
return of the money, without attempting thu
bootless task of working upon the tender feel
ings of Treasury officials. Judging from these
letters, the correspondents are chiefly thos'
who have defrauded the Government while
acting as its agents and officers, or who have
evaded the Internal Revenue taxes or customs
duties. Among the more interesting OF the
letters of the bona tide conscience-stricken art
the following
tsDear Sir:-Several years ago small sum o
| money belonging to the United States was lef
| in my hands with an order from the Depart