Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-01-17
From the San Francisco Bulletin.
Kssry lar Detected i'm he Act Of IR OBJ
biNE His Brothers. House.

Some ten years ago two brothers left
their home in Illinois and came to
California. The elder was man of
the most steady habits, who had re-
ceived thorough business education
fin his native State, and who had made
up his mind to prosper III the new
country he had chosen. The other
was inclined to be dissipated, and had
figured Ill SO many scrlpcs at home
that he stood i'll very bad Odor in his
village. The brothers lived together
for some time in San Francisco. while
both looked for situations. The
Younger brother, however, fell into
bad company and bad habits, and after
a few months they separated by mu-
tual consent. The elder obtained a
situation III wholesale store as porter,
and by his diligence and steadiness
soon worked himself into the conf
denca of his employers. OF his bro
ther he saw little. One day note
reached him from his wild relative,
who was then confined l.. the city jail
on a charge of petty larceny. He
bailed him out and employed counsel
to defend him. Though circumstan-
TALLY evident that the prisoner com
mitted the crime alleged, vet the actual
| the Municipal Court he was acquitted
The elder brother now renowned the.
criminal altogether. and until
met for nearly ten wears. Ad-
vancing rapidly in the esteem
! of his employers, the industrious young
man soon found himself in the receipt
of good salary, and gradually rose to
a partnership Ill the firm which he had
entered as store porter. He purchased
Il house on Bush street, married Il lady
with Il considerable fortune of her own,
aDd last Christmas he saw three beau
tiful children around him to enjoy the
wonders of the Christmas tree That
night the family retired about mid
, night Towards , o'clock i'll the morn
ing the gentleman heard Il noise below
and moving quietly ont OF bed
stood at the hca.lo the stairs to assure
. himself that his suspicious of burglars
being i'll the house were correct The
glcam of Il candle nth" l,arlor assured
! him. and returning tuhis hcG=roQn and
arming himself he crcpt down stairs to
; capture the thief He h,l proceeded
: so cautiously that the burglar was not
aware OF any one stirring i'll the house
hold, and when he reached the parlor
! door he eaw - m;tu Cltucavorin. to prv
: open the buifct where he kept his sill
! Yer. Lcvelling bis revolver III the thief
! he shouted, Stop or y0,! are Il dead
man, and he had the churglarcomplctc-
at his mercy.
The ''iimlny" dropped from his
nervous hands, all., the gentleman w;ts,
advancing to secure him, when, to his
infinite horror, he perceived that IT
was his Younger brother whom he had
thus detected i'll crime. Both stood
motionless for Il moment, and then the
unfortunate wretch, dropped on his
knees, cried out, s'-As God is my Judge
Robert. l did not know that You lived
here.' The other believed him, and
Kidding him sit down, asked him what
conld have led to the commission of
such a crime? Twas the old story
Liquor and evil companions. That
night, the would-hc burglar slept
under the roof of llis forgiving
brother, who when le told his strange
story to our reporter, declared witt,
teaIe III his eyes. that he intended to
save linn, if possible, and was going to
give him employment il his own store.
He said that if he could only save his
erring brother it would be the best
and dearest Christmas present nc
could expect. The reckless man seems
to he truly penitent. and this extrapr-
dinary meeting may he the means uf
saving him from the state prison. ~
even the gallowss