The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-01

SeVeIul WlEutd3bb bnu lLo Coubouko ~
peatedIy counted by members OF his
family and guests.
Among the papers in my possession
was the empty money.packagee envelope.
The express company's reports made IL
quite clear that it had been improperly
opened. Without these, the three seals
themselves showed this. II was known
that the agent at Carrollton had dis
patched the package under the COM
pany's seals. The seals now showing
upon the empty envelope. which were
the same as those upon it when It was
received at Converly Pines, were little
hillocka OF wax. apparently daubed over
the original seals. and stamped with
something, the impress OF which dehed
explanation.
1t might have been the metal butt Of
q whipstock, the tip OF broken handle,
bit Of carved wooden ornament, an
overcoat button, the end OF a sword hilt.
largo sleeve button. or any one oil
countless articles OF use or ornament
which, through accident or design,
might have been at hand when the
robbery OF the package was committed.
Curiously enough, the envelope itself
seemed in perfect condition.
The paper fibre was uniform, show.
ing that, alter the seals were broken, the
package could not have been opened by
steatning or other process OF moisten-
ing. l peered inside the envelope
countless times, but without hint or
suggestion upon the mystery. Even
when my journey was almost done. !
had not yet been able to light upon a
theory for presentation to the express
company's superintendent.
In this mental frame OF anxiety and
disquietude and with the distracting
envelope lying upon my knee, it occur
red to me to lay 1t open to the light.
With my pen.kniie slit the top and re-
naming end edge. The two inner sides
were thus fully opened to view, and the
manner OF the robbery was clearly and
instantly exposed.
1t was most adroit instance OF what
is known in criminal parlance as weed
ing" money package.
The wax had been removed from the
two approaching edges OF the centre
seals aud one OF the end seals for the
distance OF a trife more than the fourth
Of an inch. Then the package had been
swiftly crinkled back and forth in the
hands until the dry mucilage beneath
the edge Of the envelope flap had been
cracked and pulverized and its adhesive
quality destroyed.
The thief had now made two delicate
missions in the edge of the envelope
flap; one close to the crisp edge OF each
broken seal. This done, 1t was but an
instants work to turn back over upon
the envelope, the entire distance be-
tween the missions. half.inch Of the
flap, press 1t gently into fold. and with
sharp knife-pointm make a straight in
,cision, nearly four inches in length
from seal to seal, in that portion OF the
envelope coming under the edge OF the
flap; when any portion OF tho con-
tents could be distracted leisurely;
after which the flap had been gummed,
turned back to its place and resealed, as
already described.
Hero then was complete revelation
OF the method OF robbery.
"What would you suggestr asked
Superintendent Willis, after l had
shown him my discovery.
"rhat every Office where the package
laid over in transit for even ten minutes
be thoroughly overhauled and every
messenger, cashier and agent who are
known to have handled the package be
Immediately run out.
The latter expression lie detective
term implying a careful investigation
into the habits, mode OF living, and
character OF associates, OF every person
liable, from the nature OF things, to
come under suspicion in an affair OF this
nature.
at is already three weeks since the
robbery occurred. More time will be
lost in getting other men here. viii
you go on and make thorough inyes-
tigation?"
Eyes; but not as q Dingleton detec-
tive. II you will give me full and com:
plete authority as special agent OF
your company, will do what can at
once"
This was Immediately furnished; and
after wiring Mr.. Dingleton information
as to the turn affairs had taken and Sc.
curing his hearty approval, l was soon
speeding out Of Memphis toward the
dingy little hamlet OF Carrollton.
Here it required but few hours TO
ascertain that the consignor of the
money had forwarded the sum as the
final payment on large plantation be
had purchased; that the amount had
been brought to the agent, who was a
general storekeeper in the village, by
the cousignor; and that the latter had
remained in his company from the time
the package had been sealed until 1t
had been delivered ut the station into
the hands OF the express messenger Of
the uorth-bound train.
As good fortune would have it, that
very messenger was on the "up.run,"
and | boarded his car and rode with
him to Corinth, studying carefully his
methods OF work and disabusIng his
mind Of any notion that suspicion had
fallen upon him, for this is one OF the
foremost duties OF a detective, even
where suspicion is most strongly d.
rected, while ever alert for any possible
object which might have been used In
stamping the false seals.
At Corinth found that the package
had been checked out to the local agent
and checked back again to the mossen.
ger OF another railway, over which 1t
was conveyed to Chattanooga.
Nothing to excite suspicion occurred
until Chattanooga was reached. Here
l learned that the money package had
laid over one hour and twenty minutes
in the hands OF the office cashier; that
in this time tho cashier had left his
Office for dinner; aud that this man
had, Gince the robbery, been married In
rather an extravagant manner, and had
Immediately thereafter requested trans
fer to an inferior position in distant
Georgia town. on the plea Of desiring to