The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-08-17
Detective story-All a Mistake.
The Boston Ir0uelle,' tells the follow.

y
ping at one OF the hotels in Washington,
d. O., (who uuon this occasion will be
| CALLED Brown, sent letter from the ho-
tel to his wife, in New York, containing
$50. The letter wns not received, and
Mr.. Brown visited the Post Office De-
partment to make a complaint. In due
time case was mado out aud placed in
the hands of we'll known and expert
| enced detective, whom for this occnsion
wo will designate az Seekem. After put
ting this and that together, Seekem cnne
to tho conclusion that the clerk Of the
hotel was the guilty party. and proceed
cd to demonstrate his CONVICTIONS With
this object in view, he prepared n couple
OF decoys Tor the young mans benefit
Letters from the hotel were forwarded
to tho post ollice morning and afternoon;
so Seekem iirst went to work ON the
morning mail, but his decoys turne,l'up
all right
Seekem then started Oh another tuck
He gave about $50 (bogus) to Mr. Brown
and persuaded him to write to Mrs.
Brown, enclosing the money, and leave
tho rest to him. The letter wus written
in very conspicuous place. ut dining
tablo ut the hotel it being SO arranged
that DO one should see him write tho let
tor except tho suspected Individual, who
was called upon to furnish paper aud au
envelope. MIR. Brown remarked to the
clerk, that as Mrs. B. did not get his
last remittance, lie must send her some
moro, ut the same time denouncing post
offices III general and the Washington
Office i'll particular. where, he said, lie
had no doubt his money had ,lisnp-
pearcd
The letters from the hotel were re-
ceiyed ut the Washington office, aud
there wns no letter for AIR. Brown. Of
Fifth Avenue, New York. Scekem was
greatly elated, feeling sure thut he hnd
at Inst cntrapped the suspected thief
He went carefully through the Wishing
ton Office, 30 as to make sure that there
was no mistake. The letter, however,
could not be found Seven O'clock TINT
evening found Seekcm ut the hotel, in
consultation with the proprietor nnl Mr..
Brown. It WAS determined to arrest the
suspected clerk at once. The supposed
knowledge of the affair, and Seekem
was compelled to abandon tho job for the
time being.
Nothing more was known about
Browns letter until three days after
wards. when Brown himself entered the
post Office in very excited state Of
mind, aud inquired for Seekem said he
must see him-that it WAS of the utmost
importance that he should see him mt
once Browns wife hnd been arrested
in New York for passing counterfeit
money, and was then held under $40, 600
bonds for examination. The murder
WINS out and tho hotel clerk was inuo-
cent!
Something had TO bo done Immediate
ly Tor The lady, and TINT night Seekem
left for New York, visited tho United
States Commissioner, explained matters,
and procured Mrs. Browns relcnsc.
Now for the secret of this singular pro-
cccding. On the afternoon in question,
when the letter containing the bogus
money WAS sent to Mrs. Brown, the
clerk took walk down to the depot, at
about 8 O'Clock, to sec friend off, taking
whit letters there were in the hotel box
along with him, and dropped them in
the postal car ut tho dcpot-thc train
lenying ut clock. Mrs Browns lei
ter went through to New York. and she
subsequently went out shopping. size
rendered in payment II bogus $40 bill,
and the stnrekeep@r objecting, she offr-
ed another, which was also declined, tie
dry goods dealer informing her that both
were counterfeit. Then shc showed
him the remainder of the 500 Tint was
sent to her, and he pronounced it all
bad. Meantime clerk had been dc.
sm!ched for IN officer. aud Mrs. Brown
was taken into custody. The lady pro-
tested IN vain, and was taken to stu
iinn- house, where friend of Mr.
Browns gayo bail for the wifc's appear
ancc for examination. The husband
Tas then notified.
Ii several Of the Paris suburbs The
| ground is said to be thickiy sown with
shells that fnilctl to burst when fired,
owing 10 the rain aud snow, but Which
are nav in good state Of preservation.
More or less danger attends pedestrians
in these localities, ns was shown in the
Gaze f gentleman and his son who
were stroling recently in q rustic part Of
Alontmorency. One of them trod npon
ashcll, which exploded. killing the fn-
ther aud manning the son.
| Petroleum follows the cities Of France
like I'LL evil spirit. great conliagra.
ton recently occurred Mt Rheims, in
| which this tfest rnctiyn clam nIoro1 !,