Year: 1866

purpose We went to Vermont and fell IN
with him at Montpelier. For week we
observed his every motion, but at the end
of that time had discovered nothing, save
that he would stay in the town about one
week longer. Feeling that my friend was
fully capable of watching him alone, de.
termined to 90 to Boston to see if I could
learn anything new and accordingly on the
morning of the 2lst of April left, having
first arranged system of cypher, by which
we could communicate with each other il
occasion required it ..8


Early on the morning of the 22d, I was
standing on the steps of the - Hotel,
when paper dropped at my feet; apparent
ly from one of the upper windows Stoop'
ing down I picked it up, but discovered
that it was but an empty envelope, and was
about to drop it again, when the name up
on it caught my eye. It was that Of lead.
ing merchant of L.. Looking up at the
window, I saw to my surprise the face Of
James Burnham, and that be turned dead
ly pale when he saw me. Feeling certain
now that he knew my errahd, 1 saw that it
would be safe to let him escape me no lon-
ger l Immediately determined on having
him arrested at all hazards Hurriedly
writing dispatch which to the operator
would read, "Join me in Portland to NOR
row. Immediately upon the receipt of this
you may close the bargain which spoke to
you about Yesterday" but to my friend.
"James Burnham is in Boston. Why are
you not? I have clue Shall arrest him
Immediately" 1 sent it to the telegraph
Office, and then hurried to the police station.
Here I told my story in as few words as
possible; and in fifteen minutes more was at
the aoor of the room from which the euvel.
ope had come. A noise as of some one
moving rapidly about told US that the occu.
pant was still there.


The door of the room was not fastened, but
as the officers approached, Burnhsm sprang
forward to do 80; but they were too quick
for him and had entered before he could get
it done. As we came in he stepped back
and in no gentle tones demanded the cause
of the intrusion. In answer to him, one of
the officers said:


81 arrest you, James Burnham, for the
murder of Charles Smith and the robbery
of the Post Office at l., on the night of
the 18th of March last"


The effect was instantaneous. He turned
deadly pale and sank into chair near by,
but after a moment reused himself and
said:


"You have mistaken your man. My
name is not James Burnham, but William
Chase"


We considered this, however, as bat an
attempt to bully us, and he was accordingly
led away. The search which followed
brought to light considerable money in
bills, and a number of checks, many Of them
payable to certain merchants in l., pay
able to persons living 10 Boston.


Immediately telegraphed the particulars
of the arrest to my friend, and he Joined
me the next morning; but strangest of all,
James Burnham came aoih him, and then
I saw that it was a case of mistaken identi.
ty. But it was not to be wondered at, for /
think I never saw two men look more alike.
We also telegraphed to the landlord at
c., and learned thing we had neglect.
ed before, namely, that the man who passed
the torn bill went by the name of William
Chase.


Little more remains to be told. The man
finding there was no hopes for him, made
confession soon after his arrest. From this
it appeared that he wasa notorious criminal,
who after some bold deed, had been lying
for time in the country, and that while
there accidentally hearing that valuable mail
matter would arrive in the mail from c.,
had determined on little professional bu-
siness, and had accordingly came to L..
There he saw me receive large payment
of money on the 18th of March; and had
that evening, after l shut up, entered the
Office, aud removing the keys from my pock.
ct, and getting possession of the revolver,
robbed me as described, and made off with
the booty, still retaining the keys, which
we found in his possession. From the Of
fee he had gone up the road, met the stage,
and finding that he could not accomplish
his purpose without committing the murder,
and .en opening the bag, had just time to
seorete himself, when the doctor came along
By wide circuit, he came back to Boston,
and arrived there by another train on the
same evening that did. When 1 picked
up the envelope, be recognized me, and
made up his mind that he had better leave,
and was preparing to when arrested.


A few days more, saw me back to l.,
my innocence fully established, but I could
not be prevailed upon again to assume the
duties of post master, and my former assist
ant was appointed. As for William Chase,
be was executed the following July.


A NEW EXPLOSIVE CoMpoUND.-An.
other explosive compound, more destructive
than nitro-glycerine, has been brought to
light. This chemical mixture is called 30
dunn amalgam. 1t is never manufactured
in large quantities, though it has been ad.
vertised for sale in San Francisco, one firm
claiming to have as much as two hundred