A SHARP LITTLE GAME.

29

intermediate stations long enough to allay, by inquiries having no relation to the object of the journey, any suspicion that might arise from seeing an agent of the post-office and of the stage company travelling together. At Concord, some distance west of Cambridge, and the first stand east from Zanesville, they met "Jake" Fricker, the driver in charge of the eastern bound coach on the evening of August 22d. Taking him aside, the officer remarked, "Jake, I wish to ask you one or two questions privately."

"Proceed," replied the Jehu of the line, striking an attitude of attention.

"Jake, you took the coach out of Zanesville on the evening of August 22d. Was General Hinton with you on that trip?" "Yes, the General was along. I remember it well."

"Now, Jake," continued the officer, "I want you to tell me just where the General was that night, and what he did. Did he handle the mail-bags at all, and if so, when and how? I want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

"The truth you shall have,” replied the driver; " for if there is anything wrong, I want to be clear of it. If the mails have been interfered with, I don't want to be blamed, and don't mean to be if I can help it. On that trip, as we were starting from Zanesville, General Hinton got up on the box with me, and said, 'I believe I'll take a ride with you down the road.' He talked and smoked till after dark, when he remarked, with a played-out sort of a yawn, 'Jake, I'm tired and sleepy. I believe I will get up on the top of the coach, under the canvas, and take a nap. Hand me one of the mail-bags out of the front boot for a pillow. Don't give me the way mail, but a through pouch, for I don't wish to be waked up at every post-office.' Not thinking it any harm, as I had often done the same thing before, I drew out the bag made up at Zanesville for Wheeling. He took it, and lay down at full length on top of the coach, under the canvas. When I reached the end of my drive, he was still there, sound asleep as I supposed, for he did not speak or

move.

The next driver took him on down the road; and

that is all I know about the matter."

The locked pouches, or as many of them as could be stowed there, were then carried in the front boot of the coaches under the feet of the drivers.

Having completed the statement of facts, Jake yielded to the promptings of an irrepressible curiosity and inquired innocently, "Mr. Shallcross, has the mail been robbed?"

"Jake, I'm tired and sleepy; I believe I will get up on top, under the canvas, and take a nap."

"That is just what I wish to find out," answered that gentleman. "Have you heard that it was?"

"Well," replied Jake, scratching his head doubtfully, "I can't exactly say I have; but I've had some d-d funny questions asked me lately about the mails."

The driver was cautioned to say nothing to any one about the interview; and in a short time Captain Terry and the officer left for Zanesville behind a span of fresh horses.

SHADOWING " THE THIEF.

31

On arriving there, Shallcross soon learned that Mr. Moses Wheeler, a local banker, on the afternoon of August 22d, mailed a large package of eastern bank-notes which failed to reach the distribution office at Wheeling. Of a part of these the banker had retained a full description, a copy of which was turned over to the officer.

By telegraphing to different points, it was ascertained that Hinton was seen in Pittsburgh a few days before, and thither the detective proceeded by the first coach. Too restless to remain long in one place, the General had left for Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Shallcross at once sent a despatch to D. M. Haskell, Esq., postmaster at Cleveland, giving a description of the stolen money, and directing him to employ some one to watch every movement of Hinton while in the city. In case the General visited any bank or broker's office, the party on the lookout was to follow immediately for the purpose of gaining possession of any bills he might have parted with in exchange for current funds.

Mr. Haskell laid the matter before Thomas McKinstry, deputy United States marshal, and the two undertook the task of "shadowing" Hinton, who had already arrived. After dinner the General sauntered up and down two or three of the principal streets, and on passing the office of a prominent broker, disappeared quickly through the doorway. A few seconds after he came out, the postmaster hurried in, for during the interim he had slipped across the street and taken refuge in an adjoining store. Going up to the banker, he inquired in a low, confidential voice, "Mr. Crittenden, did the gentleman who just left exchange any money here?"

"Yes," replied the broker, who had not finished arranging the identical bills; "and here it is," pushing out the notes just received at a discount of five per cent. On comparing them with the description, they were found to correspond. Arrangements were speedily made to have the money sealed up by itself to be used as evidence, when the postmaster returned to the office.

Meanwhile Mr. Shallcross had been equally fortunate at Pittsburgh, having obtained a package of notes exchanged by Hinton at the bank of Sibbet and Jones, and which were also identified as a portion of the plunder captured on the night of the 22d. Thereupon he sent a second despatch to Mr. Haskell, informing him that he held conclusive proofs of the guilt of Hinton, and directing him to keep a close watch of the criminal till his arrival, but under no circumstances to make

"The astonishment of the robber was equalled only by his chagrin."

an arrest. He further stated that he should start that night for Cleveland.

The telegram was handed to Mr. Haskell shortly after his return to the post-office. Instead of acting in accordance with the instructions of the officer who had the case in charge and was responsible for its management, the postmaster, on consultation with McKinstry, went in person before a United States commissioner, and swore out a warrant for the arrest

A POSTMASTER'S MISTAKE.

33

As

of the General, who was apprehended the same evening. he was well known in the city, the news spread rapidly and caused great excitement.

The astonishment of the robber was equalled only by his chagrin. For a long period having carried on an extensive scheme of depredations under the eyes of skillful detectives whose confidence he shared, he came at last to regard exposure as a remote contingency hardly to be considered in the calculation of chances. As yet he did not know that a new man had taken up the trail, or that steps rarely misled by false scents were pursuing him unseen. Thus far he saw only the clumsy hand of a postmaster, unpractised in the arts of detection, who had rashly ventured to turn aside from the legitimate sphere of duty, to trip an expert that had passed unscathed beneath the batteries of the most experienced officers in the land. He felt like a certain eminent physician that, at the age of threescore and ten, fell mortally ill of the measles. As the rigors of the last agony were approaching, he remarked, "I have nothing to fear, no regrets to express at being cut down at the height of my usefulness, but it is hard, hard, very hard, after facing death for half a century in all its forms, after passing many times unharmed through the plague and the pestilence, to perish at last of a baby disease."

Determined, if possible, not to be outwitted by a novice, the General exerted his ingenuity to circumvent his captor. With loud protestations of innocence, he denounced Haskell as an idiot, declaring that his days as postmaster at Cleveland were numbered, as he had influence enough at Washington to secure the removal of a dozen such fellows for the asking. To avoid sleeping in jail that night, he implored the commissioner to allow him time to consult with friends and to secure counsel, suggesting that he be permitted to remain till morning at the Weddell House, under charge of a proper guard. Meanwhile Haskell, having become really frightened at the bold front and rigorous threats of the accused, so far weak