The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-01-24
RE-CAPTURING $4,000.
A Wartime Incident IN New Orleans.
WRITTEN FOR THE NEWS BY COL. W.

A Wartime Incident IN New Orleans.
WRITTEN FOR THE NEWS BY COL. w.
During the late fratricidal war, when
Gen. Butler was in command of the de-
partment of the Gulf, with headquarters
at New Orleans, was detailed for spec
ial detective service, and it was while so
employed that the gallant Major O., our
army paymaster, became dispossessed,
for time, of $4,000 of our Uncle Sam
uel's new, crisp greenbacks.
The first information that I received
of the robbery was given by Col. Jonas
H. French who was then provost-marshal-
general of the department of the Gulf
and chief of police of the city of New
Orleans. The colonel had sent a hasty
note summonslng me into his presence,
and in brief way called my attention to
the loss, at the same time directing me
to see the paymaster, learn the particu-
lars and use every effort to recover the
sum stolen.
l found Major U. at his Office in the
custom-house building, where learned
from him such Information as he was
able to give concerning the disappear
ance of the 100000.
During the forenoon of that day he
had been riding in a cab visiting the va
rious banking institutions of the city for
the purpose of making some exchanges.
| 10 ha1 l..
he carried the $4,000. Having finished
his business with the banks, he drove
around to the postOffice, where he hasti-
ly jumped out of the cab to unlock his
letter box. From the time of his leav-
| ing the cab not more than a minute
| elapsed before his return to the side
walk, to find, to his utter CONSERVATION,
that the cab containing his treasure had
departed, thus bringing forcibly to his
| mind that "the bliss of earth is transient
as the colored light that beams in morn
ing dew drops" The description given
of the cab and tie man that drove it
amounted to nothing. Thus was thrown
upon my own resources almost wholly to
sack and its precious contents.
Jumping into cab, 1 drove rapidly
around among the cab-stands, scrutiniz-
ing the face of each cab-man as 1 passed
him, depending solely upon the effect of
the robbery on the mind of the guilty
party to obtain satisfactory clue to work
upon. After searching in vain among
the cab-stands for the tell-tale face that l
was in quest of visited the cab STABLES,
but could find nothing, not even a suspi-
cious glance, to give me encouragement.
By inquiry l learned that there was a
cab-driver, new man in the business,
who kept his horse and cab at his own
house on Liberty street. 1 was at this
point in twinkling, only to find, on my
arrival there, that the cab-man was out
| about town on his usual business. There
were fresh tracks leading to and from
the yard, but nothing that could be tor
tured even into the shadow of clue was
to be seen. Yet for some reason, which I
could not now explain, rather uncere-
moniously entered the house. Mrs
O'Donnel, the wife of the cab-man, lay
sick upon the bed. IcoOlly informed her
that was United States officer search
ing for concealed arms, and that desir-
ed to examine her premises. She had
no objection, not in the least, and was
welcome to all l could find in that line
While in one of the bed rooms of the
house, as it were by chance, placed my
hand on pair of pants, the wristbands
of which were still wet with perspira-
ton, as though they had been recently
removed from some person. l stepped
back into the room where the sick wo-
man lay, and inquired if there was more
than one man living in the house (she
having previously stated that her hus-
band had not been home since early
mornlng) She answered that her hus-
band was the only man about the house
After the most diligent search found
nothing except the pants to arouse the
slightest suspicion. About these pants
there was mystery. 1t was evident to
my mind that lie had been told. Now,
what was the purpose of this lie? Let
ms see.
at once sought the husband of Mrs.
O'Donnel, who | readily found in charge
of his cab on the levee. Stepping up to
him with all the assurance at my COM
mand, and looking him square in the
eyes, | charged him directly with the
crime. As my eyes met those of O'Don-
mel | knew my man. Nothing short
of positive proof to the contrary could
have cleared him of the charge, had l
been his judge. The story told py him
differed materially from the statement of
his wife. He said he had been home at
noon, fed his horse, cooked his own din
ner and changed his pants For this
change he could give no satisfactory rea-
son. He stoutly denied, however, carry
ing the paymaster at all. He swore by
all the saints in christendom that he was
innocent Of the crime | charged him
with. could not badger him hairs
breadth. The more | crowded him the
keener his denial.
Failing to find any substantial sub
stance for case, l relied upon the shad-
Ow of one, and locked O'Donnel up. The
paymaster could not positively identify
him. Pat had so far recovered himself
as TO convince all that he came in con-
tact with that had got the wroLg man.
| thought otherwise, and acted accord
ingly. No writ of ha6eaS corpus could
take him out of my custody. Gen. But
Ter held the power and backed me up
squarely- L firmly believed had got
the thief, and was determined to squeeze
the money out Of him. About dark on
the third day after O'Donnel's incarcera-
ton was standing in the corridor of the
station house, near the cell in which the
prisoner was confined. A person, as if by
accident, inquired of me "what was go
ing to be done with O'DonneIY
Gen Butler will bring him out at
ten O'Clock tomorrow. The order has
been issued" said l.
At that time the name of Gen Butler was
suggestive of ropes to the minds of rebels,
thugs and thieves and my seemingly
frank information no doubt caused
eli ul,f ficEIipn aIout tho rooL of Ta4