The Republican journal., 1871-04-27


Buffalo, and as such was considered more
than ordinarily skiLllul. He had lived the
life of bachelor, and up to the time Of
the event which is herein recorded, had
never been suspected of matrimonial in
tentions. But the following advertisement
which appeared in a prominent daily news
paper, published in this city, attracted his
attention:
THE MYSTERIOUS ADVERTISEMENT.
"CoMPANIoN. A lady of retiring manners
and moderate fortune, would like to form the
acquaintance of gentleman with view to
travelling through Europe, and if agreeable per-
manently residing abroad. A party of unques-
tionable good character, and one who would be
willing to defray portion of the travelling eX-
penSes. may address f. NJ, General Post-otfice,
New York"
Mr.. Paddock is very communicative,
and had no objections to publicity being
given to his case if by such means others
may be warned from the trap he fell into.
The following is a copy OF the letter he
wrote in answer to the advertisement:
BUFFALO. February Q, 1871.
DEAR MADAM: If you are sincere in your
wish to secure a companion fora trip to Europe,
| should like very much to form your acquaint-
ance with the hope that we may be found
agreeable to each other l have always had u
desire to travel; but until recently my means
have been too limited to sratify my wishes. l am
fOrty-seven years of age; but my friends t1atter
me with the compliment that / look ten years
younger. OF course if | make an arrangement
with you | shall expect to defray my share of the
travelling expenses, if not more. An early
answer will obge.
Yours, sincerely, JOHN $. PADDOCK.
In reply to the above Mr.. Paddock re-
ceiv ed the following:
NEW YORK, February II, 1871.
DEAR SIR: I am so unaccustomed to write to
strangers that feel as though | was committing
some act of impropriety in addressing you. The
loss of my only brother has left me without a
friend in the world. | am naturally of Il cheer
ful disposition, and l feel that | must turn in
some direction for a companion. Hence the adj
vertisement you saw. | do not know what
foolish notion prompted me to write it; but if it
shall secure me such friend as | could wish,
shall indeed be happy. My fathers estate has
means to travel. 1t is not necessary that you
should be troubled with Il proracted cores
pondencc. Consequently, if you can convent
entity come to New York. will state in my
next where | can meet you.
Yours, respectfully
EMMA MESSENGER
THE NEW YORK SPIDER AND TIE BUFFALO
Two or three letters passed between HIr.
Paddocl, and the Miss Messenger when it
was decided that he should meet her in the
ladies' room of the Jersey City ferry-housc
at the foot of Cortland street Before
leaving Buffalo. Mr.. Paddock arran ged his
business for Il long absence from home,
presuming that he should be abroad some
time. As he wisely remarks, however.
"a man never stops to think when he is
engaged in any women business" This
will probably account for what bcfell him
Promptly at the time appointed the
gentlemanly Paddock made his appear
ance at the rendezvous, and there found u
lady about the medium height, dressed in
black, with Il very pretty face, and of most
agreeable manners. He was at once struck
with her engaging and lady-like appear
ance, and he involuntarily came to the
conc lusion that fortune had thrown in his
way the being that was to complete his
earthly happiness.
1t did not take Miss Emma Messenger
long to tell her story. 1t was the one she
had foreshadowed in her letter, with few
details concerning her dear fathers death
She was SO artless in her description of
her deceased parents love for her, and
she related, in such an interesting and
moumtul way, how cruel fate had robbed
her of her only earthly friend, that Mr..
Paddock was quite overcome. She also
spoke of her yearnings Tor some one to
love, and how under such circumstances
she had been induced to write the adver-
tisement Mr.. Paddock had read. She did
not fail to impress upon that gentleman's
mind her Joy over receiving his letters,
and how happy it made her to find him all
that her fancy had painted. This, and a
great deal more Of the most flattering
language Imaginable, did she pour into
her willing listeners ear. Finally
THE SUSCEPTIBLE PADDOCK
Proposed drive on the avenue. The in
vitation was readily accepted, and during
the afternoon she induced him to partake
of several glasses of wine, the result of
which was that before darkness closed
over the city he was in fine spirits, and
had taken much time in talking over his
prospective visit to Europe But when
night fell, Mr.. Paddock suddenly remem-
bered that he had made no arrangements
for hotel accommodations. In this cmer-
gency the lady came to the rescue, and as
MI. L duuOCk WtS d III lllt Guy,
she proposed to introduce him to gentle
man friend of hers who kept first-class
hotel in Prince street. Mr. Paddock at
once decided that the hotel on Prince
street should be his abiding place during
his stay in the city. This matter settled,
he suggested as a lifting conclusion to the
days entertainment that they should visit
the theatre Miss Emma Messenger CON
{,l h. A.
and more wine. The flow of champagne
proved too copious for Mr. Paddock, and
in short time he became perfectly obliv-
ious to all his surroundings. How he
found his hotel OF reached his room he
does not know; but when he got up the
next morning somebody had carried off
his watch and money-in fact every thing
he had save his clothes.
THE DIsCoNsoLATE BUFFALO FLY
The proprietor of the house professed to
know nothing about the matter, except
that late at night carriage containing
lady and gentleman was driven to the
private entrance, and the lady had called
for a room for herself and husband, stating
that her husband was sick.
Mr.. Paddock, like thousands of others
who have been robbed in New York. was
ashamed to make his case known to the
authorities. Although his checks were
gone, he hoped to recover his trunks, and
he went to the depot for that purpose, but
they were missing. Some one had been
there before him, and claimed them on
his checks. The credulous Paddock had
been completely cleaned out. He had
lost $1,000 in money, several valuable
checks and drafts, and all his baggage.
After thinking the whole matter over, he
came to the conclusion that the best thing
he could do was to stop the payment on
his checks and drafts and go home. Be-
fore taking his departure he indited the
following advertisement, which up to the
present time has not been answered:
CONFIDENTIAL. If the lady who, being
anxious to go to Europe, formed the acquaint-
ance of gentleman from Buffalo for that pur-
pose and afterwards robbed him. will return
the checks and drafts she took from his pocket
book a favor will be conferred and no questions
ooEod A11rasS