The Van Buren press., 1875-11-16
MISCELLANY.
The Detectives Dream.

The town of Kingston-upon Hull. or,
as it is generally called. Hull. is a large
seaport Of Yorkshire, England 1t stands
on the Humber, Il broad and deep esta-
arv between Yorkshire and Lincolnshire,
into which several rivers How, among
them an insignificant stream known as
the Hull
Hull has an immense trade with the
continent. and possesses extensive and
comnodlous docks Here, as in all large
seaparts, are 10 be found population Of
the lowest class, dwelling chiefly III the
eAborhooa Of the docks, and in spite
of the vigilant police. crimes of the most
daring character are perpetrated, With.
in easy distance of the water are also
numerous small, quiet streets, consisting
of neat and unpretentious dwellings.
Echiefly occupied by the families of sealar-
ing men. or retired pilots and such like
Crossing through these latter streets, and
running through the bad neishborhood
already referred to. is narrow thorough
fare, known as Gleghr Lane. The dens
of dealers III Murine stores. o in othee
words, iunkmen. chiefly occupy this lans.
aud it is the resort Of thieves and pfor
titutes OF the worst class
During the night of November 18th,
1850. quantity OF valuable property was
stolen from the brig Gabriel. lying at the
East dock, at Hull and among other ar
tiles chronometer, highly priced by the
captain of the ship.
| Il, tt,... ,un 45.,t tho Iau n,
au,i tire virronoEo,I ser, i,nei a,n-t,,+- st--r
son, marine store dealer on Ginger
Lane. Bcnsons wife said her husband
was sick in bed, aud that no such article
as chronometer had been brought there
for sale since they were in business. The
woman was pale and agitated, Il d the OF
ficer attributed this to the sickness of her
| husband, or to the natural alarm all otli-
GERS appearance on such ah errand was
calculated to produce on one not accus-
toned to the business.
How long has your husband been
sick p the officer asked.
This is the third day was the reply
whats the matter with him p the
officer inquired
The doctor says it's fever" the wife
answered.
Cant he leave his bed" was the
next question
mo. sir" was the answer.
swell, go up stairs and say I'm here,
and tell him what | m here about the
officer said, land ask him what he thinks
about it,
The woman went into 4 room ia the
rear of the shop, and closed the door
after her, After waiting half minute
or so, the ellicer stepped up to the door
in the rear, and peered through slit in
the blinds. This is wat he saw:
Ben,on-supposed TO he on sick bed
stood at the further end of the room,
which WAS lighted from abo e, grasping
his wife S arm and gesticulating tiercely
Though greatly excited, he was evident
ly speaking in whisper for not sound
reached the Deceive After Il few Sec
onds had elapsed, Benson dropped the
arm of his wife. ard Quilted the room by
side door His wife sank into a chair
and the officer stepped briskly towards
the fore part of the shop.
Presently Mrs Benson re entered the
shop from the rear, and informed the Of.
ticcr that her husband was too sick to at
tend to anything, and reiterated her as
surance that they knew nothing of the
chronometer. The officer departed, re-
solved in his own mind that lie would
search Benson place il the missing time
piece wos not found before nightiall
When he reached headquarters, however
he found the watch had been recovered
and dismissed Benson, and the little
of deception be had played, from his
thoughts.
| The detectives visit to Benson's was,
it must he remembered. on November
| IA. On the "a of December following,
I information was received at police head
quarters in Hull. OF the disappear.
ance of Mr.. Thomas Laycock, a gentle
man of Bingev, near Bradford, under
very remarkable circumstances, Mr.
Laycock arrived in Hull on November l3
and put up at Abbort's hotel, at the foot
OF Market street. and close 10 the water,
| He had with him an ordinary carpet bag
which was deposited in his roam. Il
was his intention to take the steamer for
Answerp, which sailed next day at noon,
and to return in a few DAYS Gu the night
of his arrival. he went with a Mr.. Barrett,
an anchor manufacturer, to the theatre,
and after the performance the two friends
went to Bakers oyster rooms for supper.
There Lay cock picked up an acquaintance
with an old fashioned sea captain, and
when Barrett departed he left his friend
and this man together, drinking hot
punch. That was the last seen OF Lay
cock. for he did not return to the hotel
nor did lie take passage on the steamer
/ for Antwerp. Eight days having pass
ed without his friends hearing any news
of him, they grew alarmed, as he had on
his person large sum of money, with
which to complete an important secret