The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-06-21
4 Dstectiye's Story
ALL A MISTAKE.
~, Roston Traveller tells the fol

qae Boston Traveller tells the fol-
lo""e 7o rears since gentleman stop
SUM- one Of the hotels III Washing.
ping T. ivho upon this occasion VIII
toh' o III Brown. sent letter from
tbe hotel to his wife IN Ne" oik, con
. .i,h $50. The letter was not re-
oaiyed, and Mr.. Brown visited inc
past Of1ie to make complaint. In due
i;O.o = case was made out and placed
y; ;,' The hands of wellknown and eX-
in ~ .e detective, whom for this oc-
ip"s;on we will designate as Scekem.
After putting this and that together.
eaalom came to the conclusion that
tbe clerk of the hotel was the guilty
marty. and proceeded to demonstrate
his convictions. With this OBJECT IN
view. he prepared a couple OF decoys
fnr the Young mans benefit Letters
from the hotel were forwarded morn
inc and afternoon, as Seekem hrst went
to work on the morning mali, tout DIS
decoys turned up all right.
Seekem then started on announcer
tack. He gave about $50 lbosus) TO
Mr.. Brown and pursuaded him to write
to Mrs, Brown, enclosing the money,
and leave the rest to him.
The letter was written in a very con-
spicuous place, at dining table at the
hotel. it being so arranged that no one
sbonld see him write the letter except
the suspected individual, who was
called upon to furnish paper and an
envelope. :
Mr.. Brown remarked to the clerk
that as Mrs. B. did not get his last re-
mittance he must send her some more
at the same time denouncing Posi-
Offices in general, and the Washington
Offices in particular, where, he said. 1T
had no doubt his money had dlsap
peared.
The letters from the hotel We're re
ceived at the Washington Office, ant
there was no letter for Mrs. Brown, o
Fifth avenue, New York Seckem wa
greatly elated, feeling sure that he hat
at last entrapped the suspected thief
He went carefully through the Wash
ington Office, SO as to make sure tina
there was no mistake. Tho letter
however, could not be found. Sever
o'clock that evening found Seekem a
the hotel in consultation with the pro
prietor and Mr.. Brown. 1t was de
;ermined to arrest the suspected clerl
at once. The supposed cu}prit wa
called up. He denied all knowledg
Of the affair, and Seelzem was COMPEL
d to abandon the job for the tim
oeing.
Nothing more was known abou
Browns letter until three days after
ward, when Brown himself entere
the Post Office in very excited stat
of mind and inquired for Seekem--sai
he mist see him-that it was of tn
utmost Importance that he should sc
him at once. Browns wife had bee
arrested in New York for passing cour
terfeit money, and was then held III
der $4,000 bonds for examination
The murder was out and the hot
clerk was innocent.
Something had to be done immcd
ately for the lady, and that mig
Seekem left for New York, visited Il
United States Commissioner, expiain'
matters and procured Mrs. Brown
release. Now for the secret OF til
singular proceeding. On the afterno'
in question, when the letter containl1
the bogus money was sent to Nj
Brown, the clerk took a walk down
the depot at about 6 o'clock, to sec
friend off, taking what letters the
were in the hotel box along with hi
and dropped them in the postal car
the depot-the train leaving at
o'clock. Mrs. Browns letter we
through to New York, and she subs
auently went out shopping. 5
rendered in payment a bogus $40 b
and the storekeeper ohjecting, S
offered another, which was also
clined, the dry goods dealer informl
her that both were counterfeit. IN
she showed him the remainder OF
$50 that was sent to her, and he p
nounced it all bad. Meantime Gle
had been dispatched for an officer, a
Mrs. Brown was taken into custot
The lady protested in vain, and "
taken to stationhouse, where frie
of Mr.. Browns gave bail for the VIII
appearance for examination. The h
band was then notified