The New York herald., 1871-01-04
THE COUNT J)ANNES AS A DETECTIVE.
A ReminiSsence Of His Career in Boston Eight
or Nine Years Ago.
How He Got an Innocent Man Arrested for the
Escaped Coat Of Tar aad Feathers.

BOSTON, Jan. 8, 1871.
The long yarn which appeared In a New York
paper the other day, that George Jones, sometimes
known as the Count Joannes, had got on the trail
Of the Nathan murderer or had actually discovered
him, has created good deal OF merriment in and
around Boston. II Is regarded as the most stupen-
dous joke of the season, and its publication would
have been appropriate the 1st OF April than
at any other time during the year. The only serious
thing about 1t is the fact that any paper should have
devoted 80 much space to such transparent hum.
buggng narrative.
This, however, is not the first time the 'COunt'
has assumed the role Of detective and undertaken
to bring TO punishment the perpetrator OF myste
rious murder. Some eight or nine years ago he was
a resident Of Boston. While he lived here there was
a most horrible tragedy committed in the neighbor-
ing town of Maiden. A young man named Converse
a clerk In the village bank and a son OF the CASHIER
was found dead behind the counter at midday, and
all the funds lying around some five six thousand
doars) were missing. A bullet wound in the head
showed plainly the cause OF death. No one heard q
shot, and there was no clue to the murderer. the
town filed with excitement and grief and large
rewards were offered BY the bank apd the town au-
thorities. The keenest detectives worked day and
night, and every citizen We'd with them in ferreting
out the perpetrator OF the foul deed. Weeks and
weeks passed by and the tragedy renamed as much
OF mystery as the Nathan horror now is. One day
the community was startled Dy the announcement
that the murderer had been discovered III the per-
son OF the proprietor Of tin and stove store, nearly
opposite the bank, and the lndeiatigable Count
Joannes was the One who had unraveiied the mys-
tery. He had spent much OF the time just prevl
ously in Maiden, a9d as he supposed having got
secured the arrest OF the stove dealer. Judge
Warren, OF Charlestown, granted the warrant, and
Maiden officer served 1t. The community was
more shocked at the arrest OF the party accused by
the "Countn than at the murder ITSELF and few, If
any. believed hum guilty. Tne @ @enie%rprslng % detec,
culprt and undertook TO subslantiate nus charges In
the Charlestown Police Court, where the party was
brought up for preliminary examination District
Attorney Morse was present to assist the "Count In
prosecuting the case, ana after searching and
lengthy hearing the government attorney declared
In open court that there was not the most
iimsy particle OF evidence, and he therefore moved
accordingly acquitted amid a round OF cheering
IRON the crowd which llled the court roOm When
the enthusiasm had abated the Innocent man soboed
was moved 10 tears There seemed to be no end OF
the congratulations showered upon him, ana no
wo .ds in the English language sufficiently emphatic
to express their contempt for the detective Count"
As soon as the decision OF the court was announced
he lett Immediately FOR Boston, ana thus escaped
coat OF tar and feathers which few friends OF the
falsely accused man were at that moment pre-
nn1ns ta Subject Of tner rata nad sppsd
them, the citizens took their outraged
nno6 ne % ncS % ana pore MN 70
preceding, was driven i'll triumph TO bis residence
In Maiden. The citizens turned out In thousands to
| lmpromptu meeting was held In the Town Hall. The
| spacious edifce was filled In every part and not
| more tnan half who came could gam admission.
Prayers were offered tears flowed prOiusey, res0lu-
| tiOns were adopted, and there was such Joyous
| llabao0 as was never witnessed In Maiden before
| or since. The innocence or al innocent man was
| vndicaed aud rejoiced over and the prosecutions
| of volunteer detective were denounced In the
| most bitter terms.
A few weeks later the town was again startled by
| the fact that Edward w. Green, the Maiden Post
| master, had been arrested for the murder, which
| had until this time remained profound mystery.
He taken into custody on sunday evening, and
confessed the whole, and went with the 01icers ana
took irom Its hiding place what remained oil the
money which he stole from the bank at the time OF
hts horrible crime. When brought up for trial he
| pleaded guilty, was sentenced TO be hung, and two
years later 1t came within the province OF your cor
respondent to report his execution for the HERALD.
In creating SUSPICION against ns Postmaster Green.
| the real murderer or IN securing evidence to
| convict him, the ''C0unt" had nothing
! to do wnatever, although he says that
| it was through his diplomatic Skill" in
spite OF strong opposition and IN the face OF threats
or assassination. that lie continued his investiga
tons and brought hlm to Justice. Your correspon-
dent is personally familiar with all the details OF the
arrest OF the innocent man at J0annes' instiga-
ton, and is also cognizan OF all the circumstances
attending the arrest. conviction and execution OF
the real murderer. without the aid, and, suspect
without even the knowledge OF him who claims now
to have detected the Nathan murderer His dccara-
tion, therefore, that he tho means OF bringing
the Maiden assassin to justice 49, to borrow phrase
from q well known edi or and philosopher, s'an un-
mitgatcdn-well, never mind the exact word, ii Is
Angi0-SaX0n.
%+.-'fs'' REsTOvArS.' s.s, .'s..s 5. ''es..ss.