New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-06
STRANGE CASE OF REMORSE.
CONSCIENCE TAKES EFFECT AFTER
FOURTEEN YEARS.
A PocKETBooK. WITH MONEY. SENT TO A
HoTELKEEPER IN WHOSE HOUSE 1T WAS
LOST OR STOLEN IN Iss2-THE

HOTELKEEPER IN WHOSE HOUSE 1T WAS
LOST OR STOLEN IN Iss2-THE
OWNER TRACED.
A strange case of a disturbed conscience and
restitution Of property after many years has just
been encountered by Warren F. Leland. propri-
etor of the Windsor Hotel. Mr.. Leland at one
time conducted the Leland Hotel In Chicago, but
he disposed of his business there just before the
Worlds Fair. Last spring he secured control or
the Windsor Hotel few weeks ago Mr. Le-
land received a letter with postmark showing
that 1t came from Chicago, accompanied by
package inclosing pocketbook. The missive
read as follows:
mr. Warren Leland I cend you A pocket boock
wehich found In your hotelle in 1882 hid 1t away
and could not find 1t until lately don't know
who conceed It had rether not say any thing
The pocketbook was one such as a professional
man would carry. and besides go In money II
contained few papers that gave no ciew 10 the
identity Of the owner. aid two visiting carus'
One card was that of H. Dumont wagner me-
cbanica! engineer Of Philadelphia. The other
was that Of Dr. L. X Baldwin. of Philadelphia.
Mr. Leland wrote to both for information ABOUT
the pocketbook The first reply he received was
10 the letter he had written to DR.. Baldwin. IL
read:
Warren +. Leland. D.. nv T.
Raldvin has been opened by the writer as Dr
Baldwin has been dead for nearly three years: ne
Mae IN but to the best OF M knowledge he did not
lose pocketbook. Neither my mother nor myseil II
ali probability MI Wagner i gentemahn' an. that hat my =,
father met either in Our hotel or on n,s MAY that
we can give you. l would ask that you kindly i al
you If it is in my power Yours l. very E. yBAIBw1N aT'E
The next letter came from Mr. Wagner. 1t
was as follows
Dear Sir: Your favor Of the 25th inst, came duly
to to, hq" and in g at Pss ss eand 10 House
engaged In business with the Goodwin Gas stove
in % the CITY lost pockctbook, but cannot recall
its contents nor do know where It was ost, Inc
book II mine. would In all probability nave eltner
my business card or my visiting card IN IT, I Or
papers relating to the business or levers a o
spruce-st Philadelphia After this lapse Of time
II Is difficult to remember the facts connecten Win
Gf no accessible at present, but il You find any
cew from the above statement leading You to sup ,
would forward the book to me in care Of r. s. p
Jones, Collingwood; ~ j.. where ! am staying AZ
inc present ''''e' io0'' II. iDTMoNT WAGNER
Mr. Leland was convinced that the pocket
book was the property OF Mr.. Wagner. and sent
II 10 him. Yesterday he received the acknowl-
edgment follows:
Warren F. Leland. Esq.
Ny Dear Sir: beg leave to acknowleddge with with
thanks the receipt OF your favor OF the 3Oth con-
tanning pocketbook and SIS and herewith incosc
the servants letter and envelope as you request.
The incident is certainly most remarkable one
and inexplicable in all rcspects-that my book and
money should be returned to me after so many
years 1t leads one to believe In the ultimate hon
esty OF human nature; and In your action In the
matter cannot express my appreciation OF your
Kindness and the trouble you have taken | GER
tainly will cali al the Windsor when In New fork,
'''D II. DUMONT WAGNER.
Mr. Leland now has with him a number OF
employees who were with him in Chicago at the
time of the theft. He always retains his en-
ployes as long as they will remain. and yes
terday he made inquiry among them about the
matter A. c. Hbbard, the bookkeeper; Dan
Lace the steward; Pat Meyers. the assistant
steward: Miss Wright. the housekeeper; John
McGrath, the head porter and otter employees
all remembered the incident In Chicago when
the pocketbook was lost. but they had no recol-
lection Of the details. Mr.. Leland thinks 1t Is
one Of the most remarkable cases of haunting
conscience that he ever encountered. There is
not the slightest clew to the writer OF the note.
but from the appearance Of the scrawl 1t Is
believed that the writer Is n woman.