Ten Years Among the Mail Bags Part 13

I was relieved from the difficulty of this question by a rap on the door from the Chief of Police, who was the man of all others whom I wished to see.

As he entered, I intimated to him, in a whisper, what was on foot, and then turning to the baggage-master, without any preamble or formality, I requested him to hand me the mail-key, which he had in his possession.

"I haven't any mail-key," was the dull response. "Very well," said I, "then we shall have to search you."

He turned pale, and remarked, with a.s.sumed calmness, "I suppose I know what you want."

One of the side pockets of his over-coat appearing somewhat distended, I commenced my investigations with that. The first article that appeared was the large package of letters made up that evening for delivery at the neighboring city, before alluded to, and the next dive brought to light a heavy distribution package for the same office.

Several other packages of less size were afterwards drawn forth. After the search had been completed, the culprit was hand-cuffed, and lodged in jail within half an hour from the time when he had committed this last depredation.

After we had dispatched this part of the business, we turned our attention to the companion of the unfortunate baggage-master, who had been observing our proceedings with the utmost equanimity, though not without interest.

"That's rather hard on Ed," said he, as the door closed on the culprit.

"Yes," replied I, "it is. But I believe we must search you, for I think you are concerned in this affair."

"I never was searched in my life," said he, smilingly, "excepting when I've searched my own pockets, and then I never found much. Perhaps you'll have better luck; at any rate, it won't hurt me to have it tried;" and so saying, he laid aside his cigar, and presented himself to undergo the ordeal. But nothing was found to implicate him in any way.

I then expressed my fear that he might still be an accomplice, as I noticed the baggage-master open and shut the door of the little room, while rifling the mails that night.

An honest laugh followed this remark, and an explanation was given me, which satisfactorily accounted for the suspicious circ.u.mstance.

It seems that his dishonest companion, fearing that he would come out of the room and detect him in the act, had opened the door, telling him that he would have to be locked in till the train arrived, and turned the key on the outside. This pa.s.sed for a joke, and the imprisoned person thought little of it, as he would have no occasion to leave the room until the train arrived, when it would be his duty to inspect the cars. It also appeared that this locking up trick had been played several times previously, no doubt for a similar purpose.

Thus, was an honest man subjected to suspicion, by circ.u.mstances beyond his control. A satisfactory explanation of them, however, was not beyond his power, and his experience goes to increase the array of testimony, to show the inestimable value of a clear conscience in all exigencies whatever.

The key of a private desk in the baggage room was taken from the robber, and in this desk was found about $40,000 in bank drafts, checks, &c., and more than a hundred rifled letters, which, as their post-marks showed, must have been the proceeds of one or two nights'

robbery. Everything taken from the mails, except money, had been committed to the flames, as the criminal himself afterwards confessed.

A large portion of the available funds which he had acc.u.mulated, was recovered and restored to the rightful owners.

In less than a week from this time, he was tried, and sentenced to the State Prison for the term of _twenty-seven years_.

The discoveries here detailed, gave rise to great surprise and excitement among all who knew the guilty individual, for he had sustained a good reputation for sobriety, honesty, and industry.

His innocent family received the warmest sympathy of the entire community, which indeed they deserved, for the culprit's wife was a sincere Christian woman;--a living exemplification of the religion by which she professed to be guided.

Some of the interviews at the prison between her husband, children, and herself, were painful to behold; yet, after the first terrible shock, (and how terrible it was, can be realized by those only who have seen a beloved one suddenly metamorphosed from a fancied angel into a "fallen spirit,") she became more resigned to the overpowering calamity which had overtaken herself and her children.

She had no reproaches for her sinning husband, nor did she allude in his presence to the sufferings which he had brought upon his innocent family; but her aim seemed to be, to induce him, by means of his bitter experience, to begin a new and a Christian life.

One day, when I called to see the prisoner, in company with a gentleman who was anxious to learn the fate of a package of valuable papers which he had lost, we found the afflicted woman sitting by her husband,--one arm thrown lovingly around his neck, and an open Bible lying in her lap. We apologized to her for the interruption. She looked up mournfully, a tear stealing down her wan cheek as she said,

"It is no matter, I was only reading to poor Edward." Then looking at him fondly, she continued,--"He has been a kind, good husband and father, and hadn't any bad habits or companions that I knew of; and I have often thought that if he only had religion, he would be perfect.

And if this trial, bad as it is, will only make him a Christian, it will be all I shall ask."

Meanwhile her two little children were thoughtlessly playing about the door of the cell, unconscious of the ruin which had been wrought in the hearts and the prospects of their wretched parents. The youngest one, while we were there, tried to play at "bo-peep" with its father, but was immediately checked by the poor mother, who cried out in an agonized voice, "Oh Eddie, don't!"

Ever since her husband was sent to prison, this devoted wife has visited him twice a month, (having been furnished with a free pa.s.s by the officers of the rail road which pa.s.ses near the prison,) and to judge by the report of those who have an opportunity of observing him every day, the prisoner has commenced that Christian life, to which the prayers and loving efforts of his wife were designed to lead him.

Nothing can be said that would add to the force of the lesson contained in the facts here narrated. If a life-time of imprisonment, and the blighting of the hopes and happiness of loved ones, do not show with sufficient impressiveness the result of crime, imagination will in vain attempt to supply the deficiency.

I append a letter received by me from the criminal, some time after his committal to the State Prison:--

W----, July 18, 1854.

Kind Friend--

For I must consider you as such, because through your instrumentality I have been saved, perhaps, from a worse fate than has befallen me. I think through this, I have been taught to see what a sinner I am. I am truly penitent for this crime, as well as all my disobedience to the just laws of G.o.d. I mean, through the help of Almighty power, to serve my Creator the remaining years of my life.

It is strange how I was tempted to do that crime. I never was inclined to do evil or keep bad company. In fact, I kept no company hardly, except that of my wife and little ones. Oh! how my heart throbs to break loose and join them! Look upon yours as you can in freedom, and think of me. It almost suffocates me to call them before me in my mind.

Oh, horrors! little did I ever think such a fate would befal me! I cannot tell why I did it, more than this--to pay my debts. How they did trouble me--how should I ever pay them? But this was not the way to cancel them.

I do not love money--not at all. I never desired to be rich, only to be square with the world. I became indebted by inexperience and pride.

I would tell you the little story of my life, if I could. My connections, except my father, are pious people. My mother was a good Christian, and died in the happy hope of Heaven. She called me to her bedside about two months before her death. That was the last time I saw her alive; and when she parted with me, she clasped me to her bosom, with these words--"My son, obey G.o.d and meet me in Heaven!" Oh! how full of meaning, and a mother's love.

But this is too painful. I cannot write of this.

You can imagine my feelings at this time. But the evil tempter has left me now, and I pray to G.o.d, never to return.

Do warn others of my sad fate, to shun the road to ruin.

G.o.d, in his infinite goodness, has looked upon me with compa.s.sion, and calmed my troubles in part. At least all that I have desired, He has done for me, or how could I have lived?

Will you not call and see me some time? Don't despise the thief; Christ did not.

Many thanks to your kind heart. Also please thank the Government Attorney, and the Post Masters of H----, and N---- H----. May G.o.d watch over and preserve you all.

Your unworthy servant,

E. A. S----.

CHAPTER VI.

Safety of the Mails--Confidence shaken--About Mail Locks--Importance of Seals--City and Country--Meeting the Suspected--Test of Honesty--Value of a String--A dreary Ride--Harmless Stragglers--A cautious Official--Package missing--An early Customer--Newspaper Dodge--Plain Talk--A Call to Breakfast--Innocence and Crime--Suspicion Confirmed--The big Wafers--Finding the String--The Examination--Escape to Canada--A true Woman--The Re-arrest--Letter of Consolation--The Wife in Prison--Boring Out--Surprise of the Jailor--Killing a Horse.

In our larger cities, and indeed throughout the country, there are thousands of persons engaged in the transaction of business, who if called upon would testify that in the course of their employment of the mails, involving in the aggregate the collection and disburs.e.m.e.nt of millions of dollars, no part of their correspondence, valuable or otherwise, had failed or had ever been delayed through any fault of the Post-Office Department.

Such, up to the year 1849, had been the experience--an experience extending through many years--of a firm in Northern New York, extensively engaged in manufacturing and real estate operations, which required the frequent transmission of heavy remittances between their place of business and New York City. For a long time they confined themselves to the use of drafts, checks, and other representatives of money, but as everything went on smoothly for years, they finally remitted money itself, in the shape of bank-notes, whenever convenience required, without bestowing a thought upon the insecurity or danger of such a course; and for a time the prompt acknowledgment of the receipt of the various sums thus sent strengthened their confidence in the safety of the mails, and the fidelity of their management.

Therefore the rifling of one money letter directed by them to New York caused but little alarm; but when this was followed in rapid succession by the loss of the contents of a second, third, and even a fourth, they began to think that there was "something rotten in the state of"--New York, and accordingly called upon the Post-Office Department for aid in ascertaining the locality, and detecting the perpetrator of these robberies.

The losses could not be attributed to misdirection, or any other of the long catalogue of causes not of a criminal nature, though occasioning much alarm and inconvenience. For in the present case the rifled letters had reached the parties addressed. They had been opened, robbed, and resealed.