The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-04-11
The Love OF q P. o. Clerk.
ICieveland, Ohio. LETTER March

very peculiar case of tampering with
the mails has just developed itself in the
little village of Avon, in this State; which
Capt. Henry, the well-known veteran de-
tective, says, outstrips anything in his e1-
perlence for elements of romance.
1t seems that a man named Burckart il
postmaster at Avon, and his son, John Burck-
art, is deputy. Some time since, John, who
ls an impressible bachelor of about thirtv
summers, became strongly infatuated with 4
Miss Alton, living in the village, who is
young lady OF very prepossessing manners and
beautiful features. and who did not in the re-
motest degree reciprocate the passion of the
deputy, but devoted her attention to others.
On this account young Burckart conceived
the idea of intercepting the correspondence
between Miss Alton and her friends; and
sometimes the young lady would fail on
several consecutive trials to get letter
through the postofice to the outside world,
and, when one would 60, the chances were in
favor of its having been opened, and some
thing vile having been written within. As,
for instance, on one occasion a loving note
to gentleman friend was opened by the
deputy, and the words, ''She is dirty-,'' -
written under her signature, and then the
letter sent on to it's destination. OF course
the receiver of the letter was very angry at
the imposition, and made complaint to the
postoftice authorities.
Capt. Henry, upon nearing full statement
OF the case, Immediately decided upon his
course of action. He would enter the lists
as writer of love-letters to Miss Alton, and
observe the result. The first letter which
he indicted read as follows:
CLEvEIANs, o. March 19-MY DEAR Miss
ALTON: have wanted to see you very much
since we met. | have many things I wish to
say to you that I cannot write. One cannot
express on paper all the emotions of the heart
When first saw you, felt that wanted to
know you better-you are good, 80 kind and
gentle. send you a ring, which please keep
| for my sake; and also send 81 for you to buy
nice present, for know you can suit your
self better t" select for yourself. O, nv dear,
write to me, for l want to see you and hear
from you SO much. From your lover.
THos. MARSHALL.
1nclosing this in dainty white envelope,
with the ring and So, as stated in the note,
he started for Avon. and, upon arriving at
the nearest Office this side, he mailed the let
ter, and accompanied the bag to Avon, Sec
ing it safely taken inside the store whore tho
Avon Office is kept. Then, calling around at
the Atons, he made himself known to the
old gentleman, and told what he had done
and was doing. The mail did not arrive at
Avon until late in the evening, and the next
morning the father of the prosecuted young
lady went to the Office and returned with the
mail, but the Captains effusion was not
with it.
With feeling that the end of disagree
able job was near at hand, the captain went
to the office and arrested the young man,
telling him to produce Immediately the let
ter he had taken the night before.
"What letter." asked the young man.
"The one you took addressed to Miss Al
ton, =" said the detective.
~ took! I didn't take any letter. Why, l
wasn't in the Office at all when the mail ar.
rived.''
~ know that, sir: but you know where
that letter is, and you must produce it inn
mediately.''
But, with all that could be said and done,
the young man remained perfectly stubborn
and firm, and a search of the entire store
| failed to bring to light the lost billet-doux.
Burckart was, nevertheless, arrested and
! brought to Cleveland, and the case continued
for time. This was more than a month
ago, and, when the young man returned
home, having been confined here in Jail for
a few days, his conviction seemed quite i'm
probable. But, the next day after his arri-
val, the letter, with it's contents, was found
upon the sidewalk; and, when the examina-
ton was had before United States Commis
sioner White, in this city, it was thought that
the testimony was sufficient to justify his
being held in bail to appear at the next term
OF the United States district court.