Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-08-12
The Stnrp Teller.
THE WOUNDED HAND.

On the 22nd of May, 1875, stood in our
office, behind my desk, when our chief en-.
tered the room with letter in his hand,
and addressed me with an invitation to un.
dertake the unravelng Of mystery which
had bsffied the local police of T -. con.
sented, and departed for the scene of the
crime which had been committed, much
limited, however, as to the time l was al
lowed for spending on the case.
Two hundred and fifty thousand marks
had been stolen from the widow of a we'll
connected man named Friedow. Her villa
stood outside the gates of small town, and
the lost property consisted chiefly of cou'
pons and such value together with little
coin. Her habit was to keep all papers of
Importance, as we'll as money, in chest OF
drawers beside her bed. Her sleeping room
was situated on the frst-foor, and had but
one window, which looked out upon the
yard. Her confidential friends had often
advised Frau Friedow to keep her gold, at
least, in some safer place, but she had always
resisted such counsel, and had no faith in
banks or bankers. AS to the safe, she had
averred that if robbers ever did modest her,
unless her trusty dog and her faithful Fred
erick, who was her factotum and the only
male person upon her little property, could
not protect her, an iron box would avail little
beyond, perhaps, delaying the thieves in lay.
ing hold of what they wanted.
. On the night of the 7th of May the poor
lady was suddenly awakened about twelve
o'clock. Her room was Illuminated. Be-
fore her bed stood small, thin man, with a
lantern in his left hand, a hatchet in his right
In. rough, disguised voice he threaten ed
to knock out her brains if she so much as
ventured to utter sound. The unfortu-
nate Frau was already voiceless from alarm
This speech could scarcely make her more
quiet, but she could use her eyes, and did so
for the next few seconds while her visitor re.
manned with her.
She saw that the speaker wore black hose,
men were busy in the background, breaking
open her chest of drawers. In the fatherest
back division, covered over by stockings
yarn and flax, lay round tin case, in
which she kept her movable treasures. She
was Just recovering herself sufficiently tc
begin to think about risking her life by call
ing for help, when the smothered yelling Of 9
dog was heard without The thieves had
found what they wanted, however, and sprang
with it to the window, one sash of which was
open. They threw themselves on ladder
without and descended to the ground, while
the third man still kept guard beside the bed
Frau cried "Help, help" with all he1
might.
"You may scream as long as you like now,
he muttered, turning away and following th'
others from the room
Frederick appeared at this instant, having
been awakened by the noise. He found tn
ladder still in its place, and below, was jus
in time to save the life of the house-dog
which had been almost choked by core
twisted round his neck fastening him in hi
kennel. The man-servant reused up th'
neighbors, but all pursuit, then or later, BY
friends privately or by police publicly, hae
been in vain. Not the least clue had hlther
to been obtained as to the identity of th
breakers.
This was how the matter stood when | ar
rived at T.. When had privately com
municated with the magistrates. my secont
visit was naturally paid to Frau Friedow:
sought everywhere for any special indication
which might put me on the right track, bu
what found was desperately little. Lik
those who had gone before me, l concluded
that the robbery had, at any rate, been &C
complished by persons we'll acquainted Will