The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-01-23

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off the militia belonging in that region
OF the State, who had served for long.
er or shorter periods during the then
late war with Great Britain. As snre-
ties for the faithfal and prompt dis
charge Of his duties, aud as endorsers
for whatever amount OF moneys might
como Tito his possession, Judge Whit
tlesey presented the names Of Farley
Keyes and Jason Fairbanks, both resi-
dents OF Watertown. These were men
of New England birth, aud of strong
ly developed New England character
istics. Farley Keyes was an intelligent,
shrewd, long man, and Jason
Fairbanks was possessed Of more than
ordinary courage. vim aud energy, and
both had the confidence OF the commu-
nifty as men Of integrity and honesty.
In due time Judge Whittlesey re-
paired to New York city, aud drew
from the Mechanics Bank $4,000 Of
government bonds in bills varying
from one to ten dollars each. Evident
ly he had an honorable aud sincere in
tention TO use these funds in lawful
manner for the payment of the militia.
But unfortunately he allowedshls wife
TO accompany him on his journey.
Mrs. Whittlesey was quite an extraor-
binary woman. She was well cduca-
ted, intelligent, thoroughly vcrsed in
politics, and a great lover OF contro.
versy on that subject; keen, artful,
quick witted, able to hold an argument
with tho distinguished men OF that
day, exceedingly proud and pntfed mp
with family rank and distinction. but
as it proved at last, she was thorough.
ly destitute Of moral principle! II was
very generally believed that she was
the prime aud sole instigator OF her
well meaning husband il. those events
which soon followed, aud which filed
that region With excitement, and fin
ally resulted in most fearful tragedy.
In the winter of 1Sl5-l6, Judge Whit
tlesey and wife made their journey TO
New York after the government funds.
They travelled by private conveyance,
in their own sleigh. O very common
method OF journeying in those days.
On their way back to Watertown. Mrs.
Whittlesey pretended to make the dis
covery whilo at Schenectady that their
trunk containing tho money had been
broken open aud robbed OF 1000. But
in fact il afterwards proved that she,
herself without the knowledge of her
husband, had broken open the trunk
and abstracted therefrom tue missing
money. Aud this was the commence
ment of an artful scheme TO get pos
session OF the whole amount drawn
from the bank. Judge Whittlesey was
coufounded aud overwhelmed at this
robbery as no honestly supposed.
What should be done in view OF this
loss? He feared, yea. clearly foresaw.
il would be attributed by the world 10
his own unaccountable carelessness,
even il suspicion went no farther.
Then it was that bis unprincipled wife
commenced artfully 10 carry forward
her plan 10 reason her husband into
the keeping OF the whole sum drawn
from the bank. Her purpose Is thus
described in tho pamphlet above nam
ed: "By degrees she began 70 hint
darkly, that il mattered little what was
doue; that they were ruined without
hope OF escape; that il would be utter
ly impossible to satisfy carping. un.
charitable world they had not abstract
ed the money themselves; that Il would
seem 80 unreasonable aud unlikely
ANYBODY would take that amount and
leave large balance behind; that they
woull undoubtedly be charged with
cnbezzling the money, and forthwith
prosecuted for the amount, and that
this would sweep away every dollar Of
their hard savings. In this distraction
and perplexitv this reasoning sounded
so like logical deduction that Judge
Whittlesey was obliged to assent 10 the
terrible array of consequences aud
thus she succeeded in getting him in
to her tolls, And then fastening him
there to his destruction"
When the Whittleseys returned 10
watertown, they forthwith declared
they had been robbed in Trenton, a
small village through which they pass
ed on their Journey. Aud to confirm
this story, they exhibited n pair Of
saddlebags in which they said they car
ried the bank bills, with several Sits
cut in the side, through which they al
firmed their belief the robbers had ex-
tracted the money. At first their story
was quite extensively believed. Their
bail, Messrs Fairbanks aud Keyes,
were amazed at the loss, and saw finan-
cial ruin staring them in the face for
al that period s35, 900 was considered
a large sum, the loss OF which would
swallow up the means Of individuals in
ordinary circumstances.
These men had many private consul
tations together ia regard % the story
Of the robbery--lisiened often 10 the
whittleseys, aud took into mature con-
sideration all the alleged circumstances
Of the case. Their doubts grow apace.
and they soon commenced q well laid
system Of espionage. During dark
| nights they watched around tue Whit
tlesey house and even. by turns, as
cendel the roof Of the kitchen. where
they could creep 10 the windows OF the
sleeping-room, aud listen to suatches
of private conversation, when the gull
| ty pair supposed no ear was open TO
their confidential talk.
In this manner both Fairbanks aud
Keyes became thoroughly satisfied be-
yond the slightest doubt Of the guilt
! OF the Whittleseys. They heard abun-
! daitly enough 10 convince them that
Judge Whittlesey aud wife had not
been robbed at all, and that the money
was ia their possession, concealed
somewhere about the premises. At
| the same time they pretended to be-
lieve with great sincerity the story of
| the robbery. and offered large rewards
! for tho detection OF the thieves.
Thus several months elapsed. Judge
I Whittlesey finally began 10 SEQ that
public sentiment was evidently turning
against him aud his wife-that the peo-
pie were beginning to suspect that
they might be guilty-that the family
we're annoyed by these doubts, and
that 10 regain their peace Of mind and
10 retain their respectability. IL might
soon be nscessary for them 10 remove
10 sone new locality in the Western
States. Gradually this idea was devel-
opei by the whittleseys aud circula.
ted until ii became faInilisrly talked
OF In the village, and the family Iegan
to make open preparations for removal.
Indeed the two daughters, 0nnocent
and estimsble yonng ladies), were seut
ia advance 10 Sacketts Harbor, where
they we're 10 tarry day or two, until
joined by the whole family. N embark
on Lake Ontario, for a new home 10
some Western State.
Fairbanks and Eeyes had in vain en-
desvored n ind the hiding place of
the missing money They saw clearly
that crisis had arrived and that they
must take soms step immes,isteiy or
the guilty ones would slip away and
lesvs item a. 6nsncisl rniu. Aftsr
puch consideration aud macy doubts
AZ 10 the lsvfulness of their proceed
ings. they formed q desperate plan 70