The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-18
A Victim of circumstances

| uAu Deeu Dub year IN L06 ueG6cGlVe
corps, when one morning lay in bed
perusing my faVorite newspaper. had
been out late the previous evening, on
official duty, aud it was some what late
when 1 aw0ke. 1t was my custom every
morning to look over the leading papers,
ana notice whatever was transplring in
the world OF Villiany,so that it would fur
uish me with something to Whet my ap-
petite for breakfast. Upon this morning
l found something of particular flavor.
1t was no less than notice among the
police reports, to the following effect:
I "JEwELs SToLEN.-Last evening, Mrs.
| Wilson, residing at TAirty-seventh
street, while preparing to attend grand
] sOiree, given by one OF her friends, wa 8
surprised to find missing casket OF
valuable jewels-the wedding gilt Of her
husband, and valued at $1,000. After a
thorough and deliberate search, ,she con-
cluded they must have Deen stolen, aud
no one having access to them but her
chambermaid, handsome and intelli-
gent girl, named Clara Wilmer, she was
arrested on suspicion and taken to the
sLation-hOuse. Nothing has yet been
elected, however, 10 prove her guilt, and
u tull investigation Will be made to-
day."
shall notno tell what caused the
paper to drop suddenly from my hand,
aud me to spring out of bed; but sueh
was the fact. l had no desire to read
any more, and made my toilet nervous
ly and in haste. l have ever had dear
love for mystery; it was that which
promoted me to choose so arduous and
dangerous a vocation. The present ill.,
stance, even without other causes,
Il nG
Making hasty breakfast, | immedi-
ately proceeded to the superintendeuRs
office, and found him waiting tor me.
He seemed TO read my thoughts, and at
once reverted to the arrest OF the young
girl, and the accusation against her.
81 wish you 70 attend The trial." he
said, "and note every particular phase
| of IL; let nothing escape you; bat before
you 70, perhaps you mad better copy few
notes from my book they may be Valu-
able.0
took seat by his side, and he pro.
duced that my steriouS chronicle OF crime
the book attached to the rogues' gal
lery. l copied several Items which he
pointed out, and at once douned the dis
guise Of a trading Hebrew, and departed
| Tor The court room.
| The trial came on at eleven, aud it was
necessary for ME to see the prisoner be.
fore that hour. l reached the TomOs in
time, and alter showing my badge to the
warden, succeeded Ill getting an au
d.ence with her.
Clara Wilmer was about ighteen, with
brown hair and blue eyes; her features
were not sufficiently symmetrical 10 be
called beautiful, but there was an in.
penlous frankuess In their expression
which at once convinced me sue was in
lnoceut OF crime. THIS is no difficult task Il
to one who for years has mingled Will
all classes, and as l looked upon Clara
Wilmer, ana became convinced Of heI
innocence, | felt deep interest spriIe
Iup in my heart in her behalf, and re-
solve to use my best efforts to secure
her acQulttal. l at once made mySel
known 10 her, and endeayOred to make
her understand my sympaLny In the mat
Ter.
"Ifyou are guilty." said l, "confess il
to me at once, because it viii save me
troub e, but not lnjure you, as L wouiu
not appear against you. IT, as | sup
pose, you are Innocent,. answer my
questions carefully and with truth"
"Ol, sir,o she exclaimed, IL AN Inno
ceut, as God is nv iuugew
"Let that pass,' SAID gently, ''Flrst
Where were You Uofn p
sIu New lo4k CITY,"
"What streeLW
"Christopher street, near the NORTH
River"
"Go on, now, and give me brie
sketch OF your lie"
In slow and careful manner she pro.
ceeded TO inform NE that her t ther was
an English clergyman, VINO emlgrated
lhither aud started small store, His
wife, however, died soon after MS arri.
val, and he afterwards married an in.
teIllgent Americ N girl, who also dieu
in giving birth to my heroine. The Ia.
ther was now overpowered with griGI
but found a consolation in MS child
whom ne reared in tenderness, giving
her liberal education. When sue at
tanned the age OF fifteen, however, be
was called to follow those VINO hau
gone before" anG Clara was left alone
in the world. The little property leit
her by her father Was soon gone, and
she was thrown uuon the alternative OF
Loiilng for her subsistence. About this
tine she was attracted by an aaYertieg.
ment in the column OF "Wanta," in
which lady advertised tor "a "discr
and intelligent girl to assist in house.
work." Sne applied AT the place, W4lch
proved to be the house of Mrs. Wilson,
and was accepted. Aer dntea consist
ed in experimenting the household al.
airs generally, and. supervising Mrs
Wilson's private apartments. She mad
been there Lhree months, during Wulch
sne had endeayore1 TO lulill her duties
and had 80 lar gwen satisfaction tina,
her employer had never uttered word
Of complaint until the moment OF hei
arrest, although she had previously IT.
| solved to give up the situation.
"And wny" L asked, affecting sur
prise az tnis last announcement.
She hesiEated.
IL am not sure that 1t would be right
tor me to tell you," she said presently.
"Why not? 1t is necessary that
should know ALL" replied.
"My reason, tnen, for having deter
mined to leave was because L saw thing.
daily transpire i'll the house derogal ory
10 the character Of its mistress, as re
CARDS her cons,ancy to her husband"
Clara blushed slightly as she made
This carefully -Worded confession. Hel
answer, however, brought me 10 the very
| groundwork 0L my suspicious. l pro
ceeGed:
"rnere were other male visitors to The
house, then, besides tHose welcomed BY
conjugal relations? Do you know theiI
namesT'
IN but the one whom l hold as bel
partner In guilt; his name is Frank Cliff