The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-02
NEW YORKI8MS.
From Our o,vn oOyrespomde,t.

unds deathless fascination in the personals
which occupy the northwest corner OF the drst
page OF that puritanical sheet. He reads them
regularly, and believes in them as devoutly as
he used 10 In his morning and evening prayers
which he Is just beginning to forget. We all
know that those personals cloak a great deal
OF sin; we are quite aware OF the
hideOus facts concealed in two or
three lines most dexterously and deli
cately couched In Innocence Of language.
Lot us rejOlce, therefore, that the "Personap
column is occasionally used for good purpose,
and that one OF Beelzebub's favoTte instruments
Is wrenched agalnst his will into beuedcent
use. For instance, IL was through the glorious
Institution of the personals" that a shameless
case of blackmailing-an art most extensively
prSctised in this as in all large cities-has just
been brought TO light. The gentleman upon
whom the attempt 10 blackmail was made was
TOO clesr.headed and too aforementioned,
which is q still better thing, to become dupe.
He had been persecuted by a note
signed "Kleptemania," in which the
writer threatened to make certain revelations
an unrespectabe nature to the gentleman's
wife in case Sl00 were not Immediately forth
coming. Many men not entirely destitute OF
moral courage would have sucoumbed. The
prosecutor was of different metal. He at once
placed the matter in the hands Of a detective
according to whose Instructions he inserted
personal" addressed to "Kleptomania," and
reading thus:--'T will give you half the money
you require at once; only for Gods sake keep
dark This personal elected another note
from the writer of 'Keptomania," signed
"Henry Woodward and directing that the
$50 should be sent TO Station E. note
enclosing marked $40 bill was accordingly
sent, but a detective was also sent to apprehend
the party coming in quest of it. The couven'
tional ''well dressed young man." who Is always
doing inlamou US sthings, and no sooner gets out
OF prison than into the papers, came along,
inquired for letter for Henry Woodward, was
handed the one containing the ten dollars,
which he pOcketed preparatory to walking OIL.
A more effective walking-oT feat, however, was
performed by the detective, who pounced upon
the gentlemanly blackmailer and conducted
him into the presence of Justice Hogan. Mr..
Woodward, like all interesting criminals, is not
without reason for his conduct. He says he.was
lately in the employ of II. B. Clanin Co., but
that being discharged, he struck out in this
branch of business, in which he pro fesses to be
o novice. His real name, by the by, is james j.
Butler.
Such robbery was committed on Sunday
eveniae as would not have dsgraced the bril-
liant sDnals of Paul Clifford or Gentleman
George. Mr.. Garvin keeps gaming saloon
on the southeast corner of Broadway and
Prince streets. Hernsief his principal employe,
and two or three favored friends, have private
keys which give them the freedom OF his suit
of rooms. All told, these Keys are not more
than seven ia number. On Sunday evening at
the past twilight hour OF seven Mr.. GarVln and
one of his most intimate friends, Mr.. Morey,
were seated in the front room, peacetully
smoking away the Sabbath tide. Seven
O'Clock had Just struck when Mr.. GarVin stepped
out, lie wing his friend in possession of the pre-
misses, but promising to return in few moments.
The few moments passed, the door opened again,
and Morey, turning to address his friend, saw
the dusky outlines of three strange men. There
was no light in the room, which was only family
Illuminated with the reflections from the street
lamps. Almost before Morey could rise from
his scat the three strange men were at his side,
bending around him with threatening looks.
The tallest of them held long and glittering
knife, and the only words he uttered were
Don't stir, or I'll stab you.n The dark room
the deserted streets, the loneliness OF his sltua-
tion, the desperate resolve written on the faces
of the three cutthroats, the remembrance ofthe
recent mysterious murder, no clue 10 whose
u, rpetrator has yet been found, were too much
for Mr.. Morey, az they would probably have
been too much for drawer men. He had the
presence of mind to anticipate their purpose AMI
offer them greenbacks TO the amount of $500;
but upon their laughing at that submitted
himself TO the fate OF being "bucked and
gagged" The work OF spoliation then COM
msnced. His pocket-book contained more than
$1,000 q handsome gold watch reposed in his
vest pockets solitaire diamond ring glittered on
his finger, an equally valuable pin sparked on his
shirt front. All these yaluables disappeared In
much less time than it takes to tell. In five
minutes after the strangers had entered Mr..
Morey found himself lying on the floor, bound,
speechless, robbed, alone and in the dark, with
nothing of value upon his person save his
clothes. The story reads like one of hundred
years ago, when mail. coaches were pillaged by
highWaymen in masks, and the belated traveller,
for more cogent reasons than that of satisfying
his hunger aud his need OF rest, felt grati6ed
when he found himself in the courtyard of the
Inn, and beheld safety as well as comfort across
the threshold where mine host stood awaiting
him. The romance never departs from crime
even IN the SEVENTEEN year OF the nineteenth
century. The risk orides the robbery and
haIoas it with q Robin Hoodism.
We are full of premises OF new amusements.
Miss Kellogg, Madame La Grange, and Agatha
States are gong to appear in Italian opera, the
season Of which is to terminate in grand ba!.
Christine Nillson is engaged next tall for the
Grand Opera House. Edwin Booth-to whom
report ascribes the daily reception of peck Of