St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1870-02-25
4 DETECTIVE STORY.
HOW MERCHANTS ARE ROBBED.

I 10 De ner DrOtner, came 10 New Orh,
and engaged Il house in Fourth street.
Her rich dress and refinement of manner
combined with great personal attractions
rendered her nei9hbors most desirous OF
obtaining an introduction to her, and
curiosity was rife as to where she came
fir, IN and who she was. Her brother,
for he really stood in that relationship to
her was Il young man enjoying the COM
mand OF ready money to II considerable
amount, who easily made acquainances
among others of his own age His man
ncrs were very pleasant and his demcan-
or was polished, while his attire, though
extremely quiet and unpretending, was
always in the best possible taste, 50
favorable was the impression which he
created in the minds OF his new friends,
that several of them invited him TO their
own homes, and i'll short time his cir
Gle of intmates increased TO such Il de
gree that he, in his turn, was enabled to
give receptions in Fourth street.
His name was Vaughan, and his sis
ter had been married to colonel Of the
Confederate army, who had been killed
III action during the war. Young
Vaughan succeeded to handsome COM
petence on the death of his father, and
Col. Wilson, who had also been a man
OF property, had let sufficient behind
him To support his widow in Il manner
becoming his position This tale was
supported by the evidence of two or
three other young men, frequently to he
met in aughan's apartments, who were
a.o from the South, and WAS 50 fully
b ri out by all the circumstances of the
p riod and their mode of lite, that the
brother and sister were tacitiy permitted
t. take their place in society us fashion,
able people.
Among many Others who visited Mrs.
Wilson was Il Mr.. johnson and his fam
rly, who possessed Il large store ON
broadway. To this gentleman the wild
ow WAS especially attentive, and vowed
that her purchases for the future should
be raadt from no other person than him
self. Day after day she visited bis store
and bought largely, invariably pay ing
ready money, until hi- confidence in her
was fully established, and he told her that
he >hoald he most happy to give her credit,
Ii at any time it would bc more a~rec;t-
blc 10 her. She replied that she was on
y woman, and consequently knew
nothing of business, so she preferred TO
pay AT once, that she might know eX-
aclly how she was situated. but promised
ia avail herself f his kind ollcr should
>hc ever feel the need of it. One benefit
there was. howe. cr, which he could con-
fer on her. Would he he 80 kind as t.
show her over his store She had never
had an opportunity before of becoming
acquainted with the resources of 50 large
80. >'.,Ll.. l....e.'' Nv I,l,,e.,.,. .,-.iy.
too willing to be polite to So excellent Il
customer, Immediately accedcd to her
request, and laId his treasures bare before
her, and exhibited some of his most cost
" foods. She asked ut what hour bust
uc-- WAS commenced. at what huur con-
clulcd and after thanking him sincere
" for lis courtesies, took her leave. 1t
was not long before the worthy merchant
had cause TO regret this moment of weak
ness, and subsequent events proved to
him how easy it i. for good-louking
woman to caiolc man, however wide
awake he may lie.
''sNEAK THIEVES"
New York at this time was infested bv
a gang OF rogucs who had introduced Il
new system of shopltIiug, and had sue
crs>tully victimizod many of the larger
storekecpers in the city. As their course
had TO be invented iUr them, and they
were chrisGcncd ''sneak" thieves by the
police, from the cunning way in which
they effected their depredations and the
diff 'ulty experienced in detecting them.
Mr. johnson, who but few days before
had been boa>ting OF his immunity from
theft, was muci: annoyed when on ar
irving one morning at his store he was
informed by his managing man that
some very valuable articles had been alb
stracicd during the night or early i'll the
morning. The goods were safe enough
when the store was closed OH the preced-
ing evening, as he had himself seen them
hut were II i>sing when the clerks arrived
in the morning. Mr.. johnson at once
called in the police, and an experienced
detective was sent to gather all the in
formation on the subject he could. On
hearing the circumstances of the case,
this gentleman at once recognized the
agency of sneak thief, and impaired his
suspicious to the proprietors of the store,
with his reasons for them.
Il should like to have few words
with your porter" he said.
certainly, but nope you don't sus-
pect him, as he is an old favorite, and
has been in my employ for years.
''Not in the least but fancy he c IN
help US tor all that. Did you ever hear
of Il sneak thief, sir ?"
"No. What are they p
elf you will send for the porter, and
stay here while | question him, you will
soon understand that
The porter shortly entered the room,
looking very much alarmed. He had
heard CT the robbery, and that a police
officer was closeted with Mr.. johnson,
and naturally fearel that he had faller
under suspicion. The first words of the
detective, howevcry, relieved him from
all app chenslon on that score.
NOW, my man, | want TO ask you
few questions, aod You must answer me
car,tu ly. Don't he frightened, we know
that you have had nothing 10 do with
this robbery, but 1 fancy you can hell
me in finding out who has"
Every good, sir; but 1 don't know
how"
''Who closed the warehouse las