Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-25
HONESTY AND MEMORY.
IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE MAN
WAS GUILTY OF A CRIME.

VIM
A Case which shows That Circunstantial
Evidence IL Not Always Conclusive
Proof of Guilt--A Woman Makes Up In
Forbearance Her Loss of Memory.
Two weeks ago family of two per.
sOns-husband and wife--rented a small
apartment up town and proceeded to
furnish it. The carpets were supplied
and laid by reputable house. Some
thing about one Of them was unsatisfac-
tory, and man was sent to investigate.
The wife-Mrs. L.-was on her way out
Of the building to post letter when she
encountered him. Recognizing him, she
said: Here is the key; will be back in
five minutes. Coup and see what can
be done"
No sooner had she got on the street
when she thought suddenly of a roll Of
bills, nearly 500, which she had care
lessly left in glove box on her dressing
table. There was nobody in the apart
ment, as no servant had yet been en-
gagged, and she was tempted to return at
once to look after the money. "But
surely" she thought, ''that man is hon
est; Ineed have no fear," and she hur-
ried on.
In less than ten minutes she was back,
and met the carpet man just outside her
door. He stopped and spoke with her
concerning the troublesome carpet, and
promised a speedy remedy. They sepa-
rated and she entered her apartment
Almost mechanically she went to her
dressing table and raised the lid of the
glove box. The money was not there
DAMAGING EVIDENCE.
Without delaying an instant she hur-
ried into the. hall and down the stairs.
overtaking The carpet man as he had
reached the street.
"Will you come back a moment,
please" she said.
He did SO at once. When they were
again in the apartment she faced him.
"A curious thing has happened. When
] went out this morningI left roll Of
bills $90-in that box over there. It is
gone now"
The man did not seem to understand
for moment. WELL" he said unmean-
ingly.
''Well," repeated Mrs. L., "there was
nobody in the apartment but
The man interrupted her. "God,
madam" he said earnestly as the signifi-
canoe OF her words dawned upon him,
''you don't think took your money! q
II don't know what to think" replied
Mrs. L.; ''the money was there and now
it isn't"
But I'm an honest man." he went on.
"Pve got little girl. Do you think I'd
steal? Why, I've been eight years with
So-and-so. They know my character.
Look around for your money. Perhaps
your husband took it."
"That is possible, said Mrs. L. "Will
you come with me to his Office and find
out?" u
He acquiesced and the journey down
town was made. Mr.. L. had not taken
the money. The man was greatly dis
turbed.
"You can search me, " he said. "There's
my own money" producing a small wad,
cleft from my last weeks wages. !
haven't another cent about me-" And
he turned his pockets inside out.
Mr.. L. was impressed with the mans
appearance and earnestness. Mrs. L.
was puzzled and her money was gone.
A CASE OF POOR MEMORY.
However, nothing further was done at
the time, and the man went back to his
work asking only that he and not they
report the occurrence at the carpet deal
er's shop. Mrs. L. went home and ran
sacked drawers and boxes, moved fur
niture, and opened trunks in a vain
search for the money. Several days
passed, when, on going to an upper
shelf in wardrobe. Mrs. LIS attention
was attracted to towel pinned in roll
What was that? she wondered. She took
1t down and opened it. Inside was a
wallet, and in tho wallet the
missing bills.
And they had been put there by Mrs.
L. herself. She recalled, on seeing them,
that the night before the man came she
had thought, just before going to bed,
that it was careless, with so many per-
sons coming and going in the course of
the settling process, to leave money loose
in box on the table. and she had elabo-
rately thought out this hiding place.
Then she had slept, and by morning had
lost all recollection of what she had done.
It was late Saturday afternoon when
she found the money, and storming, but
It must be related to Mrs. LIS credit
that she did what she could. She sent
dispatch to the man in care Of his firm
stating that the money was found. On
Monday she went to the shop and ex-
planned the matter to the superintendent,
asking that the man be asked to come
TO see her. Ho did SO and received an
apology for the imputation on his honesty.
Then Mrs. L. tried to reimburse him
for his Gloss of times" this he would not
permit. The money was found-that
was all he wanted. So it all ended hap
PLY. But the story may be taken as
forcibly illustrating the uncertain value
Of two things-a woman's memory and
evidence. Her Point Of
View in New York Times.
STRANGE SOUTHERN BIRDS.