Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-01-14

A safe Robbery and the Itobber- How the
Culprtt was Detected, and how lie Ina
posed ON the PuhIic-Ie Commits Sui
. cide-A Very Extraordinary story.
On the 9th OF December last. lama City
Iowa, was thrown into an extraordinary
state of excitement on account of the rob-
berry of the County Treasurers safe OF
money amounting to between 1000 and
Sc, 600 About O'Clock on the evening of
that day one of the county officials, named
Newcomer, heard means and groans pro-
ceeding from the Treasurer's office, and on
entering found the Deputy Treasurer
denton Camery) lying under the table in
a pool of blood. He was apparently insen-
sible. Examination showed that he had
several wounds in the breast, and that his
hand was gRshed across, and that his head
was badly bruised. On coming to he
gave the following version of the case
About half-past 6 O'Clock p. m. he was
in the Office preparing to go home, when
two men of savage aspect came to the
counter and called for five dollars worth
of internal revenue stamps, Offering 10
payment bill of one hundred dollars. -
After carefully scrutinizing the bill, to as
sure himself of its genuineness, he went to
open the safe to get the change. While
doing so, the larger of the two men jump
ed over the counter, and grabbing him by
the throat, Inflicted the wounds in his
breast with knife, while the other man
occupied the time in pounding his head
with heavy stick; after which he put out
the lamp. The wound in his hand was
caused by himself, as he grasped the
knife with which his assailant was cut
ting him up. The thieves then ransacked
the safe.
The entire community felt deep inter
est in the case, for Mr.. Camery was nearly
killed in protecting public property. He
received the sympathy of man who sncri-
fees himself for the public good. Then
he was always known as respectable citi-
zen of tried worth and honesty, and, more
| than all, had been married only six weeks
to the prettiest girl in that part Of the
country.
His friends and neigbbors vowed venge-
ance on the perpetrators Of the outrage,
and sort of vigilance committee was
formed to hunt down the Williams. The
country was secured, and every suspicious
character for miles around was closely
watched, but with no satisfactory result,
as no clue could be obtained to fasten the
crime upon anybody.
| Mr.. q. III. Warren, banker ia the town,
was determined to have the mystery solved
at any cost; so be wrote 30 Mr.. Holmes. of
the Manufacturers National Bank of Chi
cagO, who placed the case IN the hands of
| Pinkerton's National Detective Agency. A
| detective WIS at once dispatched to the
scene to work up the case. He lay around
there for week, following up the Case
! At the end of that time he became con-
vinced that none of the known bad char
acters Of the community were guilty of the
crime The story told by Camery did not
| hold together in all its parts. There were
| Inconsistencies IN its details that could
not be reconcile0.
| It was strange that when the lamp WAS
thrown down il did not set something on
| fire, aud it Was more strange that the
wounds, though deep, were not serious,
nor were thcv suoh as man would be
likely to receive in struggle of life and
death. The detective made up his mind
that Camery inflicted the wounds upon
himself as blind to screen the robbery
and divert suspicion into other channels.
| Camerv was induced to go to Chicago on
I Thursday last on pretense Of searching for
! the robbers there. He went without much
i hesitation, and was taken to Pinkerton s
office, where he was put through a course
OF what detectives call sweating" and
after three hours examination he owned
up and confessed the crime.
| He stated that the money was in the
safe, at his mercy, and he became possess
cd of an uncomfortable desire to steal it.
He took it and buried il under the side
walk of the courthouse yard, where it has
since been found, not dollar missing
The wounds he made with knife, and
then bumped his head against the wall to
produce the bruises He must have been
a man of surprising GOODNESS. combined
with great tenacity of purpose to deliber-
ately plan and execute such q scheme. He
was taken back whence he came and given
in custody of the authorities. The sur
prise Of the people on learning the true
state of affairs may be imagined. Camery,
shot himself on Tuesday, thus passing ig-
ANONYMOUSLY away at the early age of TWEEN
ty-fve. There seems to be no adequate
motive for the robbery. The unfortunate
man was comparatively we'll off, the owner
of some valuable real estate, and in the en-.
ioyment of good salary.