Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-01-03
A Story About a Box of Thread.

A Paris letter published in an English
paper has this story:
"A very extraordinary case came before
the Civil Tribunal of the Seine this week.
Some months ago an old woman, widow
! Tamizier, died in Paris, leaving, as it was
supposed, no other fortune than the poor
furniture of small lodging. Her effects
were sold by auction in that rapid way that
the property of the poor is disposed of
and among them was little box contain
ing skeins of thread, which, with several
other things classed under the head of sun
dries, was knocked down to dealer in
marine stores named Audubert for the small
sum of four francs. Audubert shortly af
forwards made a present of the box to
Mdlle Fricotteau, dressmaker, who was
his mistress She, making use Of the skeins
OF thread to hem some towels, found con-
cealed in them twenty Bank of France
notes for one thousand francs each. She,
having small literary requirements, and be-
ing utterly unaccustomed to the handling
of large sums of money, doubted at first
whether the discovery was of any value
Nevertheless, she sent friend to the Bank
Of France with one of the notes, and re-
ceiving in return for it fifty golden Napo-
leans, could no longer doubt about the
treasure trOve.
"Separate enjoyment of the finder never
occurred to her innocent soul, and she at
once took the notes and gold to her para
mour Audubert, who had given her the
box. He, on the strength of his acquisi-
tion of fortune, proposed tour to Au-
vergne, his native department. Had he
gone anywhere else in France he had been
secure from any inquiry about the contents
expensive way of living, so far beyond the
station of himself and family, led to the be-
lief that he and Miss Fricotteau must
have come by money unlawfully in Paris.
A Judge of Instruction, who, it may be
presumed, has little to do among the honest
inhabitants OF Auvergne, pricked up his
curious ears IN response to public rumor,
and after making inquiries, thought him
sci justified in arresting Audubert and Miss
Fricotteau. They at once confessed the
whole story of the box of thread, and pro-
| duced seventeen notes yet unspent of the
original twenty. The Tribunal of Correc-
tional Police acquitted them on the criminal
charge of misappropriation, nevertheless
the seventeen thousand franc notes were i'm
pounded in court to await the claim of the
presumed lawful owner A nephew of
widow Tamizler, one Louis Cochols, ap-
peared the other day, by his counsel NJ.
| Z. Thomas, in his character. Neither Au-
! dubert nor Miss FrlcOtteau made any Op-
! position to his claim, and it was adiudged
that the seventeen thousand francs in court
should be paid over to him."
Terrible Fire in East Vicksburg-T
Lives Lost-One Hundred Buildings De-
| stroyed and a Hundred Families Home
! less.
VICKsBURG, Dec. pa terrific fire broke
out in Morris Block, corner of Clay and
Front Levee, at 8 P M. last night, destroy
ing the entire block bounded by Levee,
Clay, Mulberry and Crawford streets. Be-
tween Crawford and Clay to Washington
street thirteen houses were Destroyed
Thence to corner Washington and Craw-
ford streets four three story brick stores.-
The fire spread to the corner of Mulberry
and Crawford, destroying ten houses, be-
sides shanties, &C., in all about one hun
dred buildings, of which thirty-eight were
large brick stores.
Two white children and four negres per-
lshed in the flames. Six negroes were killed
by accident and one hundred families rem
dered homeless.
The origin of the fire was the result of
carelessness in Meyers bar room.
| The buildings and streets in the vicinity
are crowded with goods and debris.
| The greatest credit is due Gems Wood
and Dudley, and their men, for their super
huL1l0'n SAoI CS W ououuo Uue Haues aHo pre-
vent pillage. Five or six buildings were
blown up to arrest the flames. The thea
tre buildings, City Bank and telegraph Of
fees were saved, though the former were
badly damaged. The heavens were illumi-
mated for miles. The total loss is estimated
at So, 900, 900, one-fourth insured.
NEGROES IN Northumberland How
ard, of the Freedmen's Bureau, has receiv-
ed several complaints from colored people
in Maryland of being uniustly deprived of
their children by the apprenticeship laws
| of this State. General Howard SAYS THE