Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-02


from the common earth; gold and jew
els from the very roadside hints; golt
soon would, he said, "be of no value
poverty would disappear from the earth
new manures would turn the deserts int
prairies and double the resources of thu
world. He ridiculed steam; he"
All this was profoundly interesting
but somehow or other, wearied by lonl
days tagging about London, / fell
drowsy, and the words of my companion
seemed suddenly to change into buz
buz, buz, that kept in cadence with the
sound of the train as it tore through part
of Devonshire.
/ fell asleep and dream arose before
me- / was alone at night in a railway
carriage with man who thought me
asleep. He stole toward the door, un-
locked it quietly with railway key he
took from his pocket, and opened it.
Then rifing my pockets (some strange
numbness preventing my crying out, he
dragged me to the door and shot me out
into the darkness. The horror of that
moment, and some rustling movement
in the carriage, awoke me. | scarcely
knew why, but strange instantaneous
caution prevented me moving or at once
opening my eyes. AT that moment |
felt light hand, with practiced care,
touch my breast pocket, where my money
was, and felt hot breath upon my cheek,
as if some one was listening to my
breathing.
Presently ! felt the breath no longer
nor the motion of the hand, and heard
my companion-for the breath and the
hand were his-return to his seat. A
moment or two after, without moving, |
opened one eye for moment only, and
to my horror and surprise saw the Vicar
sitting at the further window perfectly
bald and with a wig in his hand--a pair
of black mustaches and beard were on
his knees, and he was slipping a pair of
large green spectacles into a shagreen
case; a little bottle and small sponge
we're on the cushion by his side.
What did this mean2 Was it possible
this intellectual, thoughtful clergyman
was, after all, only a common swindler
flying from justice. What should | do2
Should | at once arise and denounce
him2 No; he might be armed, and might
shoot or stab me before could summon
the guard or arrive at the next station
No. | resolved to lie still, and wait till |
could either change carriages or inform
the police. The train ratified on as if
bound to rush forever through illimitable
space-on, on, through the yielding
darkness
All at once strange medicated smell
spread around me- Before l could open
my eyes, sponge stepped in chloroform
was pressed chokingly tight over my
nose and mouth tried to resist, but |
felt an irresistible faintness creep swiftly
over me; at the same moment my watch
and purse flew from my pockets, and |
was dashed back contemporary upon
the seat-a living corpse
When awoke was lying in the Ex-
eter Hospital, faint and exhausted, and
scarcely able to move. The doctor said
/ had had too heavy dose of chloro-
form; that my recovery had for a long
time seemed doubtful. / need hardly
say that | had been stripped of every
thing by my friend, the Vicar, who was
professional thief of the highest class.
About two years after that event the
following paragraph met my eye in
Leeds paper:
STRANGE DEATH OF A THIEF.
On Thursday frst-class passenger
by the night mail North fell from car
riage few miles beyond Carlisle, and
was killed on the spot. 1t was supposed
that he was a professional thief, and
having chloroformed and robbed fel-
low-passenger, rich manufacturer from
Cradford, was trying to creep into an
empty carriage, the better to escape at
the first station, when he lost his hold
and fell, the train passing over him. A
guard has recognized him as John Rog-
ers, alias Gentleman Jack," returned
convict, long notorious for railway rob
berries Rogers, who was an accom-
plished and well educated man, had once
been in the church; but having had his
gown taken from him for disgraceful
conduct he left England and obtained
commission in the Neapolitan service;
being eventually driven from that also,
he turned swindler, oard-sharper and
s&ell-mobsman Latterly, having es-
capped from Australia, he has infested |
the English lines of railway under va
rious DISCUSSES, and from time to time
and robbed any passengers
who were unlneky enough to travel with /
him by night alone.