Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-12-04

sealed package. held by nv attorney |
aud to be opened only IN case of an |
illness--that renders me unconscious
or my death.
DO YOU know that the package has
never been tempered withr"
Il suppose that IL has not. Will
learn shortly" and he wrote note
which he sent TO his attorney.
NO suspicious person has been
seen In the village recentlyg"
Not that am aware of P"
The officer began his examination
of the premises. frequently referring
10 his memoranda. Meanwhile a
sealed package was handed 60 Mr..
Campbell, who. opening it. said:
The paper Is here, unmolested.
Are YOU sure that Won have never
accidentally disclosed the combination
20 anyone-that no one has been near
YOU when you opened the safe!'
The only person who has ever
been near me when l opened the safe.
with the exception of the officials.
Is the gentleman who substituted for
our pastor this summer"
How did he happen 10 be near
you2"
He came here TO leave a valuable
ring that was his FOR safe-keeping.
You opened the safe in his pres
ence. and he unsuccessfully tried 20
open II after yous
Yes. In absolute astonishment.
Describe his personal appearance.
Mr. Campbell did so
THAT is al for the present. re
marked the officer.
Four days elapsed. during which
the detective seemed 80 give the lease
no consideration. devoting his time TO
conversation with this. that and the
other one on any subject except the
burglary Then he went 70 Mr.. Camp
I bell
Your description. he said. 'of the
gentleman who substituted for your
pastor this summer Tailed Sd nicely
with the description Of burglar who
has operated in the West that I 81
once made no my mind that the two
were identical
Mr.. Campbell gave q start
Leaving YOU I called on Mr.. Pen
nell and learned the name II the cler-
cvman 10y whose recommendation Mr..
smith came here To this minister
Immediately wrote. The reply is
reading a letter:
c.. NEW YoRK Oct. ,. Is.
DEAR SIR-In answer 10 yours. just Al
/ hand would Say l know no one by tn
! name 90 Thomas Smith. never had student
newer wrote % Brother tennciL ms even
/ Inc before leit home. last July. q. Nr-.li
MAJ. In all re- poets like the one you describe
called on me- AZ 81 askel. lnnumerutle gue-
lions concernin- Brother Penneii-so man
ami so stranc- tlat wondered ~ them
I INTENDED f1 W rite Brother L. about this man
but ue-.er'e1 1t 50 long that I deemed
bt-t 10. 20 write az all Wish now that
/ had. a. 81 would have prevented the impos
tion which has been practised upon an e
teemed co-workcr aud his people.
, Yours respectfully.
WrLLIAN BLAKr.
e Mr.. Campbell was too much aston
ished 70 speak.
Probably this man Smith C
y whatever has name may be-learuln
that your bank did an immense bus
, ness. resolved 10 burglarize it lon
70 ago. continued the officer. ''Ju
{ how he Glanced 10 adopt the cleric
e role / cannot say. but having dete
"a mined upon il, he could easily m
the name 81 some one who was yo'
a pa-tor's ciassmate az the Iheologic
e. seminary hy consulting the catalogg
p 81 the institution for various wear
- Fortune favored him in selecting VI
Blake. he had never correspond
II with Mr. Pencil, bat was thorough
10 versed in his WAYS. This circUmstan
lie enabled smith 10 write To your paste
ia with no fear Of detection by reason
the penmanship. The time Of itii
10 was also oppostune. As Mr.. Blake "
" on the point of leaving home, and "
- Pennell could not write 10 him GO
r corning the would-be substitute.
The ring-it may or may not ia
he been worth something was the IA
IL By which ne gained knowledge
NJ your combination. When Won open
yn the safe he learned the number Il
be YOU used, and his unsuccessful
Ne tempt 20 open II after you was a m'
On blind. OF course. 10 obtain an
ne trance 10 the building was an "a
. matter for him. / shall this very
~ go IN pursuit OF him, and my adv
zee is. say nothing Of what i have told y
-, 70 anyone except the directors, M
In than that I have obtained clew
re- the perpetrator of the deed, until y
in hear from me.
re- Early in December he receive
III / r-.~. 4ba Iafaaffxs1 At y