The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-07-22

The New Orleans Picayune gives the follow
ing story from the " Recollections of Detect.
ive." 1t says:
There is nothing so cruel as selfshness. Be-
fore its baleful influence the good of our nature
is made dumb, and the evil runs riot Pity is
flung aside as Il foolish emotion, and the heart
is imperviOus to all that is generous or noble.
1t leads to avarice and is the parent of crime.
1t sunders friendships, and tenderer ties are
broken to satisfy the worst and most despica-
BILE instincts of our nature
Not many years ago, said Mr.. F., q lady,
whom had known long and well, fell victim
to this evil passion. Young, beautiful, and ac-
compllshed, she had many friends. She was
married to gentleman whom she loved de
votedy Previous to her marriage, in order
to support widowed mother, she connected
herself with a fashionable millinery establish
ment on Canal street, and, by her cultivated
taste and exquisite skill, soon rendered herself
Indispensable TO the establishment Although
retired from society, there were many in it
who still remembered her as the young and
accomplished daughter of wealthy merchant
honorlns her independence of character and
applaudlng her tilial piety In time she won
the affections of the gentleman whom she sub
sequently married, and much to the surprise
and dissatisfaction of her employer announced
her Intention of speedily withdrawing from her
establishment. Every motive was offered her
to change her resolution. 1t was frankly ad
united that her place could not be supplied
the lady SAID that custom would desert her,
and ruin would follow on the heels of their
separation. These considerations induced her
TO remain until her place could be supplied
but this did not interfere with the marriage,
fh.tt
the lady was determined 10 go, the prnprictress
conceived the most bitter dislike for her. while
Yet maintaining an appearance of friendship
The mate sclhshncss OF her nature was aroused,
and She thought bitterly of the lady who pre-
! icrrcd her own happiness 10 the interest OF her
employer. She imagined herself greatly njur-
ed. aud She broodcd long aud ardcntIy over
some plan of revenge She cared not if ii
wrecked the character of her victim, and de-
stroyri IN their bloom all the flowers OF her
ltr. Trcachcrous, viudictiye and passionate,
her evil mind planned cruel wrong, aud car
rIcd II out unrclcntlngly.
| The proprlrtress had in her possession some
costly laccs. which She priced above all things
in her house. They were very beautiful. aud
many fair yotary of fashion had offered tabu-
Iuus prices tnr them. One morning these laccs
were reported Ia have been stolen and incrrd-
iblc rs Il appeared tn her friends. the Young
wife WAS accused ut the larceny. | never shall
forget the look at indignant surprise. the i'm.
mra>Urcahlr scorn with which she received
the accusation. She stood before the officers
Ike some Young Pyihoucss, her great eyes
flashing and the tall. slender form drawn 10 lis
fullest height | had seen criminals in many
dlsguRrs, the young. the beautiful. the rich /;
but none ever 81 cnuntcrrtcd virtue, or mask
ed themselves IN innoccuc" ctirctnay |
turned my glance towards Mr. L. and saw at
once that my feelings were the same rs his |
would have s:akcd my life upon the lady's per
feet innocence But our convictions could not
aid her III this strait, or prove to those who
were already prciudIccd the convictions in
which we were already certain.
Her trunks were searched. and the laces
found in them. Until then she had treated the
charge with scorn. but now her feelings under
went a change. The indignant blood that had
stained neck and face rrccdcd, aud the poor
creature, with a cry like despair, sunk, sobbing,
on the floor. To the careless and unthinking.
the proof seemed so clear there was no room
for doubt. Her husband stood by uncertain
how to act. | hated him from that moment
for his vascllatlon aud uncertainty. He should
have seen as | had seen that she was innocent
Still, he procured her bail, and tried mantully
to procure her acqIittal. Myself and Mr.. |.
worked day and night upon the case, and on
the very day of trial, obtained Q clue which led
to her acqulttal.
From the first believed that the prophet
rcss was the guilty party, There was an un
easy glitter in her eye, q restless, uncertain
glance which showed me the meditated wrong.
On the morning of the trial, when every other
plan had failed, determined to search her
premises. in the hope of finding something. 1t
was a happy thought, from her escretor dis
covered duplicate keys of the lady's trunk, and
a wax impression of the lock. With these |
soon ascertaincd the workman who had made
them, and by whose order they had been pre-
pared With this evidence the prOprietress
was confronted, when she testified on the trial.
Never shall | forget her expression of bat1led
rage and hate when produced my evidence.
She looked more like Il demon than woman,
and in look and gesture displayed the intensity
of her malice. On the lady, the scene had an
effect as sad as unexpected Her reason, that
had borne such shocks of grief, gave way be-
meath the joy of her acquttal. She rose to
her feet, looked with beaming face at her hus-
band, and then, before an arm could be out
stretched to save her, fell faintng to the floor.
From that moment she was hel elplessy insane.
Months swept by and as her reason clouded,
her body faded away. Not long the restless
spirit frettcd in the poor frame, and one night
she died, died of broken heart, the victim of
woman's plot.
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