The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1911-03-18

Ing out for the restoration OF the
stolen money when accosted by the
messenger. Believing himself to be !
the possessor OF the only information
that would lead to this important
event. he was of course somewhat ,
puzzled at what had taken place. but |
he convinced me that be was quite {
anxious to render any assistance In
his power to recover the rest Of the I
money. At my request he went In tc
talk with the man and his wife.
assured him that they would be re-
leased and not further molested II
they would give up the stolen money.
| went farther than this and said that
II he could promise me that the
money would be returned within the
next twenty-four hours would at once
release the two prisoners. After In
teryiewing them, he came outside and
requested me to let the man and his
wife go home. He said everything
would be we'll at IL o'clock on the fol
lowing day, and his request was com
piled with. The good father was
| greatly concerned about what was to |
become of O'Rafferty.
This" said he, as the first great |
sin of this young mans life. On &C |
count of the sickness of his wife he
has been greatly pressed for money.
In moment of weakness he yielded tc
temptation" The father did not say
1t, but inferred that with him full
confession and restitution meant re
pentance, forgiveness and a pardon
from God. In this particular case
however, a law made by man stood in
the way How was It to be overcomei
realized that affairs were very
much mixed at this time, and thai
there were many otherwise hones'
people who might find a ready excuse
for a thief from the United States
government. While condition of this
kind could not be plead as bar te
O'Rafferty's punishment, 1t might be
offered in palliation of the crime; he
might have remained an honest mar
had not the opportunity been thrust
upon him. l had made promises tc
the good father and might have
imagined the confession Of the culprit
a solemn dissolution of his sin; hence
my deep sympathy and determination
to procure his release.
The balance of the money was al
returned by the priest as promised
but the difficult point in the case wal
yet to be accomplished How wat
O'Rafferty to be let out? might have
III oil
him to walk out, but he would not bt
free, as he would be liable to be ar
rested by ether officers. He had now
openly told the simple story Of the
robbery and there was nothing further
to detect.
4 He said he had no thought Of steal
7 ing the sack when the paymaste
stepped out of the cab, but when LEI
alone the idea flashed through hi
| brain to drive to his home with \
where he made an attempt to bury
in the litter pile. Abandoning thi
plan, he drove to his brother-in law
house On arriving there he found hi
sister washing clothes in the yard. H
told her In hurried manner that h
had brought big lot Of money an
that he would leave 1t with her t
take care Of He put the portemor
male In a box under the shed in tn
yard and covered it with hay. Their
we're two of the husbands brother
sleeping in the house at the time
Al. they were bakers by trade, workin
be nights and sleeping In the day time
he When they got up In the afternoo
I'M the sack containing the money wa
ee pointed out to them. They cut
re omen and divided its contents, as nea
M as they could guess, into three equt
Is. parts. Leaving one-third for the 81
nm ter. they hid the other two-thirds II
or themselves Poor O'Rafferty who rea
.tv ly did not know very much about II
lis contents Of the sack, was left out
Ice the cold.
The city of New Orleans was und'
he martial law at this time, and often
OF ers were being handled severely
ald the provost court The judge WI
sht puritanical in principle and cloth
ap- with almost unlimited power. He w
lad considered quite unapproachable,
oW I determined to visit him at his hou
on behalf of O'Rafferty. | found nj
the muchs more generous man than
md had thought him to be. He listen
lall attentively when told him the sto
son OF the robbery and the part the prize
in had taken in recovering the money
ent put up the best plea | could for t
to prisoner and his sick wife. | was c.
and tain that the Judge was interested a
be his heart softened. He said he wot
old take the case under advisement, b
sed said nothing to indicate what his
his cision might be.
IAN -. ., NJ,
- Orleans in that day was ratn
brief affair. 1t consisted mostly OF
*, accusation and a sentence. WI
~, O'Rafferty was arraigned, he plead
guilty to the charge of stealing
100000 In few brief moments !
iudge made an order for his confil
ment at Fort Jackson for period
ras years. felt quite sore on account
this decision, but was little 8
ae prised when he called me up q
-, thrust the order for the prisone
asa commitment in my hand. saw tina
,,,r was charged with his delivery to
commanding officer Of the fort, !
-. ture of the program that was certa
TtKrt nod