Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-30
about 500. 900, thus leaving $1,000 for


lengthy interview. At the conclusion OF
our discussion, he said:
at will he an interesting experiment,
and. so far as i can see, will do no
harm"
"You will meet me then at the City
Treasurer's Office at 3 7. NJ. 2" / asked
ON be there" he responded.
Punctually at the hour named | drove
up TO the City Hall in my carriage,
accompanied by the Mayor Of the city,
Mr.. Hall. the city attorney, and Judge
Alden. We entered the Office OF the
CITY Treasurer, where We found Professor
Franklin converting with a couple OF
the city councilmen aud Judge Alden's
successor, Mr.. Bond. After our mu-
tual SITUATIONS were over / SAID to the
Mayor "Will you have the goodness
sir. to permit the city's fre-proof safe TO
be opened p ;.
At sign from bis Honor the Acting
Treasurer swung open the doors oil the
huge safe.
Nov" said I, "open all the draw
ers and expose to view all the city. s
money you inay have in the safe at this
time"
This was quickly dope by the Acting
Treasurer. who murmured:
"rhis is ell the funds we have here NJ
present. OF course there IS more on
deposit in the First National Bank.
You are quite sure that you have
opened all the drawers in the safe and
displayed TO view all the money You have
in that safe belonging to the city? l
inquired.
Certainly, sir was Bonds reply.
"Hsve you any objections toremoYlng
it entirely p
"Not particle, if the Mayor has no
objection. And at a sign from the
Mayor the money was removed" every
cent of it, as the Acting Treasurer de-
clared. ,
All this. as may well be imagined, had
wrought considerable excitement IN
judge Alden. the defaulter, and OBJ
served Professor Franklin endeayoring
10 soothe him, but without avail. sud
denly, with piercing gaze into Alden q
eve, he made few rapid passes, and IN
an authoritative tone said : "COme, sir,
be calm.
In an instant O placid expression OF
peace and quiet submission rested upon
that countensnce which for weeks had
manifested mental torture.
Alden was completely under Franklin's
control, held by the mighty power OF a
superior will.
The entire company were now gazing
upon the episode in amaZement
"You are reinststed in the Office OF
CITY Treasurer" at these words from
Franklin the face Of Alden shone with
smile-"and we desire You to show us
the secret compartments of this safe IN
which YOU usually kept the bulk OF your
funds when treasurer.
To the great surprise of all Judge Al
den stepped to the safe and touched a
etens spring by which he was enabled TO
pull out one OF the drawers to double It's
apparent length. The back compart-
ments of that drawer, the existence of
which was unknown to all the other OIL
cials present, were packed full OF Urea
sury notes and national bank bills. The
money was neatly done up III packages.
on the labels of which the amount OF
money in each package was written IN
Alden S handwriting.
"Hands of, gentlemen !" l exclaim-
ed. This is the purpose for which |
have brought you here. Mr.. Attorney,
added. " wish You to bear testimony
to this remarkable find, for it establishes
the innocence Of Judge Alden most as
suredly."
LET the money be counted" replied
the City Attorney.
But this was hardly necessary as above
the money in one compartment was
written statement, "$l5,0O0-Louis
Alden, and in the other a similar state
ment, ga, Alden. which was
soon verified.
As from dream the hypnotized mar
walked up, when Professor Franklin said
Arouse, sir, with full possession Of
your mental powers and let me con
graduate you on the removal OF a base
but unfounded stigma from your name
and reputation" "
Gazing around with O dignity and
4 HIAtlOuS Etil- ilDo"tebAOH bA4aS 0NAO - N'
regal, Judge Alden exclaimed:
Gentlemen, this is happy hour 70
| me. For months I've been wandering
in hideous nightmare. i remombe
distinctly now, the day ] received tn
most of this money all of which | care
fully counted, labelled, and deposited i
this safe. On my way home that YER
! - Iaaa villain gtr11pE
less with sand-bag, which, as yo
know, leaves no bruise. My watch an
what money had on my person wer
taken but no doubt therobber expecte
toobtsin some or all ofthat very money
The blow received seems to have dt
stroyed all memory OF the disposition
made of the money. L knew L had re
ceived it, but was utterly unable to rC
member what had become OF 1t. NJ
raculously as it seems, my memory
restored.
Here Van Leonard made paus
which interrupted by asking:
"But how came you TO know OF thu
secret drawer ?"
"Wen, SIR" he replied, Gin med
| t.lluk ONiI HuNlA n OIL nhAoA NH'N -
! happened to remember seeing Aide
open that secret compartment TO obtai
change for a 800 bill when was payir
taxes one day, and like flash 1t o
, cured to me that the mystery OF Alden
deialcation might DO solved and &
cloud over his good name be remove
y 1 revealed my suspicious to Profess
9 Franklin, whose hypnotic powers
deemed essential to the full consumm
o tion Of nv scheme. The plan was ca
: ried cut successfully, and both Alden
4 sanity and reputation were restored.
. and what became OF him ~
= CHS innocence WAS publicly declare
: and as full restitution as possible VI
= made him. As it turned out, be had
= his credit s., coo more than hls indebte
q ness"
3 40 the great Joy of his bondFmen
n wager ?"
Undoubtedly. Well, he took Fran
= lin with him and with his family set 9
- on summer tour for mental and ply
! cal recuperatiou. He is dead now.
4" "And your candid opinion OF t
\ whole matter is"
y. ....,. N -, 80 c,rr,,,1o- ,.eo -