New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-17

1eared tDat ne haQ 1a1len unueT euspiCioH.
| The first words of the detective, however,
relieved him from all apprehension on that
score.
Now, my man, want to ask you
few questions, and you must answer me
carefully. Don't be frightened, we know
that you have had nothing to do with this
robbery but ] fancy you can help me in
| finding out who has"
Very good, sir; but l don't know
| how"
"Who closed the warehouse last night
81 did, SIR
| ''And you are certain that all was
securely fastened"
Exactly the same as every other
night"
'And the fastenings had not been tam
pered with in any way when you undid
| them in the morning"
| mo, sir"
"Well, now, who was the first person to
whom you spoke to-day?'
4 think it was Mr.. -" (naming one
of the Clerks.
'Ah, but thinking won't do. Did not
any one speak to you, or ask any question
of you"
Yes, gentleman did ask me what time
|
a. he wanted to see him about some or
ders."
| What sort of man was he? can you
| describe him."
| "He was q young gentleman, very
| pleasant-spoken, dark, with a moustache,
| and very well dressed. He said he came
from the country, and was traveller to
| firm in the same line as ours, who were
going to buy largely from u.s."
"Was he alone?n
"No, there were two Others with him,
sir-both nice looking young gents
"Did he come in"
so, yes, be came in; l had just opened
the door, and was sweeping the floor, so
be walked straight up to me and
Ibid his friends come in, too ?"
"I'm not quite sure of that, but think
they must have, as it was raining, and
they wouldn't stand out in the wet
"Should you know them again if you
saw them?"
- should know two of them-the one
who spoke to me, and another, who had a
carpet-bag in his hand. He walked little
lame"
"Tbat'll do, porter; you need not say
anything outside, but I'm afraid We have
not learned much"
Gan right, SIR
.tAs soon as be had gone the detective
turned to Mr.. johnson and said: GO You
will soon get your property back, expect,
sir Those three men are sneak, thieves,
and if they are the same | believe them to
be, l think / know them. They always
pursue the same plan. First Of all they
discover from a confederate, generally a
female, the place where the best booty is
to be most easily obtained. They then
rise early in the morning, and wait outside
until the porter opens the door, taking
great care that no one is observing them.
One then enters and addresses the porter,
telling him some such tale as this fellow
told yours, and while he is talking the
other two adroitly slip whatever they can
into a bag, which they have with them,
aud decamp as soon as it is filed. They
are always well dressed, aud would appear
to be thorough gentlemen to those
not conversant with their tricks, and
mention that they have just come
up from the country, in order to account
for their being about so early in the morn
ing. You will hardly believe it, perhaps,
: but thieves carry about with them external
marks of their profession, which, to de-
: tective officer, are unmistakable. For in
] stance, they have a peculiar walk aud
l movement of the arms; they are generally
ungloved, and carry nothing in their
hands, while they are continually glancing
on one side or the other to see if they are
: watched. l would guarantee to pick a
: thief out from among one hundred honest
men, let his general appearance be what
it may.
The detective then took his departure,
: promising to communicate again with Mr..
f Johnson as soon as he had anything of
: importance to tell him, and proceeded to
) headquarters to report. He had observed
three young men frequently walking about
together, and from their general appear
ance had set them down in his own mind
as thieves of some sort or other, although
he knew nothing positively against them.
: He was irresistible reminded of the trio
by the robbery in Broadway; and the de-
: scription given by the porter of the man
who conversed with him conceded re-
markably with one of them who had
attracted his especial notice. He deter
, mined, therefore, to keep sharp lookout
and trace them home, should he again run
upsagaiust them.
Mr.. johnson, meanwhile, after attending
to several matters of business, started to
60 up town, and on the way met young
J Vaughan, who seemed strangely excited at
the encounter. He turned, however, at
!, MIR. Johnsons request, and listened atten-
lively to his account of the robbery, ex-
pressing the hope that the perpetrators
would soon be brought to justice. He did
not seem very well pleased, nevertheless,
, when he heard that the detective con.
ceived that he already had a clue, and was
, unable to conceal his agitation when his
companion remarked In whisper: "Do
you see that man? He is the officer whom
, | have engaged; it is singular that We
should meet him"
Vaughan suddenly remembered that he
, had forgotten commission intrusted to
r him by his sister, and hastily bidding Mr..
7 l'Johnson ''Good-by," hurried off in an OPP
t posite direction. The detective immedi.
8 ately came up and asked his employer
/ | who the gentleman was that had just left
r him; and, on hearing that he was friend
of the family, gave long low whistle.
y expressive of the most intense surprise.
a "Where does he live, sir? I'm sure
) have seen his face somewhere
r "At No. - Fourth street. Why do you
e ask?n
e 40, simple curiosity; it's a way we
y have" and he, too, left the puzzled mer.
e chant.
b The latter slowly continued his Journey
9 and racked his brain in vain to elucidate
h.. the mystery of Vsughan's sudden depart
Q ure, but it never occurred to him te
q attribute it to the coming in sight of the
: detective. AS he was in good time, anC