Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-02-13
Strange Meeting
A Burglar Detected in the Act of
Robbing His Brothers House.
From the San Francisco Bulletin.

erS lett their nome IN 1IIlnOlS and
came to California. The elder
was a man Of the most steady
habits, who had received a thor
ough business education in his
native State, and who had made
up his mind to prosper in the
new country he had chosen
The other was inclined to be dis
sipated, and had figured in so
many scrapes at home that he
stood in 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 mutual con-
sent. The elder obtained a sit
uation in a wholesale store as
porter, and by his diligence and
steadiness soon worked himself
into the confidence of his en-
ployers. OF his brother he
saw little. One day a note
reached him from his wild rela-
tive, who was then confined in
the city prison on a charge of
petit larceny. He bailed him
out and employed counsel to de-
fend him. Though circumstan-
TALLY evident that the prisoner
had committed the crime alleged,
vet the actual proof was so
meagre that in his trial at the
Municipal Court he was acquit-
ted.
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 a
good salary, and gradually rose
to a partnership in the firm
which he had entered as store
porter. He purchased a house
ON Bush street, married a lady
with considerable fortune Of
her own, and on last Christmas
he saw three beautiful children
around him to enjoy the Won
ders of the Christmas tree
That night the family retired a.
bout midnight. Toward two
o'clock in the morning the gen
tleman heard a 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 candle in the parlo1
assured him, and, returning to his
bedroom and arming himself.
he crept down stairs to capture
the thief.
He had proceeded SO cautious
Ily that the burglar was not a.
ware of any one stirring in the
house, and, when he reached the
parlor door, he saw a man en-
deavoring to pry open the buffet
where he kept his silver. Lev
cling his revolver at the thief,
| he shouted, "stop, or you are
dead man." and he had the burg
liar completely at his mercy.
The s.iimmy" dropped from
his nervous hands, and the gen.
Etleman was advancing to secure
him. when to his infinite hor-
ror he perceived thatit was his
Younger brother whom he had
thus detected in the act of crime.
Both stood motionless for a mo-
ment, and then the unfortunate
wretch, dropped on his knees.
cried out: GAS God is my
| Judge, Robert, | did not know
that you lived hereP' The
other believed him, and bidding
him sit down, asked him what
Icould have led him to the COM
mission of such crime. 'Twa:
the old story. Liquor and evil
companions. That night the
wouid-be burglar slept under
the roof of his forgiVing broth
Ter. who when he told the strange
| story to our reporter, declared
! with1tears in his eyes, that he
intended to save him, if posi-.
BILE, and was going to give hin
employment in his own store
! Tie reckless man appears to b
truly penitent.
\ 4;,. Minpneof,