The sun., 1873-04-21
SCHUYLER COLFAX ROBBED
OWE HUNDREDTHO UsAND DOLLARS
STOLEN FROM HIS TRUNK.

Corcspondebcc Of The sun.
souTu BEND. April 1s.-Since our own
persecuted Colfax was endorsed on his return
home BY a meeting gotten up without regard to
expense he processes to he better satisfied with
his changed condition, though he grieves about
the inRrattude Of republics, and often sighs
over mans tnhumanity to man. lie Is now en-
gagged In setting up the pins for a nomination to
Congress, and lie willing to pay high price for
that honor, knowing that 1t can be made to pay
as a material investment, and expecting to use
It as a moral plaster for his wounded character.
His correspondence IL less volumnous than 1t
In former days, but what Is left Of II is quite
eaintly in sentiment, so as to be worthy Of the
best periods Of any Christian statesman. just
at this time he is in more cheerful state OF mind
than he was month ago. Glad tidings came
recently to relieve his anxious bosom and inn
prove the state Of his threatened exchequer.
II will he remembered that toward the close
Of Congress his room at a hotel In Washington
was entered and robbed while the late Vice
President was settling points Of order and ex-
planning his contradictory testimony at the
Capitol. A sharp thief got wind that Schuyler
had concealed box Of valuable bonds and
stocks in his trunk during the investigation,
where II was supposed to be hidden from human
eyes, and safe against such intrusive scrutiny as
had penetrated the mysteries Of his big bank ac-
count. To open that trunk and carry or the
precious contents were the work OF an expert,
whose keen scent had made him a fellow lodger
with Colfax for that express purpose.
when the robbery came to light Schuyler Il
sad to have collapsed az badly as when Oakes
Ames coolly handed him the conSicting check
for $l,2Uo. payable to -. &. or bearer" Every
smile was knocked out of lin, and he forgot on
the spot whole volume Of parllamen entary pre-
/ What W. a.. ha dnn in hat "A ila u,a
became the supreme thought. The box con-
tanned fortune, and to lose II was to sacrifice
| the gains which had cost the owner his good
name. II the truth was told, all the sham
superstructure of qulbbles, lies, and worse
would tumble to pieces like a house of cards,
and perhaps be followed by prompt impeach-
ment. So exposure was adrotly stihed, the
| public was put on false scent, and the huge
robbery dwarfed into mere tri6e in order
to distract attention. Only thousand OF two
| dollars, some jewelry, laces, and female toggery
were stolen Nothing more! That was the
| story which Schuyler cooked up at the time and
caused to be telegraphed all over the country.
| when In point OF faot tenth OF million had
| been stolen, which he did not dare to admit ex-
cept secretly to the authorities Even as IL was,
| curious people In these parts. and others who
| know much more than they have yet told
| naturally inquired how 1t came to pass that
| Schuyler was carrying about bonds in this loose
| way Just a. II he was not member Of the TEN.
perance society or had never lectured before
the Y. NJ. G. A. The whole affair was mys-
terlously hushed up, and by downright lying
| too as Is now certainly known.
| The sequel to this story Is at last out, and Il
explains the contented air OF Schuyler. Before
leaving the national Capitol, lie knew that the
| police had got on the track Of the thieves, and
| that the bulk of the stOlen had bepf
recovered. Now he knows that the loss will be
comparatively small. OWN. to the skill Of the
! men who worked up the case. Indeed he has
| reason to smile" for the amount carried IN
was between ntndy and one hundred thousand
dollars in United States coupon bonds and
| stocks Of various kinds which would a tale un.
fold II exhibited to public view.
Cofax has ALWAYS pretended To be poor. Tha,
was one of the elements Of lls defence in the
recent investigation. He could not have re-
| ceived so large a sum as twelve hundred dollars
| without his mind and memory being impressed
with financial event Of that magnitude! ii,
| did not affect much style or make many opera
tiuns here. for that would have started com
ment. Yet all the while he had thousand.
| standing TO his credit AZ Jay Cookies bank In
| Washington city, and large transactions, which
according to the testimony and ths criticisms
| upon II, astounded everybody who had believed
In Schuyler protestations Of poverty. Where did
all this money come from and how did Cola,
| happen TO have a hundred thousand dollars IL
bonds ard stocks in his trunk That is tn,
question now. Did some other dead man
almost a total stranger, leave this special de
posit In his keeping, as the defunct contractor
sent him that imaginary tl,O0o greenback. be
sides qu u>rterly payments by check, or were ther,
other Nesbitts who contributed from enormous
profits and plunder of the Government To aug
ment the fortune of a speaker and Nice-Presi
dent who was their purchased agent or theil
pensioned tool2
The facts In this case do not rest upon an,
doubtful authority. Mr Cofax can readily b.
accommodated with a precise statement OF al
the recovered property, II not content with tha
which is now, was lately, in his private posses
sion. He has persistenty striyen to prevent an
publicity. and wilfully deceived his friends will
false versions OF the robbery. Police authortie
everywhere keep an Official record, and tina
will show the exact amount and description o
stocks and bonds which he received back. lie
| him rise and explain how he came by this hun
dred thousand dollars, without referring IL I,
the day of judgment, as he did his "welcom
home" speech about the Credit Mobilier diyi
dends
The Indiana detectives were not quick enoug
To share in the spoils, but they now know al
about the parties who set up the job, how the
were caught mapping, and by what sharp praC
tico the money was captured and the crime con
doned. The thieves were not held for prosecu
tiun, because a trial would tell more than Col
fax might like TO have known, and as no puhli
reward was offered he can Triyately arrange wit
the police-if he has not done so already-wh
doubtless care more for the compensation tina
they do about bringing criminals to justice wit
a round turn. Ii sometimes happens, too, tina
the thieves and detectives belong to the sam
Ring. one steals, the other discovers, and tn
reward is apport ,oned between them accordin
to Bill kemhle's rule Of addition, division, IN
silence, In this virtuous state of Indiana, whcr
Morton rules and Culfax formerly stood goo
father to promising boys, the detective fore
Is above suspicion, of course. II shines hy cor
trast with New York, Boston, and Philadelphia
The example of Congress may have poisoned IN
once pure sources Of the capital Of the uatioI
as our Schuyler would eloquently observe, If h
was lecturng on the dement's ~ bad Bourbon
But he thinks well Of the police there who hay
made him rich again. And So he ought to thinl
with one hundred thousand of Congrcssioni
profits salt ed down In good bonds and seCurtie
beyond the reach Of impertinent In estIgation.
The Fate of an Umbrella Fiend.
A unit in ha 4 10 .Io