The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-03-28

"His jnsnlence aroused my re and !
had him arrested on suspicion. A po-
liceman took him away and next dav ]
appeared against him. The pocket,book
was not found on his pers IN at the time
of his arrest, and as ! could not swear
that he was the thief he was acquitted
The magistrate said that nothing wrong
had been proven against him, and his
name had never been on the magis-
trate's docket, or he might have been re-
manded as suspicious character. To
fact, he was stranger in town, which
was proved to the magistrates entire sat-
isfsction.
"Since that occurrence" continued
Boncliffe, 81 have met this man on the
street on several occasions ard he always
greets me with mocking bow and q
sneer. l believe he is the fellow who
robbed me, and the money not being
found on his person I can explsin only
10 one way He had confederate with
him to whom be doubtless passed it the
moment be had distracted it.
"Now, being impressed with this be-
lief, haven't the least doabt he is reg
ulsr member of the swell mob,' and in.
tends to ply his trade in town. / want
you to see him. I will point him out to
you; know his htunts. This disguise
I have adopted 80 that be would not
know me il we should meet After you
have seen him I want you to watch his
movements, and il yon catch him at his
tricks | shall consider myself your
debtor to any reasonable amount you
may name. Is it a go2'
"It is," said. II shall willingly do
this for your sake and for the benefit OF
society"
We met the man and Boncliff. pointed
him out to me. He was about twenty
seven years of aye, intellectual in sp-
pearsnce and strikingly handsome, With
q profuson of glossy black and curly
hair, and dark, melancholy eyes.
l thought to myself it would be di:-
6cult matter to adjudge him criminal
bv his personal appearance, for that bore
the impress Of refined gentleman.
I loitered in the vicinity next dav sn1
again saw him. Before noon had man
aged to learn his name-Alfred Rtpine
and ascertained that he lodged at a
highly respectable place.
l doeged his footsteps for several
hours in the afternoon anil never saw
him sccosing any one or heing accos'-
ell; hence | concluded that he was in
deed stranger in Manchester.
He followed no bpsrent business and
dressed like gentleman, and conciu.
ded that he was either man of means
or truly one of the swell mob as nv
friend Boncliff. had observed.
That evening / foll"wed him to a tap
room where the mill hands resorted after
their evening meals. He drank his ale
qnietly, aud while slipping 1t glanced
over paper he had taken from his
pocket
But ] could see that his mind was not
on the paper. He was cnvertly watch
icg every one that came to the bar to
drink, and his eyes would rest esgerly
on the wallets Of the men as they paid
their score, and he always watched them
after they replaced their wallets or purses
as il noting their location for purpose
I at once pronounced him "light-
fingered gentleman" and watched his
every movement thenceforth.
Although be mixed freely with the
men in the bar.room and In the sdjoin
ing apartment, where seats were provi.
ded for the patrons of the house, | did
not perceive single suspicious move
ment on his part. Suddenly some ore
cried out:
''1've been rohbed!'
A great commotion ensued. The
landlord, under my instructions, at once
locked the front door and put The key in
his pocket, unperceived by any one, and
secured the only door in the rear in
the same manner.
By making inquiries | learned that q
man had bis packet picked, and had al
ready pitched upon the suppose rogue.
one of his own kind, as | judged, by his
appearance and dress.
But on investigation it proved that nc
one in the house knew the man, though
be represented h,mself as a spinner in
one of the mills, and wore the ordinary
clothes of mill hand.
The stranger was searched. hut the
money was not found on him. The VIC
tim looked surprised, hut stoutly declar-
ed that the fellow had been quite near
him when he was robbed. and no one
else could have done it.
"Let every one be searched" said the
landlord coming into their midst. "The
innocent need not fear. 1t is only the
guilty who will object to this"
There was almost unanimous response
10 favor OF this measure, aud the novel
process began, the landlord being named
as the proper person to perform the ex-
animation.
II suppose I can leave, since I have
already been searched" asked the sus.
pected man.
"You shall remain to witness the ex-
posure of the thief" was The gruff re-
ply
The man looked disappointed and
walked away, grunbling to himself in
an undertonp.
Hs came up to the man | still had nv
eye on Alfred Rspine. and that person
remarked smiiingly:
"We must all submit to be searched,
see. There is no remedy for it,"
$50 it appears" rejoined the other,
and then they stood and Witnessed the
unique operation in process.
Presently | noticed some suspicious
movements on their part, and kept q
keen eye on them saw their 6lgers
moving in a rapid manner, aud knew a.
once they were conversing in the mute
language language that understood
perfectly land the whole transaction was
a. once revealed to me.
This seeming mill-hand and R4pine
were coniedera'es. The former bad
robbed the man and Immediately trans.
ferrea the proceeds of that robbery tc
Rspine, who now bad it in his posses
sion.
The conversation vas OF the feast
bility Of the mill.hand taking the "dum
mics" Wallets back again, since he hat
already been searched, and il was no
likely that the process would be repeat
ed.
| They decided on this, and in YER