Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-12-04
Federal Spy.

Z
address aud manners, speaking both Eng
lish and Italian, and whose dark and Pc
culsr features supported the statement
tina, he was a native of Italy. lie mace
himself exceedingly agreeable TO The com
pany al The Exchange Hotel, although
pracliciug something The reserve OF the
nobeman; and he was ob-erved with mol
little curiosity unlIl gossip settled Oh The
discovery that lie had teen seen 10 WISH
! the State Department, and that therefore,
considering, TOO, his diSIingue appear
ance, he must be charged with mis-
SION OF some importance.
Dining one day a! The hoIeI' be look
advantage OF casual remark 10 draw INTO
conversation Mr.. Boteler, q member oil
Congress from Virginia, gentleman who
was supposed 10 have great taste Tor
learning. The latter had noticed the
sound escaping from a gas jet over the
table The conversation turned upon the
possibility of producing music from such
a source. Chemistry, acoustics, and 9th
er branches Of science, were discussed,
greatly to Mr.. Boleler's RELISH and al last
The Italian gracefully INFESTED that The
Congressman should accompany him TO
his room TO witness some scientific eXpe-
riment. in which he then was engaged.
The experiments ere shown; Mr.. Bote-
ler saw al once that lhtT adjustments
were ,hosc Of scientific man; and for an
hour lie roamed with his strange acquain.
lance over the fields OF science, literature,
and art, wondering al his varied accom-.
pl.hmenIs. end fascinated By The charm
Of his manners.
As Mr.. Bolscr To:s to depart, The
stranger said. with the air OF commun!ca-
ling an important confidence: Il have
something 10 say TO you. The pleasure
have experienced in your company and
The position know yor '"Upy in your
government, encourage me to make
Communication that will interest yon,
have mission to Richmond, and have
already partially discharged il. and am
now only waiting on your government for
a sum Of money that IS necessary. be-
long t. the Society Ct CarbonarI! II
sympa,hrzes with the Southern Con(ede-
rscy, and il is the only power in Europe
lha, can compel lis recognition !or Ma
poleon II. is secretly member of The So.
cety, and dares not dlsobey its mandates.
More than this"-and his brow darkened
III hold in my hand the life Of Abraham
Lincoln; the victim whom the CaTbonarl
designate cannot elude them"
Whist impression this important and
terrible disclosure made upon MIR, Boieler
is not known; bu, he has never denied
that he believe what The man told him.
He even went TO the eXIen. Of appointing
day to accompany the strange diplomat
to the State Department, end actually en-
gagged to add bis influence 10 the lmpres'
sions which me latter already reported ne
had made upon Secretary Benjamin, but
10 what extent OF aiding the mission be
did not menUon.
The day came; Mr B0ttler attended al
the hotel The Italian was not 10 be
found; lie bad left HE hOlel hurledly that
morning. Suspicious were aroused at
lHo p|dle bSIdl AuISH'' H''O' "S' W
dered on all the roads leading o0t from
Richmond, and fortunately the man, dis
gused as peddjer, was overtaken and
arrested few miles from the city. lie
resisted the officers sloully and with great
insolence; for some time the search TO
which he was subjected revealed nothing
contrsband or suspicious; he was about to
be dismissed, with apologies, when one OF
The officers. examine his boots discovered
tina, The heels might be screwed of, and
found snugly ensconced therein several
sheets OF tissue paper inscribed with plans
OF all the Qualifications of Richmond, and
with spondence giving all The de-
tails Of It's deIenses.
The man was carried back 10 Rich
mond as SPY; bU' he was never tried
never punished. and We DO not know
gha. became Of him-the government be-
ing unwilling TO give publicity 10 The in
ciJent, and anxious TO hush up an affair
in which lis creduliy had been so rIdlcuI-
ously prscticed upon by an advenlurer,
who, al best, was nothing more than
charlalan .-POlIoyEa Life of Je0frsOn
DGvis.