Year: 1866

locksmith, and after much labor forced the
lock. This labor served only to show them
that the safe had been completely riaed,
and that the sum of three thousand dollars,
which had been in it the night before, was
gone.


found that the causes which led to sus
picion being fastened upon me we're the
three following:


First, the revolver with which the deed
was committed had upon the butt silver
plate, on which was engraved my name
The clerk took oath that the weapon was
mine, and that I always kept it in the Office.
When they produced it I could not doubt
for moment that it did belong to me-
Second, that the bag was unlocked and not
cut open, showing that it must have been
done by some one having in his possession
a United States mail key. Third, that I
had not been at home during the evening,
and that when summoned at the post Office
I delayed so long in making my appearance


To combat these facts argued that the
state of the Office proved conclusively that
it had been robbed and that without doubt
the keys and revolver had been taken at
that time. Also, that no trace of any of the
stolen articles was found about me, ny
house, or my Office; and that further if 1
had desired to rob the mail might have
waited until it had arrived at the Office, and
thus saved myself the crime of murder
Against the third statement told the rea-
SOD of my remaining in the Office so late, and
brought forward witnesses to prove that I
often did 80 on Wednesday evenings, in
order that the mail might be delayed as
little as possible. Further, that the reason
of my remaining so long in the office was
that 1 could not open the door, and brought
forward the fact that the keys we're missing,
to sustain my declaration.


Although these arguments were.by no
means fully satisfactory to those who took
the ground that was guilty, still they were
so far that | was released on bail of five thous.
and dollars, which readily obtained. By
consent of the Post Office Department, |
turned the affairs of the Office over to my
assistant I was thus left free to pursue
every means to prove my innocence, which
l felt could only be done by discovering the
guilty party.


I accordingly placed the best detectives
at work, with orders to communicate to me
the first suspicion that they entertained,
for found that it was anything but com.
Portable t. be looked upon as a murderer,
although I knew that I was innocent.


Thus three weeks passed without any
thing of interest occurring, and at the end of
that time l could endure the suspense no
longer. Therefore, | wrote to and old friend
of mine, who was then on the detective
force of P. at l., and together we
set about the search.


A week passed without bringing more to
light, and causing us to despond, for we
feared the murderer had so covered his track
it would be impossible to discover him.
We had been at work two days in the city
of C., and being about to leave, [ en-
tered the hotel Office to settle. Having no
small bills, there was considerable change
handed back, and among it ten dollar
bill, which had been torn in two. As |
turned it carelessly over I found that the
parts had been fastened together with the
margin of couple of postage stamps, which
had printed upon it "No. 15-Plate," but
the "No." and "Plate" had been crossed
out, and substituted in their place, was
omar" and 1884," making it read "Mar.
$780," which was the day before the
robbery and murder This may seem all
common enough, but to me it was ray of
light and hope; for the change was in my
OVID hand writing. l also remembered per.
fectly we'll making the change; also, that I
had placed my initials on the underside,
and that the bill must have been in the
safe at the time of the robbery. Calling
my friend, we went into a side room, and
there carefully removed the paper. On the
under side we discovered, as l had expect.
cd, the letters, 81. B." much blurred from
wettiug, but still legible My friend agreed
with me that it was very important dis.
covery, and in order to press it forward, We
called in the landlord and questioned him.


He remembered having received the bill
that morning, and had rather questioned
taking it ou account of the tear. On being
asked TO describe the man, he said


GAS near as l recollect, be was about five
feet ten inches in height, and quite stout
in proportion. He was dressed entirely in
black The only peculiar mark that no.
ticed was deep scar running across his
face, and his left eye was goue-the place
being supplied by piece of black silk,
which he showed very plainly when he
winked."


I think 1 must have started very percep-
tibly when I heard this description, for I
recognized the man Immediately as run.
ner for the firm of Bagley & Mason, of Bos-
ton, who had been in our town for about
week previous to the murder, and had left
the same morning. His own name was
Jas. Burnham.


As we could learn nothing more from the
landlord, save that be ordered the hackmau to
drive to the Boston depot, We dismissed him
and held consultation. We both agreed