Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-02-01

stolen over nine years ago, with the
other jewels, from her room.
Here, then, at last was the mystery
solved, everything made clear, and all
through my dreaml Presently the
light fell on the mans face again, and
l instantly recognized my godmother's
very respectable gardener A decent
man he was believed to be, but thief
all the time, and one who hid his evil
deeds under cloak of religion. And
who was this woman he seemed to have
got such power overp Evidently his
wife; for gathered that from his con-
versation with her. l waited where ]
was until they were both gone-Martha
back to the house and her husband TO
the village; then, as quietly as | could,
| returned to the house and reached my
room. Falling on my knees l gave
thanks to God for making me the
means of finding out such wicked
plot, and perhaps saving the lives OF
more than one under that roof, for il is
more than likely that had those des-
perate men been disturbed in their mid
night plunder they would not have
hesitated at any deed which would ena-
BILE them to carry out their wicked
plans.
slept little that night, and next
morning tried to appear calm and COM
posed, though i was frightened and
really ill. was longing for my hus-
band to come that might tell him all.
and consult what was best to be done
to prevent robbery and perhaps blood
shed. AT last, to my great relief, saw
him coming. ran to the gate to meet
him, and told him what l had seen and
heard the night before. Now" 1
said, "will you ever laugh at my fan
cies' againP'
mo, my dear little Wife" said he,
al never WILL
We then arranged that we should tell
his mother and sister everything; and he
was to go to the nearest police station and
arrange with the chief officer to have a
number of men ready in the wood near
the house at twelve o'clock that night;
that after dinner we were to say good
by to Mrs. Benson and drive homes
but would return and join the police in
the wood, and wait there until we saw
Martha leave the house to meet her
husband. We were then to go in and
wait until the thieves came in, when
they were to be surrounded and taken
prisoners. My husband wanted me to
remain at our own house; but would
not do so, as l said | would only be
imagining all sorts of things; besides,
knew his mother and Mary would like
to have me with them.
1t all turned out as well as could be.
The night was very fine; and just at
twelve O'Clock Martha stole down to
the place where | had seen her the
night before; then we all, about dozen
policemen and ourselves, went into the
house. The men were stationed out of
sight in different rooms, waiting for
the robbers entrance. Henry came up
to Mrs. BensoE's room, where all of us
women were, including the two serv-
ants. With breathless anxiety we
watched and waited. From where l
stood l could see the way they would
come.
1t was about two o'clock when saw
Martha coming up the walk and four
men with her. /" Lookr' l said; " there
they are" They went around to the
back door, and we heard them stealing
along the passage in the direction of
the plate-closet. Then a sudden rush
scream from the wretched Martha
imprecations loud and bitter-a shot!
another scream!
MAY God grant no lives will be
lostr' we prayed.
Poor Mary nearly tainted. AT last
we heard the officer call Henry to come
down. The four men were well secured
and taken to the police station. Mar
tha was taken there, too. She con-
fessed she had let them in for the pur-
pose of stealing the silver. One of the
robbers was slightly wounded in the
arm, but no one else was hurt Very
thankful was | when found next day
that no one was the worse for having
gone through such terrible scene.
The house where Martha's husband
lodged was searched, and the case of
diamonds and many other valuable
articles found there. This immensely
respectable gardener had been dis
grace to his family and his profession.
Left very much to himself through the
indulgence of his employer, he had
become so completely demoralized
as at length to assume the degraded
character of burglar. Now came the
retribution which attends on wrong-do-
ing. The thieves were all tried at the
next assizes, and sentenced to various
terms of Imprisonment.
1t is now many years since all this
happened; but | can never forget what
1 went though those two dreadful
nights, though | remember with thank
fulness that, through nv dream and the
warning voice / heard, | was the means
of averting a great wrong, and perhaps
murder. | do not impute anything
supernatural to my dream. 1t may
have merely been the result of tension
of feeling, supported by some coinci-
dences. At all events, the results were
such as l have described. - Chambers
Journal