Year: 1871

1 u.


1t ia only recently that we heard of a sem
sation which originated In Pennsylvan
and eliminated in DeKalb county, In this
State.


A year or so ago Norman Spencer was In
the employ of an oil company In Pennsyl-
yania. He was young, good looking, DELI
cient In education, but possessed of strong
natural sagacity, and skill To the art OF
iroguerv that gave promise of q seat In Con-
gress or in the penitentiary. The precise
position he occupied In the oil company we
have not learned, but 1t was one that In
yolved trust and confidence. In due course
of time the company received new safe,
and In that safe were daily deposited its
yaluables. Among the aforesaid valuables
| one day there came a package, neatly done
up, containing the nice little sum Of S21,-
600, which was duly deposited in the
aforesaid new iron receptacle.


1t is barely possible that Spencer heard of
this transaction but be that as it may, the
very day the package was received he mani
tested an earnest desire to examine the new
safe. He had made some pretensions to
Mechanism, and had given evidence that he
possessed a genius in that line. The COM
pany granted his request. The safe was
| opened-he examined it carefully, and ex-
pressed bis decided approval of its con-
structton, The time occupied by tins
transaction was not more than five minutes,
and it occurred in the presence OF several
of the officers of the company. The new
receptacle was carefully locked again, safe
and sound.


! Next morning, on examining its contents,
the S21 900 package had disappeared, and
in its place was u package OF precisely the
same appearance and shape, containing
brown paper. At the same time, it was
| J:.,n,,oraa tb,t Mr. Normon SDenonr had
Disappeared.


Of course there were numerous inquiries
Instituted for MIR. Norman Spencer. They
extended in every direction for months, but
without avail. At length, after some time
had elapsed, the company bethought them
selves Of a clue which might lead to the
discovery of Mr. Spencer. In the place
where the company was located resided
handsome and intelligent young lady,. to
whom he had for some time been paying
attentions. and to whom it was rumored he
due reflection skilful detective was placed
upon the track Of this young lady. For
two months the officer patiently watched
her every movement, but without any good
resulting.


At length, however, his perseverance, was
rewarded. He noticed a large travelling
trunk going to the house where the lady
resided, and little inquiry revealed the
fact that she had purchased 1t. A few days
thereafter the aforesaid trunk and the lady
in question made their way to q railroad
station. The officer followed, and took the
same train on which they departed. Stead.
lily on through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and
Chicago, the woman kept her course, the


detective never losing sight of his game for


a moment. Seeing her safely housed in the
city of divorces, he telegraphed the facts


back to the oil company, and received in
structions to employ O Chicago detective
and return home. The change was made,


and a shrewd officer Of the latter city was


put upon the trail.


A day or so the lady remained in the city,


constantly under the surveillance of the


officer, and then one evening she took the
train on the {. Z. and Q. road. The officer
took the same train, and the two reached
Quincy together. On reaching that city the
lady went to hotel, and the detective ad-


yised his employers of the state Of the case.


Instructions were sent to change officers,
and a Quincy detective was set to work.


Remaining ut Quincy day, the lady left
one morning on the Hannibal and St. Jo-
seph road. Her every motion had been


watched, and the officer was on the train
with her. At Cameron Junction she took
the cars for Kansas City the watchful de-
tective was on the same car. Arrived at the
latter place, she went to q hotel, whittier


she was followed by the officer.


Up to this time there had been no indica-
ton that the lady had any idea that her mo-


tions were watched; the sequel will show
whether this was correct.


The morning after her arrival 1T Kansas


City, the detective was seated at his break
fast, when woman exactly resembling the
one he had been watching took her seat in
the diping-room. Her face was half muf-
fed, as though to keep off the cold air ;


but the height, figure, and dress were the
same, and there could be no mistake about
resumed his position to watch further de.


velopments. The omnibus rolled up in
front Of the door, and passengers bound
on the Kansas Pacific railroad were
called for. The lady he had seen at
the table took her seat in the buss !;
he followed, and the two were soon on
the train, whirling westward. At juno
tion City the woman got off the car,
and took her seat in the depot; the officer
followed. A few hours after the train east
ward came along and the woman took her
seat in one of The cars. Puzzled by this
singular mannuvre, the officer followed, and
in due course Of time both found them
selves at the same hotel in Kansas City they
had left III the morning. Next day another
astonishing fact was revealed. The woman
who went to junction City was simply a
servant in the house, who nearly resembled
in face and figure the lady the officer was
following, and who had been dressed up in
q suit of that individuals clothing as de-
cog duck. During the absence the real
party had disappeared. Convinced that he
had been "sold," and unable to procure
any trace whatever of the fugitive, the Of
fcer gave up the chase and reported to his
employers.


Several months passed, and nothing was
heard OF Norman Spencer or the lady. At
length new trail was discovered. 1t was
ascertained that after the latter had left
Kansas City she came to ST. Joseph, where
she met Spencer and remained with him
several days. He was at the time looking
around for location, and had considerable
money deposited in one Of the banks of this
city. She then returned to Kansas City, and
took up her abode, to remain until he had
advised her Of his permanent settlement.
Advised of these facts, young, good
looking, shrewd detective was sent to Kan
sas City. He soon discovered the lady,
formed an acquaintance, and soon became
a devoted professed admirer. How he pro-
gressed in his suit has never been learned,
save that on one occasion she impaired to
| him the information that Spencer was liv-
ing near Maysyille, DE kalb county, Mo.
| This was enough. That same night the
detective was on his way to Maysville,
which place he reached next morning. A
few cautious inquiries revealed the fact that
the lady's information was correct. Spen-
Ger lived near the town on large farm
which he had purchased, and was reputed
to have considerable sum of money on
deposit in St. Joseph. Armed with the
| pronor Io ool 6np1Impnts and nroryJripp tna