The Grenada gazette., 1888-01-07
JEFF DAVIS ARREST.
The Curious Story Related by . Proni-
| nent Alabama Gentleman.

/ VeVC OAvtO Nnue0Is
rhs Curious Story Related by Promi.
| nent Alabama Gsntleman.
Jefferson Davis has had a good many
narrow escapes. but one Of them has
never been told in print, and tho chief
actor in the affair has never cared tt
talk about it. Somewhere along in
the fifties the MOBILES. an English fam.
lily residing in Pennsylvania, decided
TO move Southwark. They selected
Rome, Ga, as their objective point,
and started on their journey, after
making the necessary disposition Of
their goods.
The Mobiles had some family jewels.
and about "a. 900 In cash. How to carry
these valuables safely bothered them
not little. but they packed the money
and jewels in an old-fashioned English
hand chest, and took them along. The
travellers landed at Charleston and
took the next train for their destina-
ton. Some extra fare was demanded cd.
and in paying it they had to open theil
chest and expose their treasure. Sharp
eyes were on tho watch, and the gilt
ter of the contents of the chest attract
cd attention.
As matter of precaution the chest
was confded to Miss Mary Noble, who
sat in secluded section Of the car
with her back to the door, Al
Branchville, S. c., two gentlemen
boarded the train. One was a young.
wiry man, and the other was tall and
slender, past the meridian Of life and
Of distinguished appearance.
When Augusta was reached the two
strangers went on to Atlanta, and the
Mobiles discovered that their precious
chest was missing. The conductor
was clamorously appealed to, and he
instantly gave it as his opinion that
''the one.eyed man had stolen it"
He's bad-looking fellow" said
the conductor.
The chest had evidently been
snatched out of the rear window of
the car, as the suspected man took his
departure at a moment when Miss
Mobiles attention was fixed in some
other direction.
After consultation it was decided
that Mrs. and Miss Mary should pro-
ceed to Atlanta and cause the arres
Of the supposed thief, while Mr.. Noble
and the others remained in Augusta
awaiting, not very confidently, the re-
suit.
Mrs Noble succeeded in tracing the
two men to their stopping place in
Atlanta, and identified them as soon
as she saw them. At her request they
were arrested and carried to police
headquarters, where the asto nishing
discovery was made that the 'one-
eyed man. was President Pierce s
Secretary Of War; Jefferson Davis,
and his companion was his private
secretary.
Mr.. Davis was in q good humor,
and Of course the two gentlemen
were at once released with many apol-
ogies.
Before leaving, Mr. Davis told Mrs.
Noble and her daughter that he re-
GREETED their loss. and he rendered
them twenty dollar gold piece as
an evidence Of his sympathy. Mrs
Noble declined to accept the gift, but
Miss Mary spoke up and said:
"YeH take 1t. Thst Is some Of our
money that the old rascal tookr'
Mr.. Davis smiled and pressed the
money upon Mrs. Noble, who finally
took it and carried 1t to her husband
| in Augusta.
Suspicion was then directed to the
conductor. but his sudden death in the
course of a few days stopped further
investigation.
After the election Of Mr.. Davis to
the presidency Of the Southern Con-
fcderacy, Mr.. Noble, then a prosper
Gus contractor. visited him at Mont
gomcry and talked with him about
manufacturing common.
Mr. Davis asked him several ques-
tions, and then referred to the loss of
the chest. He introduced Mr.. Noble
to Mrs. Davis and told the story of the
arrest. Mrs. Davis laughed heartily
over the accident and with her hus-
band took quite an interest in the
Mobiles from that time.
Noble went to work and made hun.
dreds Of cannon for the Confedcracy.
Later he founded and built up the
flourishing city of Admission in Ala
bama. In tho midst of his prosperity
he is still devoted to the "one-eyed
man. who was once supposed to be
the author of his greatest misfortune.
L -A nuistOn (Al0.] Cor. NJ y Sun.