Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-27
A TERRIBLE WARNING.

A TERRIBLE WARNING.
A Fast Young Man Squanders Hi
Fortune and Turns Thief-IHis ar
rest-A Strange story.
From the San Francisco Alta, March Is
As in all large cities, we, too, havt
characters who for months move in re
spectacle society unsupported of being
capable of committing crimes, but who's
deprayed natures are such that, while be
ing permitted to move in these circles,
they are concocting plans and schemes to
rob the community, in order to keep W
appearances, being unwilling to turn an
honest penny by the sweat of the brow.
Such men come to our shores, and in GER
tain ways manage to obtain the friendship
of kind people and betray their confidence,
until they are ''spotted," and come in
the hands of the police. Several days
since the detectives arrested one
of this class, who is now in custody.
The individual is Henry St. Clair, a
native of New Orleans, "a years old. He
is'a man of good appearance, and has re-
ceived a fair education. His career is
one deserving of more than a passing
notice. When the late war broke out he,
with his father and several brothers, then
living In New Orleans, engaged in mer-
camille pursuits, joined the Confederate
army, assisting as well as they knew how
to overthrow our Government During
the war his father and brothers were killed.
He, however, remained, until with his
comrades, he was compelled to return.
He proceeded to his native place, and had
hardly arrived there before he received the
intelligence that his mother was dead.
Not a friend or relative was left him, all
had died in behalf of the '9ost cause.
A young man without experience, or any
with whom he could consult, he was left
alone and deserted. The estate left him
had not been settled, and as soon as cir
cumstances permitted, he took steps TO
have il arranged. 1t Noted him between
$4,000 and $4,000.
Having closed the affairs OF the estate,
he knew not what to do, although pos
scssed of some means, and finally con-
cluded to travel in foreign countries.
Bidding adieu to his birthplace, leaving
none behind to mourn or shed tear fer
him, he took passage on board sailing
vessel and landed in Bolivia, South
America. He remained there a short
time, and again started on his travels
around the world. The means at his
disposal, which he used most lavishly,
made for him many friends on his voyage.
After having left Bolivia, he made a fly
ing trip TO the South Pacific island of
Borneo, thence to Calcutta and then to
China. His stay at each of these diff
ferent places was so brief that the thought
of seeking respectable employment was
one of his last, there being no immediate
necessity therefor.
From China he proceeded to YOkoha-
ma, Japan, arriving there about the time
the Tycoon and Satsuma were at war.
Here he made the acquaintance of an in
6uential gentleman, who soon secured for
him the position of military instructor to
the Satsuma's troops, giving them instruc-
tons in the art of using European weap-
ons, with which to cope with their oppo-
nents. He received handsome salary
$3.50 month-for his services; which,
however, were not required for any great
length of time.
Being deprived of his occupation, and
his treasury constantly decreasing, he con-
cluded to leave for a more genial cline,
took passage on one of the p. NJ. S. S.
Co. S steamers and arrived in this city in
the month of July last For some time
he led here, as in the countries he had
Travelled through, fast life, and had even
made the acquaintance of respectable
families in whose residence he was always
welcome visitor.
Time rolled on, and in the short space
of few months he was left without
funds, of which he had uselessly squand-
cred He says he sought for employment,
but such as he desired he could not OBJ
tain, until at last he acknowledges that
compelled by his necessities, he turned
f.hief, commencing his operations with
the new year. Some of the acquaintance
he formed in his visits TO the gambling
hells ard other dens of iniquities, soon
gave him the ''cue" how to go TO work,
and, procuring skeleton keys he Grted
into his new business Cat which, for a
time, he proved himself to be very apD on
a wholesale scale. His operations were
mainly confined to boarding houses,
which he visited in the day time. During
his short career, he has committed numer'
Gus burglaries, and his choice was mostl }
valuable articles. His collection of lar.
cenies embraced watches and jewelryv OF
all descriptions, fancy articles, and fine
clothing, which he disposed of fol
a mere song. These burglaries were
reported at the police Office and de
scriptions of the property left, but no trace
of clue as to who was the perpetratOr.
The matter was placed in the hands Of
Capt Lees and detectives Stowe and Sell
enger. The amounts involved being not
only large, but many of the articles relics
the officers went energetically to work tC
ferret out the guilty party if possible. Fo
several weeks their labors proved unsuc
cessful, but with their usual perseverance
they kept on until at last from circum
stances best known to themselves thel
sgighted upon the individual named an,
took him TO the stationhouse. As al
thieves do, So did he, deny any knowledg
of being capable or guilty of having don
a wrong until he found that the officer
had evidence against him in certain cases
when he made full confession. Wit
the large amount of property recovere
before his arrest, the detectives have siuC
obtained nearly the entire amount stole
by him, amounting, as already stated,
very large sum.
Last evening three charges of gran
larceny were entered against him. Wit
out friends, and unable TO obtain bah, !
now awaits his fate, the felon's doom.
JOSH BILLINGS says: Before l wou
preach the gospel, as some ministers a
obliged to, for $50 dolls a year, would 6,
a living as Nebudkennezzer did, and let Il
coDgregashen so to grass too.
The thrce-spot in cards can pever /
depended upon for trick: it viii alwa,