The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-01
He Ranentad

A certain clerk in certain store in
this city is very peculiar young
man, at least when viewed in the
light OF his past conduct. For
some time he has been in
the employ of one of the
Leading merchants of this city, doing
business on Pecan street. About four
months ago he came to the conclusion
he was not getting wealthy fast
enough, and a strong desire took pos
session of him to increase his worldly
possessions more speedily than his
limited salary would admit. He saw
men about him making more money
in an hour than he was making in a
month, and this made him dissatisfied
with his lot. His employer was TAX
ing several thousands of dollars every
day and he thought TINT he would not
miss a small sum from that large
amount. He carefully considered the
subject, and after mature reflection he
came to the firm conviction that he
might abstract small sum and not
be detected in his work. His desire to
get rich overCame his good princi-
Piles, and one night he took from the
money drawer $780, lie anxiously,
nervously waited for the day to come
to a close, fearing In It the money
would be missed and his guilt brought
to light. 1t was a day of fearful anX-
iety and suspense for him, but it was
over at last, and his employer did not
miss the money, and it was his and
none were the wiser for his taking it.
Now that he had it in his possession,
he did not know what to do with it.
He was afraid to use it for fear it
would be detected, and what to do he
did not know. He kept it four
months, and they were four months
of agony to the young man. He was
in constant fear all the time that his
crime would in some way come to
light, and the walls of the peniten-
tiary seemed to be constant
ly opening to receive him. His
friends would notice him start
in alright and that he was growing
exceedingly nervous. Day before yes
terday he fully made up his mind to
return the money to his employer,
but he did not have the courage to go
to him and tell him what he had done.
His pride would not permit him to
do that. What could he do? He GER
tainly hit upon novel plan. He
went to a notion store on the avenue
and bought pocket-book and put the
money into it; then he dropped the
pocket-boek and money in the mud
and took it to his employer, telling
him he had found it. His anxiety to
have his employer keep the money
and his objections to advertising for
the owner, together with statements
that he did not think the owner could
be found, created suspicious on the
part of his employer that something
; was wrong, and SO he started
out to unravel the mys-
terry. The merchant noted the
fact that the pocket-book was a
brand-new one and he concluded If he
could find who had purchased such q
pocket-book within a few days, he
might discover whom the money had
been stolen from, for he suspected
his clerk had stolen the pocket-book
and money from some one. He went
. from one store to the other, looking
at pocket-booKs until he found some
Just like the one containing the
/. money. To his surprise he found that
: the clerk had purchased one like it
the day before-so the man with
whom he was dealing said. The mys'
terry began to deepen. He went tc
the guilty clerk and told him what ht
) had found out and demanded the
truth. The poor clerk broke complete
ly down and confessed all as narrated
herein and begged for mercy. The
merchant promised not to prosecute
him considering the fact Of his repen.
! lance, but as punishn1ent discharged
him from his employment. Believing
! theI young man will never be guilty
of another crime, we have withheld
the names of all the parties, for II
published, the affair would create