The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-01-26
A WOman's Wit VS.. Detective.


1t is only recently that we heard of sen
satlop whici originated in Pennsylvania and
eliminated in DeKalb county in this State.
A year or 80 ago Norman Spencer was in
the employ Of an oil company in Pennsylya
MIA. He was young, good looking, deficient
in education, but possessed of strong natural
sagacity, and skill in the art of roguery
that gave promise to seat in Congress or in
the penitentiary. The precise position he
occupied IN the oil company We have not
learned, but it was one that Involved trust
and confidence. In due course Of time the
company received a new safe, and in that safe
were daily deposited it's valuables Among
the aforesaid valuables one day there came a
package, neatly done up. containing the nice
little sum Of S21 900, which was duly depos-
tied IN the aforesaid new iron receptacle
1t is barely possible that Spencer heard of
this transaction but be that as it may, the
very day the package was received he mani
tested an earnest desire to examine the new
safe. He had made some pretentions to mech
anism, and had given evidence that he pos
sessed genius in that line, The company
granted his request The safe was opened
he examined it carefully, and expressed his
decided approval of its construction. The
time occupied by this transaction was not
more than than five minutes, and it occurred
in the presence of several of the officers of
the company. The new receptacle was care
fully locked again, safe and sound.
Next morning on examining its contents,
the $4,000 package had DISAPPEARED, and in
its place was package of precisely the same
appearance and shape, containing brown pa
per. At the same time. it was discovered
that Mr.. Norman Spencer had disappeared
OF course there were numerous inquiries
instituted for Mr.. Norman Spencer. They
extended in every direction for months, but
without avail. At length, after some time
had elapsed, the company bethought them
selves of a clue which might lead to the dis
covery of Mr.. Spencer. In The place where
the company was located resided handsome
and intelligent young lady, to whom he had
for some time been paying attentions, and to
whom it was rumored he had been engaged to
be married. After due reflection a skillful
detective was placed upon the track of this
young lady For two months the officer pa
tiently watched her every movement, but
without any good resulting
At length, however, his perseverance was
rewarded. He noticed large travelling
trunk going to the house where the lady re-
sided, and a little inquiry revealed the fact
that she had purchased it. A few days there
after the aforesaid trunk and the lady in ques-
ton made their way to railroad station The
officer followed, and took the sahle train on
which they departed. Steadily on through
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Chicago, the woman
kept her course, the detective never losing
sight of his game for moment. Seeing her
safely housed in the city Of divorces, he tcle-
graphed the facts back to the oil company,
and received instructions to employ Chicago
detective and return home The change was
made, and shrewd officer Of the latter city
was put upon the trail.
A day or 20 the lady remained in the city,
constantly under the surveillance of the Off
Ger, and then one evening she took the train
on the G. B. and Q. road. The officer took
the same train, and the two reached Quincy
together. On reaching that city the lady
went to hotel, and the detective advised his
employers of the state Of the case Instruc-
tons were sent to change officers, and Quin
cy detective was set to work. Remaining at
Quincy day, the lady left one morning on
the Hannibal and St. Joseph road. Her ev-
cry motion had been watched, and the officer
was on the train with her. At Cameron
Junction she took the cars for Kansas City
the watthful detective was on the same cars.
Arrived at the latter place, she went to ho-
tel, whittier she was followed by the officer
Up to this time there had been no indica-
ton that the lady had any idea that her mo-
tons were watched; the sequel will show
whether this was correct.
The morning after her arrival at Kansas
City, the detective was seated at his break
fast, when woman exactly resembling the