The Hickman courier., 1868-07-18
THE FELLOW CLERKS.
A large onabls jewelry ste

II 1aQ been 1nvaQeu duu pliiakeu U1 DuIS
lars. The discovery of the fact in the
early morning was the signal, as is so
usual in like cases, for general gather
ing of neighbors, friends and fellow
tradesmen to learn the nature and ex-
tent of the misfortune, and to profer
the expression of sympathy. In this
instance there was another Glars of visi
tors drawn thither by quite a different
motive The merchant had before that
q met with losses of the character incl
dent to traffic, and had creditors whose
fears impelled them to the exercise of a
close vigil upon his business cireum-
stances. This misfortune summoned
them with alacrity.
The loss of large portion of his most
valuable goods, quickly impressed them
i with the apprehension that the misfor-
tune greA as it was to him, would ulti-
them The syinpatny tnat.- uthsdSf 6tnep
circumstances might have been extended
to the luckiess merchant by his creditors
was thereby tinctured with that senti-
ment of chagrin that springs from the
realisation of losses that nncharitable
selfshness supposes might have been
ayerted:
] The lust of creditors, added to the ef-
forts of police espionage to which it
gave animus and activity, was speedily
busy in seeking to obtain some clue to
the apparent mystery that surround the
burglary. During all the progress of
the investigation the suspicious eye of
the creditors was directed TO the unfor-
tunste merchant, and all their opinions
and suggestions were jsundieed Soy the
belief that the crime of theft was his
act, and that the apparent fact of burg
larry was but the means that he had de-
vised to wrong them.
r The investigaTD showed quite clearly
that the burglar lad been perpetrated
by some person attached TO the store
There were certain evidences, perhaps
slight and intangible to those not skilled
IN the innicacies of crime, that addressed
theraselves with positiveness of convic-
ton to the judgment of the police Off
GERS that the work could have been none
other than that of a person who could
only, by employment or intimacy, have
obtained a knowledge of all the facts
that should lead to SO successful and
peculiar a result.
When az any time during the progress
of the investigation suspicion failed to
| hnd in the conduct of the merchant
ground upon which to reliantly anchor
itself, it was by natural direction, easily
turned towards the employees. From
picion was directed, till at length it was
concentrated upon two of the clerks with
that measure of judgment that gave the
assurance of their guilt. The method
of the preparation, the character of the
property taken, and all the circumstances
surrounding the case, showed clearly
enough at least to the apprehension OF
official judgment, that one or both Of
these clerks and none other could have
comEnitted the crime.
Ii became manifest in the progress of
the injniry that these persons appre-
hended that the finger of suspicion was
directed towards them, aud that justice
was seeking in their condemnation the
development of guilt. Still the pursuers
were baffled by the uncertainty as to
whether both the parties were guilty,
and that if but one was thus guilty,
which it was. AS the sequel showed,
this uncertainty and the effort to solve
| it, impressed itself upon the belief of
one of the parties, and that he acted up
on such belief with the best skill that
be could summon.
At time aud in manner suggested
| By an anonymous note addressed to a
police officer, search was made of the
premises within the boarding house oc-
cupied by one of the clerks. There
within bed. seemingly hidden from the
f,.a
articles of jewelry, of little bulk, but
great value. Other circumstances, if
any were needed, aided 20 augment that
conviction of his guilt which this dis
covery forced upon the judgment with
such startling energy.
The accused dReied his guilt and all
knowledge of o. Skerime. He was SEEM
ingly overwhelmed by the accusation,
aud by the developments that resulted
from the search of his room. Had there
been those who asserted doubt of his
guilt from the vehemency of his declara-
tions, they would quickly have been sub
dned into silence by the suggestion that
the very extravaganza of his amazement
furnished the highest evidence of the
completeness of his dismay. And when
his utter inability to account for the pos
session of the articles found was comics
sed all eaFil was hushed, and all hypo-
theses of doubt were brushed away
The merchant was vindicated in his char
acter, the busy tongue OF scandal silenced,
the police officers had reached the goal
of their efforts and received the public
plaudits awarded to their success; an
other crime had been brought to discov-
cry and the victim was pinioned upon
the rack of Judicial retribntion-
Cast off, as thus he was, from the SYM
pathy of the world, with every tie of
friendship sundered that might have
linked him to the hope of succor, with
no Influences of family or wealth to sum
mon those agencies to his relief that so
often turn away the current of justice
weak, defenceless, and crushed by the
proofs of his gilt, his case awaited but
the coming of the appointed time to re-
suit in his legal condemnation, and the
addition of his name to that fearful re-
cord Of youth that by the temptation of
iucre, have wrecked their lives upon the
| shoals of crime.
But, in all the poverty of his condi-
ton, and the terror of his peril, he yet
possessed one friend. That friend was
of greater wealth to him in the tireless-
ness of labor, the shsrplessness of vigil,
the fertility of resource, the warmth of
sympathy, theok knestness of zeal, and
the sanctity devotion, than would
/ have been an hundred others. 1t was
his sister.
Through all the vicissitudes of the
case, in every peril and amid the darkest
hour Of the storm, she stood by and
clung to him with tenacity of love and
fidelity of zeal that no opprobrium
could shake, nor fear appal. Nor did
she thus denote her efforts solely from
the spur of consanguinity. She be-
lieved him to be innocent And whether
that belief possessed . rational founda-
ton or not, It inspired her with that
Heaven born devotion that only woman