Louisiana capitolian., 1880-02-14
STORY OF CRIME.

A heavy burglary of silks was COM
mitted on Church street in the year
1856. The goods stolen we're valued
at seven thousand dollars The bur-
glars must have entered the Hace on
Saturday night and packed up the
goods during Sunday, as rtquited con-
siderable time to select the costliest
fabrics, as they had dones.n t.lis case.
Moreover, they displayed 4 pretty fair
knowledge of the different qualities of
silks, for number of oui, imitation
goods were thrown aside, although
thew looked as fine and costly as the
richest silks. (.
1t was supposed that there were
three or four of them, and, they must
have had some conveyance to take
the goods away, which co;la readily
be done in such a lonely: street as
Church street is at night, aud espe
cially on Il Saturday night.
There were no doors OF, shutters
forced, hence the rogues Faust have
used skeleton keys. The fipst intima-
ton the clerks had of the burglary
was fully half an hour atter:the store
had been opened, for all She goods
stolen were taken from tie second
floor.
As soon as the firm were informed
Of the burglary, they at once made an
investigation in order to ascertain the
extent of the robbery. They were
astounded at the amount Of goods re-
moved without being detected in the
act. But doubtless they were old
hands ut the business, amt had the
vicinity we'll guarded toprcventasur-
prise.
Varnoe was summoned to the spot
at once, and took IL careful survey OF
the scene of operations. He picked
up several articles, which evidently
belonged to the burglars, and put
them in his pocket forpossible future
Use for sometimes mere trltie has
been found to play u very important
part before IA Judge and jury.
Several half-smoked cigars lay
around the place. The rascals had
discovered a hidden box of Favanas he
longing to one of the sales nen in silk
department, and had made a very
liberal use of them. A TWISTED piece
Of paper. partly burned, lay on the
floor. Thinking it had bden used to
light cigar, the detectiv, picked il
up and found it was Il letter of recent
date, and, fortunately, the burnt part
was at the termination OF the letter
instead of the sides. in which case il
would have puzzled the detectives
considerably to grasp its entire mean
ing. 1t was written III u feminine
hand. and ran thus:
New York, Aliril 18th, 1856
Dear Jn,--I hope you will takt,, good care o
yurSclf in this hazardous undertaking IN tn
| CITY of brotherlv Love. For, bear in mind, il
YOU ara scragged" there you viii tind dttcu
matter 70 escape the penalty, as you have IRE
qucntjS done here, surrounded ny cohsi"cl"t'
| fripnN would like to see you before you g
! away. so please remain at No. l2I Blocker Stree
at seven this evening, and III introduce you tt
several
At this point the letter terminated
it having been consumed by the flame
But Varnoc carefully placed the fray'
ment in his notebook fol future re
ference, as it might aid h,m in track
ing at least one Of the burr glars, whose
Gristian name is "Jim."
This fragment of Il letter was the
only thing he foundin the place whicl
gave him clue to the burglars, ant
a very faint one it was 700. Yet ii
proved that the '.job" was that of
New York party.
When Varnoe informed the gentle
men composing the firm that he hat
found slight clue he did not men
ton q word about the letter he hat
found, as that would ha We put th'
rogues on their guard, if it came to b
published in the papers. 'He merel.
said he had clue to work upon, ant
it would oblige him to leave the cit,
for a day or two.
Next day he started for'New York
and put up at the Globe Hotel, corne
of Frankfort and William streets
This was on Saturday, and he at onc'
proceeded to Blocker street and toun'
two houses of the same number No
127.) One was q respectable looking
dwelling, and it appeared that mum
Der was a legitimate one-,correspon
ding with the rest of the numbers
But the other was evidently Il spuri
GUS number, as the house was full,
four blocks further away, rs its nun
Der was not in conformity to the ad
joining houses.
The house was occupied as chca
restaurant and drinking saloon, an
Varnoe at once concluded that it wa
the house where he would most likel
find "Jim" sometime or other, if h
kept his eyes about him.
He assumed the dress and genera
appearance Of a sporting nan, whe
he had noticed Oh previous visi
that such individuals generally resol
ted there. The host being one of tina
sort himself, and a buxom pr mai
also bore the stamp of a ''fast goman,
both in her features, dress aid con
versat!on. Asking could he .have
private sleeping apartment the pre-
prietor replied afirmatiyelN, the
asked him his name and profession.