The New York herald., 1870-12-25


BOSTON, Dec. "a, 1870.
There is a very clever little romance connected
with the case OF Samuel F. Andrews, the Hartford
coachman and alleged diamond and Jewelry thief,
the arrest or whom was mentioned in the Boston
correspondence yesterday. AS stated then, he was
taken into custody the charge OF purloinng some
thirty thousand dollars worth OF gems from Mrs.
Antolnette Gridey, in whose employ he was as
coachman. II is further alleged that he got away
with watches and various other articles,
all OF which, together with the diamonds,
he tcrned over to "his uncle" for small
pecuniary considerations. Most OF his alleged pill
fering is said TO have taken place in Springfield,
where Mrs. Gridey has recently moved to from
Hartford. When found he was on board the
United States war steamer California as q
common seaman, and in few hours ne
would have been far beyond the reach
OF officers and detectives. He was apprehended
field for examination
Pending his departure to Springfield he was con-
fined in the station house at Charestown. where he
was interviewed by Mr. Benjamin Roberts. of that
CITY, and, his narrative is true 1t furnishes mate
rial for an unusually interesting and exciting ro-
nance from real life. Andrews told Mr. Roberts
that In July, 1853, he in the employ OF Mr. Van
derbilt, OF the Commodore, and that from there
he went 70 wQrk for Mrs. Gridey ior twenty-five
dollars per month. a-ss,.vor..-.. - - -
It was then. he says represented to hin that the
lady Was worth at least half million OF collars, and
tnat she was southern lady, who had always
moved among the arlstecratic chivalry or the
warmer climes. Her bearing every way bespoke
this, and Andrews was proud 10 be seen upon her
box, driving her or her lovely daughter about the
streets or suburbs Of Hartford where they then
lived. The real story OF her life wns,. hs
says, that she was the wife q ali industrious
and frugal farmer or the Connecticut valley
but that health falling, he sold his property for
about $4,000 and moved to New Haveu, where, by
fortunate stock investments he amassed quite snug
fortune before his demise, which was few months
ueore Andrews Went TO live with then. Mrs. Gr.diey
sold out ct New Haven and buying beaut,fnI
house III Hartford came there to i've. Her dwelling
was furnished in magnificent style, with elegant
carpets, beautiful sculpture and rare paintings.
covered that they were fast using the means at
Their command and must, sooner or later. be-
come bankrupt. valuable team was seld on some
pretehce, ana a less expensive one purchased.
house was disposed OF by mortgage, ana afterwards
10y actua sae, ior ABOUT Si5,UOo Furniture iound
its pace IN warerooms and salesr0oms Instead OF
the spacious chamb RS OF tue brilliant socely-lovng
madame, and little by lrtle the magnilcence was
abandoned, untii almost ahJect penury stared them
AL III the face. AT first his wages were paid
regularly, ana then he was told he could
have what he wanted. lie was dressed In costly
livery, and lived at ease. His evenings were ali
spent at nome. INC iaSc,ndtlons OF the daughter,
Nerie, won ms afec;iois and he cared NOT Tor
other society, and she In turn showered upon hm
the ardof ana iaith OF a Wolnans love. She wished
to be always with hun, and scarcely went with
have be won by her hand. On an evening
In winter, jus5 as the Christmas holidays
her to her fathers grave In New Haven and there,
bending over the remains OF her patcrnal ancestor
IN the solemn home or the departed. she vowed be
fore Heaven To ever love him and be faithful to
him and never marry any but him. Upon their re-
turn home they told the mother what had hap
pened, ana sEe gave them her Denedicnon Subse.
qnentiy while ne was In Boston, at the fremont
house, with hrs. Giid.ey, she suggested that he
III. vas n " ten md
yin, tho same as spoken OF BY MIN as beng
by her Giree,io for Temporary relief rom
q arc wan AL. f,s Tn ow,. present from Mrs Grid
sa cay ne mas ns usesaat n house which e wa. WAS
sreken Of yesterday s,s was nos ~ rQnemplated
70 look at. Thls was never bought. AZ the purse
;trnss began to open TO smaller amounts the family
appearances. The $3.50 at first raised upon ner m
house sGtlced to Keep them az irsi-ciass hotel In
Bridgeport aad to furnish support another year,
when she returned to Hartford; but 1t vanished IN
time, and poverty began to peer In through The |
taIaask curtains of their apartments. Then An
drews wits were called IN play. He hither
and thther 10 obtain money on this that article.
pawung to-day and redeeming Tomorrow with |
money raised upon other articles, ana sometimes
vsias in order 70 supply the pressing
needs. & Al last last. they ,ds5v removed to to-, Nor
5000 year. He stayed BY them until he felt that lie
was burden TO thea and then resoly ed to 20 op-
psss9s s ana ana prose asP se ior = the
strong. The lady and her daughter - uau iusnre
be faithful friends 10 hn, and ne o~ea tae, eyer ao ~
Gais So q" to nave ae as near s thsm as to
regularly Informed them 9. Svssibie, wrote tnem M
eess, aae save ,ae & nope ana
ni W. ~ aut TO entstln the navy, he
RaS anaerea ~ em he shootd before After
town In We''-.cbestar county, " l.. where he pre-.
NJ, Nc rsply has been reviewed ana he srpposes
come to Charlestown to icin the California aad
here bethoueht Of uiend Iarough whom he could
The widow and heI daughter This friend was Mr.
Yard; ana wso WAS formerly q mcnoer Of
the Pioneer Hose Company in Hartford with
ton before this was at the reception in
Chariestown, or which Mr. Cotton is member.
While tie visitors were there Andrews ccslred mat
they should visit Mrs. Gridcy's, aud they aid 50,
and had the most brilliant reception which was ex-
tended 10 them anywhere. These things All show the
close intimacy and entire confidence which was ac-
house, ana If he Is guilty Of the crtne charged 1t
proves pertdiousness seldom found even III nctls.
AatiTew does not beneve that HIS former employer
has instituted this prosecution. although her name
Is signed TO the sworn complaint. ii she really mas,
then ne thinks that pressure has been brought TO
bear upon her by friends, and that rather than
CONFESS the truth TO them she has taken
TINS course still striving to keep up appear
ances. Netie is now his guiding star and the
resting place or his faith. WhcE all others turn
against him IN this to MIN nexp!cable affair he
believes she will tell the truth for trutas SAKE and
his sake He swears that the sacred oath ne gave 20
aid the family shall still be kept, If possible, even II
both OF them, In order TO save themselves from the
disgrace OF exposed poverty, turn against hin IN
hls dark hours.
Looking as this story alone, without other cvi-
strange that extensive system Of pnrloinlng,
covering a period OF months ana years, should take
place right before the eyes OF even the meres novice
IN business affairs. The case has romantic features
from either standpoint III which it may be pre-
sented whether In prosecution or defence, ard only
the fullest Investigation VIII unravel the mysteries.
The WEATHER.