The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-04-30

and the notaries became still more mys-
tilted than the police had been. The
best members of the detectives service,
men of long experience in tracking
criminals, were finally directed 70 give
their entire attention to the matter and
ascertained at last that the stolen i'm
pressions were always from the seal OF
some notary newly commissioned, or who
had been acting but a short time, and
this clue eventually led to the discovery
of how the fraud was perpetrated
HOW IT WAS DOME
Pettis had complete list of all the
die sinkers and engravers in New York,
Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Chica-
go, St. Louis and other metropolitan
centers. When he had u number of sto-
len registered bonds TO which he desired
to aflix a notarial seal, he visited the
shop of some one of these artisans, in
quired as to the cost of IL notarial seal,
and requested to look at sample of the
artisans work If the latter had no seal
on hand already completed, Pettis usu-
ally left, saying he would call again. If
on the other hand the artisan had a seal
completed, Pettis would appear much
pleased with the work, and leave an or
der, voluntarily dcpositing ten dollars in
advance, as an evidence of good faith,
and arranging to call and pay the bal
ance at Il certain time, when the seal
should be finished.
This usually impressed the artisan
with good idea of his customer Then
Pettis would propose TO pay for ii pitch.
or of beer if the artisan would go for it.
This being agreed 10 the innocent
workman would start out for the beer,
and during his absence Pettis, with the
dexterity and GOODNESS of nerve for which
he was ever remarkable, hastily drew
the stolen bonds from his pocket, stamp
ed them with the new seal which he had
just inspected; and when the artisan re
turned would be quietly smoking cigar
a glass of beer and pleasant good by
terminated the interview.
Upon bonds thus stamped Petit.
would defer writing in the forged trans
fers until he mad ascertained by the lie
gal record that the notary named hac
become established and in full practice
The date and signature were easy mat
tiers TO Pettis. In initiative penmanshiI
he was the most expert man known Il
the detective profession. It is needles.
to say that he never returned TO the arti
san (who found himself with worth
less seal on his bonds) but in place there
of sent a twenty or fifty dollar note en-
closed in blank letter, the sum varyin:
in proportion with the benefits derived
1t was principle with Pettis not t.
rob n poor person. He was, in fact,
man of charitable impulses, and anon!
other good deeds that may be placed Il
his credit was the purchase of an elegan
residence in New York city, which Ii
presented 10 his mother, to whom he a
ways seemed to be much attached. 4
time went on, however, and money acct
mulated III his hands, ne yielded to til
destinations Of women and the galnin
table, and these depleted his purse fas
er than he could replenish it, until hi
ill-gotten gains had entirely slippe
away.
Wearied at last with constant roun
of dissipation, somewhat broken i
health, and with mind INTO which tn
: pangs of remorse would occasionally oil
trudc, Pettis awoke suddenly to
REVELATION OF LOVE
that brought to his life the only Gimp:
; of real happiness he had ever enjOye,
and that almost reclaimed him. At tn
time Pettis, although somewhat broke
in health, was still handsome an
noble looking man. He had strongl
marked countenance, but his featur,
were regular, nearly classic; his for
head was high and broad, and ampl
: shaded by the curling hair of dan
brown that fell partially over it; h
: eyes were large and full, dreamy in e
preston and of grayish blue, and Il
contour of his figure more than usual
symmetrical.
MRS. PETTIs, THE FoRGERs WIFE,
|
1 in the earliest days of her marrias
J, with her hayward husband, was Il
: possessor of that rare combination
q beauty and amiability which is Occasio
' ally met with in the sex, and the inf
ence of which went straight 10 the hea
; of a man possessed of romantic tul
D of mind, as was the subject Of til
e sketch, and it is not to be wondered
/ that he yielded to the gentle and irr
g sistible influence. They were indeed
y handsome couple. She was rather tai
but
d A VERY sHAPEI.Y AND STYLISH wodA
II the virtuous daughter of parents in ii
g middle walks of life, and possessing
L refinement of taste far above her statiu
a and when the marriage bells rang o.
e and she was led To the altar she was
innocent of any knowledge that the ms
a 10 whom she had plighted her troth hs
), ever been criminal as an unborn bah
r The peculiar circumstances attendir
r this marriage may never be reveale
l. The writer OF this was among the fe
who were present and will not readi
K forget the face of that beautiful woma
# radiant with the unspeakable Joy of OIL
a who had rescued the object OF an ALA
e sorbing love from course of sin; n,
d win he forget the tears that bedimm.
n the splendid eyes of the bride as eae
# one wished the bridegroom success
e that new course of life which, for d
# sake of the dear one at his side, he h;
i promised to follow: nor can he ad
Y quately dciineate how profoundly
e was shocked when the subsequent &C
a of PetIis made it imperative for the Ia
n officer to go down upon his track aga
l. and bring him 10 the bar of public ju
e tice. But he was no longer an object
, sympathy then, save to one, and the Ia
], was permitted to take its course, but
d that one he was still precious. II
n years of
L coNsTAScY or THE DEVOTED woMA
a and the faithiulness with which she a
o hered to bis fortunes under all circul
stances, can never be effaced from Il
memory. Even when she knew he "
II u criminal; when the evidences of b
\ crime were so positive that the eye
r love had to close or be convinced. s.
adhered 10 him, lebored and suffered /