Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-06
4 Detective ssory-Ail q Mistake.
The Boston Trarelier tells this story:

The Boston Trarelier tells this story:
oome years since &c ntle man stopping ct one
OF the hotels in Washington, ID. c., (who upon
tbs occasion will be called Brown, sent letter
from the hetel to his wife In New York, con-
tanning $50. The letter was not received, anil
Dir. Brown visited the Post Office Department
10 make complaint. In due time q case was
made out and placed in the hands Of a we'll
known and experienced detective whom. for
this occasion, We will designate as Seekem
After putting this and that together, Seekem
came 10 the conclusion that the clerk OF the
hotel was the guilty party, and proceeded to de-
monstrate his convictions. With this object in
view. ne prepared couple Of decoys for the
young mans benefit Letters from the hotel
we're forwarded to the Post Office morning and
AFTERNOON. 30 Seekem first went 20 work on the
morning mail, but his Gecoys turned vi AL
right.
Seekem then started on another tack. He
gave about $50 thogIs) TO Mr.. Grown and per-
suaded him to write 10 Mrs. BTown, enclosing
the money. and leave the rest to him. The let
ter was written in n very conspicuous place, at
dining table az the hotel. it being so arr anged
that no one should see him write tue letter. ex-
cept the suspected individual. who was called
npon 10 furnish paper and an envelope. Mr..
Brown remarked To the clerk that "a airs. r.
did not get his last remittance he must send her
some more, at the same time deuourc;ng POST
offices in general aud the Washington oifice in
particular, where, he said, he had no doubt his
money bad dis appeared.
The letters frem the hotel were received
The Washington office. and there was no letter
for Mrs. Brown, of Fifth avenue, New York.
SCekem was greatly elatea, feeling sure that he
had at last entrappei the suspected thief. He
vent carefully through the Washington Office,
so as to make'sure there was no mistake. The
letter. however, could not be found Seven
O'Clock that evening found See kem at the hotel
IN consultation with tile proprietor and Mr..
Brown. IL was determined TO arrest the sis-
pected clerk az once. The supposed culprit
was called mp. He denied all knowledge of the
affair. and Seekem was compelled to abandon
the job for the time being.
Nothing more WAS known about Browns letter
until three days afterwards, when Brown him
self entered the post Office in a very excited
state of mind and inquired for Seekem-said he
must see him-thstit was of the utmost import
ance that be should sec him at once. Browns
wife had been arrested in New York for passing
counterfeit money, and was then held under
$4,000 bonds tor examination. The murder
vas out and the hotel clerk was innocent
Something had to be done Immediately for
the lady. and that night Seekem left for New
York, visited the United States Commissioner.
explained matters, and procured Mrs Browns
release. Now for the secret of this singular
proceeding. On the afternoon in question,
when the letter Containing the bogus money
was sent to Mrs. Brown, the clerk took q walk
down to the depot at about 6 O'Clock, to see u
friend OFF, taking what letters there were
IN the hotel box along with him, and dropped
them in the postal car at the depot
the train leaving at O'Clock. Mrs. Brown =
letter went through TO New York, and she
subsequently went out shopping. She rendered
in payment a bogus SO bill, and the stOr kee n
or objectiDR, she offered another, which was aho
declined, the dry goods dealer Informing her
that both were counterfeit. Then she showed
her, and he pronounced it all bad. Meantime a
clerk had been despatched for an Office and
Mrs. Brown was taken into custody. The lady
protested In vain, and was taken to a st stion-
house, where friend Of Mr.. Browns gave bail
for the wite's appearance for examination. The
husband WAS then notified.