The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-08
A burglar Detected An the Act OF Rob.
bling HIS Brothers. Horse.

from the San Francisco Bulletin, December o
Some ten years ago two brothers left their
homie In Illinois and came to California. The
elder was ffta1 Of the most steady habits,
who Had received thorough business ed,i.
cation in his native Etdte, and Hhd had made
up his mind to prosper in the flew country
he had chosen. The other was inclined to
be dlssipated, and had figured in SO many
scrapes at home that he stood in very bad
odor in his village. The brothers lived to-
gether for some time it1 San Francisco, while
both looked for Situations. The younger
brother, however, fell into bad totfbany
and bad habits, and after few months
they separated by mutual consent. The
elder obtained situation in wholesale
store as porter, and by his diligence and
steadiness soon worked himself into the con-
fidence of his employers. OF his brother he
saw little. One day note reached him from
his wild relative, who was then cotifined in
the city Jail on charge of petit larceny. He
bailed him out and employed counsel to de-
fend him. Though Enthusiastically evident
that the prisoner committed the crime al
legged, yet the actual proof was so meagre
that In his trial at the Municipal Court he
was acquitted. The elder brother now re-
nounced the criminal altogether, and Until
Christmas Eve they had not met for nearly
ten years. Advancing rapidly in the esteem
of his employers, the industrious young man
soon found himself in the receipt of good
salary, and gradually rose to part
nership in the firm which he bad
entered as store-porter. He purchased
q house on Bush street, married lady
with considerable fortune of her own, and
on last Christmas he saw three beautiful chill
dren around him to enjoy the wonders of
the Christmas-tree. That night the family
retired about midnight. Towards o'clock
in the morning the gentleman heard noise
below stairs, and moving quietly out OF
bed stood at the head Of the stairs to assure
himself that his suspicious Of burglars being
in the house were correct. The CLEAN Of q
candle in the parlor assured him, and return.
ing to his bedroom and arming himself he
crept down stairs to capture the thief He
had proceeded SO cautiously that the burglar
was not aware of any one stirring in the
household, and when he reached the parlor
door he saw man endeavoring to pry open
the buffet where he kept his silver. Level.
ling his revolver at the thief he shouted
"Stop, or you are dead man." and he had
the burglar completely at his mercy.
The "iimmy" dropped from his nervous
hands, and the gentleman was advancing to
secure him, when, to his infinite horror, he
perceived that it was his younger brother
whom he had thus detected in the act o.
crime. Both stood motionless for mo
ment, and then the unfortunate wretch
dropping on his knees, cried out, Gas God i:
my judge. Robert, did not know that yor
| lived herew The other believed him, ant
bidding him sit down, asked him what cou(
have led to the commission of sucba crime
Twas the old story Liquor and evil com
panions. That night the would-be burglar
slept under the roof of his forgiving brother
who, when he told this strange story to oul
reporter, declared, with tears in his eyes
that he intended to save him, if possible, ant
was going to give him employment in hi
own store. He said that if he could only re
claim bis erring brother it would be the hes
| and dearest Christmas present he could eN
poet. The reckless man appears to be trul.
| penitcnt, and this extraordinary meeting
| may be the means of saving him from tht
State prison, or even the gallows.