Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-12-21
NO. 302.
From Chambers Journal
BURGLARI0USLY AND FELONIOUSLY.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY. /

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY.
Then the thought came to ME: Should
! l go 10 ped and say nothing at all about
it? No one knew Of mylhaving received
that money, not a soul but Black, the man
who had deposited it. had given no re-
/ ceipt for it, no acknowledgment Black
had gone to Americas hundred things
might happen-he might never return: at
all events, here was respite, immediate
relief. could go to the bank next morn.
ing. hang up my hat as usual, everything
would 60 on as before. If Black returned
my word was rs good as his. The notes
and cheques could never be traced home.
But don't think retained this thought
long. Do you ever consider how much
resolution and force of will it takes to mi.
iiate q course OF crime and deception? I'd
neither the one nor the other; | should
have broken down at once. | couldn't
have met that fellows eye and told him
had never had his money.
| woke my wife she'd slept through
all the trouble. Mary said, we're
ruined-there's been robbery"
"A robbery cried she, clasping her
hands; land are the men gone?''
Eyes, said.
''Oh, thank Heaven" she said, then
we're safe. Never mind the rest, Jack,
as long as our lives are safe. But there's
my waterproof, Jack oh, do run and
see if they've taken that"
Then told her the story of the twenty.
two thousand pounds She wouldn't be.
lieye me at first; but when she heard the
whole story she was frightened enough.
Yet she had wits about her more than
had
You must run off TO the town hall,
Jack" she said land set the police 10
work. They must telegraph to all the
stations. TO London, and everywhere Oh,
do go at once, Jack; this very moment
Every second lost may be ruin to u.s."
Away | went to the town hall This
was big. classic place, with an immense
portico and huge flight of steps; but
you didn't go into the portco to get to
the police Office. but to the side. which
wasn't classical at all, but of the rudimen-
tary style of architecture, and you went
along number of echoing stone passages
before you reached the superintendent
office.
When Id told the superintendent the
story-"Ah,' he said, Il think I know
who did that job
"Oh." said |, How thankful | am.
| HNi JNu Van Put upOtl
and get back the money. | want the
money back, Mr.. Superintendent-neye
mind him. wouldn't mind, indeed, re-
warding him for his trouble, If could on
ly get the money back"
Sir said the superintendent severe.
y. 1.-THE police amt sent into the world to
get peoples money back; nothing of the
sort. We aren't going to encourage COM
position OF felony; and as for putting our
hands on Flashy Joe-tor he did the lob,
mark you-well, what do you think the
liberty of the subject is for? Where's your
evidence ?"
was obliged to confess hadn't any;
whereat the superintendent looked at me
contemptuously.
Now, let's see into this matter" said
he, after he'd made some notes on bit of
paper. 'How came they to know you'd
got the money in your coatp"
said didn't know.
"Ah, but know" said the superintend-
ent You went to get glass of ale af-
ter you left the bank, young man."
was obliged to confess I had done so.
That's how property gets stolen," said
he, looking at me severely, Sand what's
more, you had glass with friend p
Ah! knew you had And perhaps you
got talking to this friend Of yours ?"
YES, indeed had"
Very well; and mentioned about the
money you'd just took9
VERY likely"
Then this Joe, depend upon it, was in
the crib at the time, and he heard you;
and he followed you back to the bank;
and you haven't got blinds, hut a wire
netting over the window, and anybody
outside can see you counting out the gold
and silver"
That's true" said.
Eyes, see it ALL" said the superintend-
ent: lust as Joe saw it. He follows you
up from here to to yonder, and he sees you
put your money into your coat-pocket and
then he follows you home, and when all's
quiet, he cracks the crib. Oh it's all in a
nutshell; and that's how property goes.
And then you come to the police.'
''But if you know it's Joe, why don't
you send after him and catch him ?'
''Oh, we know our own business, sir:
tight enough if not for this job, anyhow
for the next. Wen give him bit of rope.
like
couldn't put any fire into the man. do
what could. he was civil, that is for
York shireman; impassive he'd do what
was right. Id given the information;
very well, all the rest was his business.
So | came home miserable, despairing.
1t was just daylight by this time, and as
opened the shutters the debris OF our feast
was revealed; the lees of the lobster salad.
the picked bones of the chickens, the melt
ed residuum of the jellies; whilst about
everything hung the faint smell of sour
Wine. sat down amid all this wretched
mess, and leaned my head on my arms in
dull, miserable lethargy. Then sprang
up, and as did so caught sight OF my
self IN the looking-glass. Good Heavens
was this wretched, hang-dog fellow my
selfp Did a few hours misery change u
man like this Why, was very felon
in appearance; and so should be thought
TO be. Who would believe in this story
of a robberyp Why, the police didn't be-
lieye in it, else they'd have taken differ
( ent tone. No; | should be looked upon
4 ,h.e 1, al Al,