Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-08
A Detective StOry-AIl q Mistake.
The Boston Traveller tells this stor

The Boston Traveller tells this story:
"Some years since gentleman stop
ping at one of the hotels in Washington,
d. c., (who upon this occasion will be
called BROWN sent letter from the
hotel to his wife, in New York, contain
ing $50. The letter was not received,
and Mr.. Brown visited the Post Office
Department to make a complaint. In
due time q case was made out and placed
in the hands of well known and eX-
perienced detective, whom for this oc-
casion we will designate at Seekem. At
ter putting this and that together, Seek
EN- came to the conclusion that the clerk
of the hotel was the guilty party, and
proceeded to demonstrate his cOnyic-
lions. With this object in view, he pre-
pared a couple Of decoys for the young
mans benefit. Letters from the hotel
were forwarded to the post office smorn-
| ing and afternoon !; so Seekem first went
to work on the morning mail, but his
deeoys turned up all right.
Seekem then started on another tack.
He gave about $50 (bogus) to Mr.. Brown
and persuaded him to write to Mrs.
Brown, enclosing the money, and leave
the rest to him. The letter was written
in very conspicuous PLACE; at dining
tdUlc dt tu6 AOLtl, ~ OCAAS S4 dklaASEA
that no one should see him write the let
ter except the sqspeeted individual, who
was called upon to furnish paper and an
envelope. Mr.. Brown remarked to the
clerk, that as Mrs. B. did not get his last
REMIT nee he must send her some more,
at the came time denouncing post Offices
in general and tho Washington office in
particular, where, he said, l6 had no
doubt his money had disappeared.
The letters from the hotel were receiy-
ed at the Washington Office, and there
was no letter for Mrs Brown, of 9Th
J avenue, New York. Seekem was great.
ly elated, feeling sure that he had at last
entrapped the suspected thief. He went
carefully through the Washington office
SO as to make sure that there was no mis-.
take. The letter, however, could not he
found. Seven o'clock that evening
found Seekem at the hotel in consulta'
ton with the proprietor and Mr.. Brown
It was determined to arrest the suspect
ed clerk at once. The supposed culpri1
was called up. He denied all knowledge
of the affair, and Seekem was compelled
to abandon the job for the time being.
Nothing more was known about
Browns letter until three days after
wards, when Brown himself entered the
|
mind, and inquired for Seekem-said hi
, must see him-that it was of the utmost
, Importance that he should see him al
once. Browns wife had been arrested
. in New York for passing counterfeit
: money, and was then held under $40, 00(
: bonds for examination. The murder
was out, and the hotel clerk was limo.
F., cent!
Something had to be done immediate
? ly for the lady, and that night Seekem
left for New York, visited the United
States Commissioner, explained matters
] and procured Mrs. Browns release
Now for the secret of this singular pro-
ceeding. On the afternoon in question
(, when the letter containing the bogus
t money was sent to Mrs. Brown, thu
e clerk took walk down to the depot al
about o'clock, to see a friend off, tax
:. ing what letters there were in the hote
7 box along with him, and dropped them
:, in the postal car at the depot-the train
D leaving at o'clock. Mrs. Browns let
ter went through to New York, and sht
subsequently went out shopping. Sh'
! rendered in payment bogus $40 bill
/ and the storekeeper Directing she offer
ed another, which was also declined, tn,
2 dry goods dealer in forming her that boil
were counterfeit. Then she showed hin
the remainder of the fifty dollars tina
e was sent to her, and he pronounced i
all bad. Meantime clerk had beer
, dispatched for an officer, and Mrs. Brow
9 was taken into custody. The lady pro
!, tested in vain and was taken to station
house, where friend of Mr.. Brown
:, gave bail for the wife's appearance fc
;, examination. The husband was ther
e notified.