Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-02-24
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CirculnStantial Evidence,


The following is true and romantic story of
| 40 old and worthy ctizsn Of Missouri. and who
WAS widely known throughout the State. in
| former times:
Fifty years ago one DR.. Morris was p1stmas-
ter 10 the mountain sowu OF ChrlsuaDsburg,
Southwestern Virginia, where the writer here
| of was born; Webster H H3ustoD, a youth, was
his deputy, and he was 80 iutellig ,nt sud faith
tul that he was entrusted with almost the sole
management of the Office.
This towu WAS on the stage road from Rich
mond to North Carolina, al not far trym The
border, NeWburD, thirteen lilies south ut it,
Was the next post toWo on the route. As the
mail had been trtq1enly robbed somewhere
be,ween Richmond aud Raleigh, the Depart.
ment at Washington sent out dett ctive to dis.
c,vcr the thief He went to Raleigh, got some
bank bills mostly of the B,nk of North Caro-
lioa, marked then, put them 10 lstter directed
to hiuselt az Richmond, and started northward
10 the same stage coach with the letter. There
we're no envelopes or mucIlsge in those old
dsys. Letters were always written ou large
double sheets; then folded and sealed With
Wsfer uDder toe outer Leaf. Tie wafer was
aDou; the zs OF uicke.
Each State hsd it's own bank and the paper
money OF each State was at discount ip every
other Stn'e. After passing each post Office on
bis way \ nth. the detecllve stopped the cJsc1,
showed LIS authority, opened the mail bsg and
examined he letter TO See If it had been opeu-
ed Alter leaving Newbutn the detective took
out tue letter AID found 1t, as he supposed. a
right. AS soon as The coach WIS tai;ly out of
ChTlslsOsburg he again examined the letter
ard T. luld 1t hsd been opened and oil the money
was Roue. Young Hcus'on alone opened the
mail, and stuoe leaving N-w5urn he alone had
ACCESS to the mail bag and the letter. Guild
soy case be clearer2
Was 1t roC a rule OF law that circumstances
do noG lie? Ycuny Houston Was We'll kuoRn to
the whole town and universally beloved. The
detective rel nod and arrested him. The
news s1oo spread. end the honest ciiizsus epou
tsneous'y ass mbed al the posi.rfEc,. They
lDslsted on bis inuocauoe. but tie offistrj
laughed at their creduluy. Bot the people
cou not aud woud not believe him gully.
A!:eE 'rest deal OF talk they 6aally engaged
"drnver," that is, d .aler 10 cstll, (which
we're driven 10 large numbers to Richmond and
The North, TO put On the clothes, saddlebGps,
&C., whioh he usually Travelled 10, AID TO lake
tie back track iu the iorlorn hope of fndlog
out the real culprlt, aad s,v ng tie uofor uoate
you W lose doom Wss otherwls, sealed beyond
question:.
Now it so happ ned that the postmaster at
Ne"6uru kept the ony tsvern iu the ltlle vii
!age. The 'drover" got ,h-re about dark.
Alter supper ne went 10 the postmaster land
lord, and after stating that he was 90 his return
trip and had suld his cattle io Riahmopd FIR
Virginia mopfy, and, ss be was going 10 North
Csrona where it was at q dlscouot, be would
Ike TO exchange ii for North Csrolin, money.
The exchange vas made. tho uarked bills
being anVng the other back notes, and Hous.
toe Was saved. The detective had 20, * .mio-
ed the letter as c 0sey as he should have done
| after leaving NeWburo. nrd the shaking of the
stage over the. bad mcuntain roads had opened
the moistentd Wsfcr before the Text ex,mins-
ton beyond Chris iansburg.
The shreWd officer, and even tie msxim of
law that oIcums sbces do not lie, were wrong,
| AID the honest villagers were rishg
Webster Houston. iestead of going to the
Penleo tiary, came to Missouri, settled in Troy,
Lincoln county, was eeottd State Register of
Lsnds, aud after lesdug ussful and honorable
lite, died grestlr ostremsd by tie people of this
State.-N 7 Neus