The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-09-20
REcouERy OLE STOLEN MONEY

RECOVERY OF STOLEN MONEY--THE
THIEF ARRESTED. Last Friday warrant
was placed in the hands Of Chief Of Police
Crowder. for the arrest OF Jacob A. Bright,
a white man living near Mt. Sidney, in this
county. .rhe day before, Bright had been
working on the farm of Mr.. Daniel Miller,
by whom he had been raised, and having oc-
casion to 60 to the house left his feilow-la-
borer, Mr.. Shafer, and had been gone but a
few minutes when he returned very much
excited and reported that he had seen
strange man run away from the house as he
approached it. None OF the family being at
home, Shafer and Bright returned to the
house, and found that drawer had been
broken open and a quantity Of gold and
greenbacks stolen. Search was made for the
stranger but no trace of him could be found
The next day, the conduct of Bright having
in the meantime excited suspicion, war
rant for his arrest was sworn out, and he
having come to Staunton, it was placed in
the hands of the city police. With very
imperfect description the police traced him
from one place to another, and found tina
ne was spending money lavishly. Finally
they arrested him over near the depot, but
upon search failed to discover anything Of
value on his person. One Of the party who
was with him at the time OF the arrest, sta
ted that he had thrown something away on
Sears hill, and upon repairing to the place
indicated, the police found pistol, pocket
book, containing about So, and bottle of
whiskey.
Bright denied having stolen any money,
and although his statements frequently con-
flicted and were evidently untrue, still moth
ing as to the whereabouts Of the money
could be gotten out of him. 1t was discov-
F. cred that he had purchased pistol at Hirsh's
store and paid $5 in gold for it, and that he
had gotten pair Of pants and had been
treating crowds freely at the bar-rooms, but
beyond this no trace of the money was
found.
The next day he was taken from Jail by
Chief Of Police Crowder, and driven to Mt.
Sidney. On the way by the incest kind Of
talking the officer induced him to tell where
the money could be found. They went to
an old log house and there, pushed back in
an augur hole, found $40 in greenbacks. All
efforts to make him disclose the hiding place
Of the gold were unavailing, he still insisting
that he had never stolen anything. He was
taken to Mt. Sidney, and after trial sent on
to await the action of the grand jury. On
the way back to Jail Crowder pumped him
and finally got him to acknowledge that he
knew where the gold was hidden, as he had
seen man put 1t away. After much per-
suasion he agreed to show where it could be
found, and guided the officer to culvert
where, hidden between the crevices of the
rock, $50 in gold were snugly stored. The
officer secured the money and brought his
prisoner back to jail.
It was thought that about $l72 had been
stolen altogether, and the difference be-
tween that amount and the $l30 recovered,
is the actual loss sustained by Mr.. Miller.
Great credit is due Policemen Crowder and
Hounihan and Constable Gregory for the
admirable management of the case.
Bright is married man and has a family.
He had been raised by Mr.. Miller and treat
ed almost as son-the most implicit conf
dence being placed in him. His ingratitude
in seek ng to rob his benefactor was even
baser than the crime itself. A special Grand
Jury has been summoned to act upon his
caSn