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PUBLISHERS' INTRODUCTION.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
OFFICER GEORGE S. McWATTERS.
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION—ALWAYS TEMPERATE—IN WONDERFUL PRESERVATION—"A GOOD FACE TO LOOK INTO"—NEITHER SCOTCH, IRISH, NOR ENGLISH IN APPEARANCE.
WHERE HE WAS BORN AND REARED.
NO MATTER WHERE A MAN IS BORN—KILMARNOCK, SCOTLAND—NORTH OF IRELAND—AMBITIOUS BOYHOOD—"THE BEAUTIFUL LAND BEYOND THE WESTERN WATERS"—INTENSELY DEMOCRATIC—BECOMES A MECHANIC.
REMOVES TO LONDON.
FOLLOWS HIS TRADE IN LONDON—MARRIES THERE—HIS INTERESTING FAMILY—MISS CHARLOTTE, HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER—HER MARRIAGE—SIGNOR ERRANI.
MIGRATES TO THE UNITED STATES.
OFFICER McWATTERS' GREAT SYMPATHY FOR CHATTEL AND WAGES-SLAVES—HIS COUNTLESS DEEDS OF BENEVOLENCE LEAVE HIM NO TIME TO GET RICH—ANECDOTE OF PROFESSOR AGASSIZ.
SETTLES IN PHILADELPHIA, AND STUDIES LAW.
A YEAR (1848–9) IN A LAW OFFICE—REVELS IN THE STUDY OF BLACKSTONE, KENT, CHITTY, ETC.—A BEAUTIFUL DREAM.
A HEART TOO SOFT FOR A LAWYER.
THE BEAUTIFUL DREAM OVERSHADOWED—POOR ORPHANS AND POOR DEBTORS TOUCH HIS HEART WITH THEIR SUFFERINGS—DISTRAINING GOODS FOR RENT—A TOUCHING STORY—McWATTERS' BENEVOLENT DEVICE—HE QUITS THE LAW IN DISGUST.
DEPARTS FOR CALIFORNIA.
THE "GOLD FEVER"—IN THE NEW ELDORADO—THE RECKLESS WARFARE OF GREED AND CRIME—MEN LOST THEIR CONSCIENCES THERE—RETURN.
BACK IN NEW YORK.
ASSOCIATED WITH LAURA KEENE, AS HER AGENT—FIRST CALLED UPON TO ENACT THE PART OF A DETECTIVE—HIS SUCCESS, AND WHAT IT LED TO.
MR. McWATTERS AS AGENT AND LECTURER.
BECOMES EXHIBITING LECTURER, ACCOMPANYING A GRAND PANORAMA—IN THE CHIEF CITIES AND TOWNS—THE COUNTESS OF LANDSFELDT, OR "LOLA MONTEZ."
ANECDOTE OF LOLA MONTEZ AND LAURA KEENE.
AN AMUSING STORY—LOLA BECOMES PIOUS, AND SELLS HER THEATRICAL WARDROBE—LAURA PURCHASES A PART—A SPLENDID SILK DRESS PATTERN PROVES TO BE FURNITURE CLOTH—ATTACKS AND RETORTS—THE GOODS FINALLY BURNED UP.
MR. McWATTERS SOLVING SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
HIS GREAT INTEREST IN SOCIOLOGICAL QUESTIONS—HOW SHALL THE GRIEVOUS BURDENS WHICH FALL UPON THE LABORING CLASSES BE MADE LIGHTER?
OUR SUBJECT AND THE PUBLIC PRESS.
REMARKABLE RECORD—PUSILLANIMOUS HIGHWAYMEN—TWO KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD FRIGHTENED BY A SPECTACLE-CASE.
McWATTERS ENTERS THE METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE.
DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF THEREIN IN MANY WAYS DURING A PERIOD OF TWELVE YEARS—OFFICER MCWATTERS UBIQUITOUS—THE STARVING PEOPLE OF KANSAS (1861) ELICIT HIS SYMPATHIES—A FORCIBLE PUBLIC SPEAKER.
PERSONAL INCIDENTS.
RESCUES CHILDREN AND MEN FROM WATERY GRAVES—ALWAYS AT HIS POST OF DUTY—RECEIVES THE WARMEST PRAISE OF HIS CHIEF OFFICER, SUPERINTENDENT KENNEDY—THE LATE SUPERINTENDENT JOURDAN.
OFFICER McWATTERS DURING THE LATE CIVIL WAR.
HIS FORESIGHT—UNDERSTOOD THE MISERIES OF THE SUBJECT-CLASSES—HIS APPRECIATION OF REPUBLICAN INSTITUTIONS—PREVENTED BY UNTOWARD CIRCUMSTANCES FROM GOING TO THE FRONT—NOT OF THE "NOBLE HOME GUARD."
FIRST SEIZURE OF GUNS AT THE NORTH.
OFFICER MCWATTERS INTERCEPTS DAHLGREN GUNS ON THEIR WAY TO THE REBELS, MAY 11, 1861—HONORABLE MENTION BY THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE—FERNANDO WOOD'S INFAMOUS APOLOGY TO TOOMBS—WOOD AND MCWATTERS COMPARED—THE GRATITUDE OF REPUBLICS.
OFFICER McWATTERS' SERVICES THROUGH THE PUBLIC PRESS.
ABLE AND SPIRITED LETTERS TO THE PRESS—NOBLE WORDS ADDRESSED TO THE WORKINGMEN OF THE NATION.
KINDLY AND WISE PROVIDENCE.
PRIVATE APPEAL FOR LEMONS FOR THE FAMISHING SOLDIERS, MAY, 1863—IT DID A BRAVE WORK—EVENTUALLY INSPECTOR CARPENTER REVEALS THAT IT WAS ONE OF OFFICER MCWATTERS' BENEVOLENT DEEDS—OTHER EFFECTIVE MODES OF AIDING SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
"RIOT WEEK," JULY, 1863.—OFFICER McWATTERS IN THE
THICK OF THE FIGHT.
THE STATE OF THE PUBLIC PULSE OF THE NORTH WHEN THE RIOT BROKE OUT—THE NUMBER KILLED THAT WEEK IN NEW YORK ESTIMATED AT OVER FOURTEEN HUNDRED!—McWATTERS AND HIS FELLOW-OFFICERS FIGHT THEIR WAY THROUGH THE MOB INTO THE TRIBUNE OFFICE—McWATTERS FELLED TO THE GROUND; SPRINGS TO HIS FEET, AND DEALS DESTRUCTIVE BLOWS UPON HIS ASSAILANTS.
OFFICER McWATTERS AND HIS LITERARY ASSOCIATES.
COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PUBLIC PRESS—HIS UNPRETENTIOUS CAREER—"PFAFF'S," A FAMOUS RESORT FOR AUTHORS AND ARTISTS—AN INTERESTING SKETCH OF THE PLACE, AND THE HOST OF McWATTERS' AUTHOR FRIENDS WHO MEET THERE; AN ILLUSTRIOUS ARRAY—OF THE DEAD OF THIS GOODLY HOST—A MOST INTERESTING RETROSPECTION—McWATTERS' AUTHORS' LIBRARY.
OFFICER McWATTERS AS THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
AS A PHILANTHROPIST OFFICER McWATTERS HAS MOST DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF—HIS ACQUAINTANCE WITH SOCIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEMONSTRATES TO HIM THE FOLLY OF FRAGMENTARY REFORMS; YET HE CONTINUES HIS WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL CHARITIES—PATCHWORK CHARITY—HIS VITALITY OF BENEVOLENCE—McWATTERS IN THE RANKS OF THE HOWARDS OF THE WORLD.
McWATTERS AND THE SOLDIERS.
THE POOR VETERAN SOLDIER'S BEST FRIEND—McWATTERS' GENEROUS ENTHUSIASM IN BEHALF OF THE POOR SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES—HIS GREAT PASSION—THE POETRY OF HIS CURRENT LIFE.
LADIES UNION RELIEF ASSOCIATION.
A GRAND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION—DISTINGUISHED LADIES OF NEW YORK AT ITS HEAD—ITS SCOPE OF SELF-IMPOSED DUTIES OF BENEVOLENCE—ASSISTED BY AN ADVISORY BOARD OF THE LEADING MEN OF THE CITY; OFFICER McWATTERS THE CHIEF AND MOST ACTIVE MAN THEREOF—SUPERINTENDENT KENNEDY SECONDS OFFICER McWATTERS' BENEVOLENT WORK—REV. DR. BELLOWS' WARM INDORSEMENT OF McWATTERS' GOOD DEEDS—THE LATE SUPERINTENDENT JOURDAN CRUELLY INTERFERES WITH McWATTERS' LABORS OF LOVE—DEATH CALLS FOR MR. JOURDAN: WHERE THEY PUT HIM, AND WHO FOLLOWED HIS HEARSE—OFFICER McWATTERS RESIGNS, AND LEAVES THE POLICE FORCE, IN ORDER THAT HE MAY CONTINUE HIS HUMANITARY WORK—COPY OF HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION—APPOINTED TO A POST IN THE CUSTOM HOUSE—COMPLIMENTARY NOTICES BY VARIOUS JOURNALS ON THE OCCASION OF McWATTERS' RESIGNATION.
THE SWINDLING BOUNTY CLAIM AGENTS.
OFFICER McWATTERS' RELENTLESS OPPOSITION TO THE SWINDLERS—THEIR INFAMOUS MODES OF OPERATION EXPLAINED—McWATTERS' PLAN OF WARFARE—HE ROUTS THEIR FORCES AND WINS A GREAT VICTORY—SERIOUSLY THREATENED BY THE SWINDLERS—McWATTERS APPEALS TO CONGRESS, AND GETS A NEW ACT PASSED—CHIEF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO GAVE HIM THEIR AID—PAYMENTS UNDER THE NEW LAW—THE GRATITUDE OF THE POOR SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES—"HOW A POOR MAN FEELS!"—THE NATIONAL CEMETERIES AND THE DEAD VETERANS—McWATTERS' FURTHER WORK FOR THE SOLDIERS.
HONORABLE TESTIMONIALS TO OFFICER McWATTERS.
PRESENTATION OF A GOLD WATCH BY THE LADIES' UNION RELIEF ASSOCIATION—COMMENTS THEREON BY THE PUBLIC PRESS—OFFICER McWATTERS' GREAT POPULARITY—A RESUMÉ OF SOME OF OFFICER McWATTERS' GOOD DEEDS, BY THE SUN, TIMES, TRIBUNE, ETC.
THE BELLEVUE HOSPITAL INIQUITY.
THE RASCALITY EXPOSED IN A MASTERLY WAY—THE HORRORS OF THE HOSPITAL PICTURED—THE WAR CARRIED ON THROUGH THE PAPERS—OFFICER McWATTERS DIRECTS THE BATTLE—THE SCAMPS BROUGHT TO TERMS, AND THE SICK POOR AT THE HOSPITAL NO LONGER TREATED LIKE DOGS—THE CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION, AND ITS CONNECTION WITH THE FIGHT—BENEFICENT RESULTS.
CONCLUSION.
OFFICER McWATTERS IN HIS CONTINUING LABORS OF LOVE—HIS FAMOUS LETTER IN BEHALF OF THE POOR VETERAN SOLDIER ORGAN GRINDERS—ELOQUENT WORDS OF SOCIAL STATESMANSHIP THEREIN—A GREAT MORAL DUTY—WHEN IT CAN BE PROPERLY DONE—LABOR MUST BE PROTECTED—PARTING TRIBUTE TO OFFICER GEORGE S. McWATTERS, THE TRUE MAN, THE STERLING PATRIOT, AND PRACTICAL PHILANTHROPIST.
THE ORGAN GRINDERS.
A WORD IN THEIR BEHALF—LETTER FROM OFFICER McWATTERS (REFERRED TO IN BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES)—A SAD STORY.
TEN DOLLARS A MONTH: A STORY OF GRIEF AND JOY.
("Man's inhumanity to man
Makes countless thousands mourn")
McWATTERS—PATRICK O'BRIEN AND HIS SUFFERING FAMILY—LADIES' UNION RELIEF ASSOCIATION—A STORM OF GRIEF QUELLED BY THE VOICE OF TRUE CHARITY.
MACK AND THE VETERAN.
A TOUCHING TALE—THE POETRY AND PATHOS OF BARE FEET.
LOST IN THE STREETS.
OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU FOR THE RECOVERY OF LOST PERSONS—MISSING MEN AND WOMEN—TROUBLES ABOUT LOST PEOPLE—WHERE AND HOW PEOPLE ARE LOST—LOST CHILDREN—THE DENS OF MIDNIGHT—THE HORROR OF A BREAKING DAWN—MISERY, SHAME, AND DEATH—FINIS.
AMONG THE SHARKS.
ADVENTURES OF A FALL RIVER WANDERER—HIS VALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK—CATCHING A FLAT.
A SMART YOUNG MAN.
AN AFTER-DINNER COLLOQUY, AND ITS RESULT—A FUNNY AFFAIR.
A SUSPECTED CALIFORNIA MURDERER.
ARRESTED—CHARGED WITH KILLING FOUR MEN: A GERMAN FOR HIS MONEY, AND TWO SHERIFFS AND A DRIVER WHO WERE CONVEYING HIM TO PRISON.
EXTENSIVE COUNTERFEITING.
SEIZURE OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN SPURIOUS POSTAL CURRENCY—ARREST OF THE COUNTERFEITER—HIS CONFESSION.
THE GAMBLER'S WAX FINGER.
CHARLES LEGATE—A FORGER—STUDYING HIM UP—FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS HIS "PRIZE"—DESCRIPTION OF LEGATE—NO TWO PERSONS EVER AGREE IN DESCRIBING ANOTHER—A MARK HIT UPON—START FOR ST. LOUIS—MUSINGS—CURIOUS INCIDENTS OF MY JOURNEY—A GENEALOGICAL "DODGE"—ON LEGATE'S TRACK AT LAST—ST. LOUIS REACHED—OF MY STAY THERE—LEAVE FOR NEW ORLEANS PER STEAMER—A GENIAL CROWD OF MEN AND WOMEN ON BOARD—CHARACTERISTICS OF A MISSISSIPPI "VOYAGE"—NAPOLEON, ARKANSAS—SOME CHARACTERS COME ON BOARD THERE—A GAMBLING SCENE ON BOARD—ONE JACOBS TAKES A PART—A PRIVATE CONFERENCE WITH JACOBS'S NEGRO SERVANT—A TERRIFIC FIGHT ON BOARD AMONG THE GAMBLERS—JACOBS SET UPON, AND MAKES A BRAVE DEFENCE—HOW I DISCOVERED "JACOBS" TO BE PROBABLY LEGATE, IN THE MELEE—HE IS BADLY BRUISED—HIS LIFE DESPAIRED OF—WE ARRIVE IN NEW ORLEANS—JACOBS'S IDENTIFICATION AS LEGATE—LEGATE PROVES TO BE VERY RICH—CURIOUS VISIT TO AN ITALIAN ARTIST'S STUDIO—A NOVEL MEDICINE ADMINISTERED TO SIGNORE CANCEMI—HE GETS WELL AT ONCE.
LOTTERY TICKET, No. 1710.
A DIGNIFIED REAL ESTATE HOLDER, VERY WEALTHY, LOSES SEVEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS—OUR FIRST COUNCIL AT THE HOWARD HOUSE—VISIT TO HIS HOUSE TO EXAMINE HIS SAFE AND SERVANTS—A LOTTERY TICKET, NO. 1710, FOUND IN THE SAFE—HOW CAME THIS MYSTERIOUS PAPER THERE?—CONCLUSIONS THEREON—VISIT TO BALTIMORE, AND PLANS LAID IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LOTTERY AGENT TO CATCH THE THIEF—THE TICKET "DRAWS"—THE NEW YORK AGENCY "MANAGED"—TRAP TO IDENTIFY THE THIEF—THE SECURITY AND "SOLITUDE" OF A GREAT CITY—A NEW YORK BANKER—MR. LATIMER VISITS A GAMBLING HOUSE IN DISGUISE—IDENTIFIES THE SUSPECTED YOUNG MAN—THE AGENT AT BALTIMORE WAXES GLEEFUL—HIS PLAN OF OPERATIONS OVERRULED—MEETING OF "INTERESTED PARTIES" AT THE OFFICE IN BALTIMORE—A LITTLE GAME PLAYED UPON THE NEW YORK AGENT—MR. WORDEN, THE THIEF, IDENTIFIES THE TICKET, AND FALLS INTO THE TRAP OF A PRE-ARRANGED "DRAFT"—DISCLOSES SOME OF THE IDENTICAL MONEY STOLEN—WE ARREST HIM—EXCITING SCRAMBLE—THE MONEY RECOVERED—WORDEN'S AFTER LIFE.
PAYNE AND THE COUNTERFEITERS.
AN IDLE TIME—A CALL FROM MY OLD "CHIEF"—THE CASE IN HAND OUTLINED—I DISCOVER AN OLD ENEMY IN THE LIST OF COUNTERFEITERS, AND LAY MY PLANS—TAKE BOARD IN NINETEENTH STREET, AND OPEN A LAW OFFICE IN JAUNCEY COURT—MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF MRS. PAYNE, LEWELLYN'S MOTHER, AND FINALLY GET ACQUAINTED WITH HIM—HE VISITS MY LAW OFFICE—I AM INGRATIATED IN HIS FAVOR—I TRACK HIM INTO MY ENEMY'S COMPANY, AND FEEL SURE OF SUCCESS—LEWELLYN FINALLY CONFESSES TO ME HIS TERRIBLE SITUATION—CERTAIN PLANS LAID—I MAKE "COLLINS'S" ACQUAINTANCE—VISIT A GAMBLING SALOON WITH HIM—A HEAVY WAGER—$15,000 AT HAZARD, PAYNE'S ALL—THE COUNTERFEITING GAMBLERS CAUGHT TOGETHER—SEVERE STRUGGLE—PAYNE SAVED AT LAST, AND HIS MONEY TOO—A REFORMED SON AND A HAPPY MOTHER—TWO "BIRDS" SENT TO THE PENITENTIARY.
THE GENEALOGICAL SWINDLERS.
PRIDE OF ANCESTRY IN THE UNITED STATES—IT IS SOMETIMES MORE PROFITABLE TO OTHERS THAN TO THOSE WHO INDULGE IT—"PROPERTY IN CHANCERY"—A WESTERN MERCHANT, HIS STORY, AND HOW HE TOLD IT—A FAMILY MEETING AT NEW HAVEN, AND WHAT A MEMBER LEARNED THERE—THE GREAT "LORD, KING, & GRAHAM" SWINDLE—THE WAY IN WHICH THE FRAUD WAS ACCOMPLISHED—A CUNNING LETTER FROM "WILLIS KING," OF THE FIRM OF LORD, KING, & GRAHAM, TO ONE OF HIS RELATIVES—THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THIS NOTED FIRM—THE SEARCH—THE TRAP LAID—THE SHARPERS CAUGHT, AND FOUND TO BE EDUCATED YOUNG MEN OF THE HIGHEST SOCIAL STATUS—THEY ARE MADE TO DISGORGE—A PARADOX, WITH A MORAL IN IT.
HATTIE NEWBERRY, THE VERMONT BEAUTY.
"SOCIETY, FOR THE MOST PART, CREATES THE CRIMES WHICH IT PUNISHES"—A BEAUTIFUL GIRL ON THE CARS FROM RUTLAND, VERMONT, ON THE WAY TO BELLOWS' FALLS, BESET BY NEW YORK ROGUES—A DETECTIVE RECOGNIZES IN HER THE FORMER PLAYMATE OF HIS OWN DAUGHTER—HE ENCOUNTERS THE ROGUES AT BELLOWS' FALLS, AND KNOCKS ONE OF THEM DOWN IN THE LADIES' ROOM—THEY ALL TAKE THE NEXT TRAIN, AND MOVE SOUTHWARD, ON THEIR WAY TO NEW YORK—INCIDENTS OF THE JOURNEY—A THIRD VILLAIN GETS ABOARD AT HARTFORD, CONN.—WHY HATTIE WAS GOING TO NEW YORK—AN OLD TALE—THE DETECTIVE GIVES HATTIE MUCH GOOD ADVICE—A SKILFUL MANŒUVRE, ON ARRIVING IN NEW YORK, TO PUT THE ROGUES OFF THE TRACK—A PAINFUL DISCOVERY AT LAST—A DEEP, DEVILISH PLOT OF THE VILLAINS DRIVES HATTIE TO DESPAIR, AND SHE IS RESCUED FROM A SUICIDE'S GRAVE—THE ROGUES PROVE TO BE THE MOST HEARTLESS OF VILLAINS, AND ARE CAUGHT, AND DULY PUNISHED—HATTIE RETURNS EVENTUALLY TO VERMONT, AFTER HAVING MARRIED HER OLD LOVER—THIS TALE IS ONE OF THE SADDEST, AS WELL AS THE MOST INTERESTING OF EXPERIENCES, THROUGHOUT.
ABOUT BOGUS LOTTERIES.
HOW THEY ARE "GOT UP"—THEIR MODE OF OPERATIONS DETAILED—HOW THEY MANAGE THE "DRAWN NUMBERS" BEFOREHAND—THE GREAT SHREWDNESS OF THE OPERATORS—THE SOCIAL RESPECTABILITY OF THESE—THE GREAT FIRM OF "G. W. HUNTINGTON & CO."—THE IMMENSE CIRCULATION OF THEIR JOURNAL.—THEIR VICTIM, A MAINE FARMER, WHO BELIEVED HE HAD "DRAWN" FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND COUNSELLOR WHEATON, HIS LAWYER, A STORY TO THE POINT—WHO INVEST IN LOTTERIES? CHILDREN, WIDOWS, CLERGYMEN, BANK CASHIERS, ETC.—HOW THE FIRM OF "G. W. H. & CO." WAS CAPTURED—NO. 23 WILLIAMS STREET, NEW YORK—THEIR PRETENDED BANKING HOUSE—HOW A BOGUS LOTTERY COMPANY SWINDLED ITS OWN AGENTS—A QUEER TALE.
THE BORROWED DIAMOND RING.
THE DETECTIVE OFFICER'S CHIEF "INCUBUS"—AT WINTER GARDEN THEATRE—"HARRY DUBOIS"—AN EXPERT ROGUE EXAMINES HIS PROSPECTIVE VICTIMS—SOME SOUTHERNERS—HARRY "INTRODUCES" HIMSELF IN HIS OWN PECULIAR AND ADROIT WAY—HARRY AND HIS FRIEND ARE INVITED TO THE SOUTHERNER'S PRIVATE BOX—HARRY "BORROWS" MR. CLEMENS' DIAMOND RING, AND ADROITLY ESCAPES—MY DILEMMA—VISIT TO HARRY'S OLD BOARDING MISTRESS—HIS WHEREABOUTS DISCOVERED—ACTIVE WORK—A RAPID DRIVE TO PINE STREET—A FORTUNATE LIGHT IN THE OFFICE OF THE LATE HON. SIMEON DRAPER—A SUDDEN VISIT FOR A "SICK MAN" TO HARRY'S ROOM—HOW ENTRANCE WAS EFFECTED—THE RING SECURED—HUNT FOR MR. CLEMENS—A SLIGHTLY MYSTERIOUS LETTER—A HAPPY INTERVIEW.
THE MYSTERY AT 89—— STREET, NEW YORK.
"KLEPTOMANIA"—THE TENDENCY TO SUPERSTITION—AN OLD KNICKERBOCKER FAMILY—A VERY "PROPER" OLD GENTLEMAN, A MR. GARRETSON—HE CALLS ON ME AT MY OFFICE, AND FINDS A CURIOUS-LOOKING ROOM—HIS STORY OF WONDERS—"EVERYTHING" STOLEN—TALK ABOUT DISEMBODIED SPIRITS—THE MYSTERY DEEPENS—PROBABLE CONJECTURE BAFFLED—VISIT TO MR. GARRETSON'S HOUSE—MRS. GARRETSON A BEAUTIFUL AND CULTIVATED OLD LADY—WE SEARCH THE HOUSE—AN ATTIC FULL OF OLD SOUVENIRS—WE LINGER AMONG THEM—MR. GARRETSON'S DAUGHTER IS CONVINCED THAT DISEMBODIED SPIRITS ARE THEIR TORMENTORS—SHE PUTS AN UNANSWERABLE QUESTION—A DANGEROUS DOG AND THE SPIRITS—TEDIOUS AND UNAVAILING WATCHING FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND NIGHTS—THE "SPIRITS" AGAIN AT WORK—RE-CALLED—THE MYSTERY GROWS MORE WONDERFUL—THE "SPIRIT" DISCOVERED, AND THE MYSTERY UNRAVELLED—THE FAMILY SENT AWAY—THE ATTIC RE-VISITED WITH MR. G., AND ITS TREASURES REVEALED—A RE-DISCOVERY OF THE "SPIRITS"—THE FAMILY REVIEW THEIR LONG-LOST TREASURES FOUND—REFLECTIONS ON THE CAUSES OF THE MYSTERY—A PROBLEM FOR THE DOCTORS.
A SORCERESS' TRICK; HOW SHE WAS CAUGHT.
CLASSIFICATION OF MEN—THE SUPERSTITIOUS ELEMENT IN MAN—THE OLD CULTS CONTINUED IN THE NEW—FIRE WORSHIP—THE SORCERERS—MY LEGAL FRIEND'S STORY A LAUGHABLE ONE INDEED—THE DESPONDENT OLD MAID, THOUGH ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED—AN AUNT ARRIVES IN "THE NICK OF TIME"—THEY HUNT UP A FORTUNE-TELLER—MRS. SEYMOUR, THE SORCERESS, AND HER PRETTY LITTLE "ORATORY"—THE "PRIE-DIEU"—THE OLD MAID MARRIES—MRS. SEYMOUR'S PLAN FOR INSURING THE AFFECTION OF HUSBANDS—HER POWERS AS A CHARMER—THE SACRED BOX AND ITS FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS CONTENTS—MRS. SEYMOUR IS LOST SIGHT OF—SEARCH FOR HER IN BROOKLYN AND AT BOSTON—THE CHARMED BOX OPENED BY MR. AND MRS. ——, AND THE CONTENTS FOUND TO HAVE CHANGED FORM MATERIALLY—MY LEGAL FRIEND AND I LOOK AFTER MATTERS—A PORTION OF THE TRANSFORMED VALUABLES FOUND—A MRS. BRADLEY, A "MEDIUM" IN BOSTON, PROVES TO BE THE IDENTICAL MRS. SEYMOUR—THE HIGH-TONED DEVOTEES OF BOSTON—SUDDEN PROCEEDINGS TAKEN—MRS. SEYMOUR AND HER HUSBAND COME TO TERMS—RESULTS—RESPECTABLE VICTIMS OF THE SORCERERS NUMEROUS—DUPES IN THE "ATHENS OF AMERICA."
DISHONEST CLERK AND FATAL SLIP OF PAPER.
IN AN UGLY MOOD WITH MYSELF—A VISIT FROM A CINCINNATIAN—A LOSS DETAILED—THE FATE OF A BANKING HOUSE RESTING ON "COLLATERALS" STOLEN, WHICH MUST BE RECOVERED—A LAWYER FIGURES IN THE MATTER AND IS BAFFLED—THE THIEVES SPECULATING FOR A SETTLEMENT—THE SCHEME LAID FOR THEIR DETECTION—A BUSINESS VISIT TO THE BANKING-HOUSE—THE CHIEF CLERK SENT TO CHICAGO ON BUSINESS—A SEARCH REVEALING LOVE LETTERS AND A LOVELY LITERARY LADY—ON TRACK OF MYSTERIOUS "PAPERS"—THE FATAL SLIP OF PAPER—THE WAY THE STOLEN BONDS WERE RECOVERED—THE CHIEF CLERK, AND HOW HE WAS "ENLIGHTENED"—A NOVEL AND QUIET ARREST IN A CARRIAGE—THE CLERK'S CONFEDERATE CAUGHT—THE PROPERTY RESTORED—THE SCAMPS DECAMP—THE INNOCENT LITERARY LADY'S EYES OPENED.
THE THOUSAND DOLLAR LESSON.
CHARLES PURVIS: TAKING HIM IN CHARGE AT A DISTANCE—HANGERS ON AT THE ST. NICHOLAS AND OTHER HOTEL ENTRANCES—A COLLOQUY, SPICED WITH REMINISCENCES OF "OLD SAM COLT," OF THE "REVOLVER," IN HIS GAY DAYS; A PARTY AT THE "OLD CITY HOTEL," HARTFORD, CONN., AND OTHER THINGS—TRINITY COLLEGE BOYS—"GEORGE ELLSWORTH"—PURVIS AND HE START ON A WALK—"WHERE CAN THEY BE GOING?"—GOING TO SEE ELLSWORTH'S "FRIEND"—AN EXCHANGE OF COATS—A SURVEY TAKEN—A FIRST-CLASS GAMBLING SALOON—A NEW MAN IN THE GAME—PURVIS DRUGGED—HIS "FRIENDS" TAKE HIM "HOME," BUT WHERE?—PURVIS IS RETURNED TO HIS HOTEL IN A STATE OF STUPEFACTION; IS AROUSED; MISSES A THOUSAND DOLLARS—PLANS LAID TO CATCH HIS LATE FRIENDS—WILLIAMS FOUND BY ACCIDENT, AND QUIETLY CAGED—THE OLD IRISH WOMAN'S APPEAL—WILLIAMS "EXPLAINS," AFTER PROPER INDUCEMENT—MOST OF THE MONEY RECOVERED—SUPPLEMENTS.
THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.
THE ANTIQUITY OF THAT SHEEP'S SKIN AND ITS PIOUS USEFULNESS—A LARGE LOSS OF SILKS, SATINS, LACES, AND OTHER GOODS—A CONSULTATION—A LONG STUDY—THE VARIOUS CHARACTERS OF SEVERAL CLERKS, WHAT THEY DID, AND HOW THEY KILLED "SPARE TIME"—INFLUENCE OF THE CITY ON MORALS—NEW YORK CENTRAL PARK—A MOST WONDERFUL SERIES OF THEFTS—THE MATTER, INEXPLICABLE AT FIRST, GROWS MORE SUBTLE—A GLEAM OF LIGHT AT LAST—A BRIGHT ITALIAN BOY PLAYS A PART—A LADY FOLLOWED—MORE LIGHT—AN EXTEMPORIZED SERVANT OF THE CROTON WATER BOARD GETS INSIDE A CERTAIN HOUSE—SARAH CROGAN AND I—HOW A HOUSE IN NINETEENTH STREET DELIVERED UP ITS TREASURES—"WILLIAM BRUCE," ALIAS CHARLES PHILLIPS—A VERY STRANGE DENOUEMENT—A MEEK MAN TRANSFORMED; HIS RAGE—A DELIVERY UP, WITH ACCOMPANYING JEWELS—A "WIDOW" NOT A WIDOW REMOVES—WHAT SARAH CROGAN THOUGHT.
A FORCED MARRIAGE SCHEME DEFEATED.
GOSHEN, CONN.—A LADY STRANGER THERE—A PILGRIMAGE TO GOSHEN, VIA THE FAR-FAMED MOUNTAIN TOWN OF LITCHFIELD—THE BEAUTIFUL WIDOW—AN UNPLEASANT REMINISCENCE OF DR. IVES, LATE BISHOP OF NORTH CAROLINA—MORE ABOUT THE WIDOW—SHE LEAVES FOR NEW YORK—AT THE "MANSION HOUSE," LITCHFIELD—A MARKED CHARACTER ENCOUNTERED THERE—MR. "C. B. LE ROY" STUDIED AND WEIGHED—THE BEAUTIFUL WIDOW AND LE ROY MEET—HER FACE DISCLOSES CONFLICTING EMOTIONS—MR. LE ROY AND THE BEAUTIFUL WIDOW, MRS. STEVENS, TAKE A WALK DOWN SOUTH STREET, IN THE "PARADISE OF LOAFERS"—SYMPATHIES SILENTLY EXCHANGED—WE ALL START FOR THE "STATION"—THE STAGE-COACH "TURNS OVER"—THE AFFRIGHTED LE ROY REVEALS HIS MANNERS—A PECULIAR SCENE IN THE CARS—AT BRIDGEPORT I PRESENT MYSELF TO MRS. STEVENS—AT NEW YORK AGAIN—A TALE OF COMPLICATIONS—MRS. STEVENS IN DEEP TROUBLE—A FRIEND OF HERS SEEKS ME—REVELATIONS—A FEARFUL STORY—A SECRET MARRIAGE AND UNHAPPY CONSEQUENCES—THE WRETCH LE ROY WANTS THE WIDOW'S MONEY—A TRAP SET FOR LE ROY—HE FALLS INTO IT—WEDDING SCENE DISARRANGED—THE WIDOW SAVED, AND THE INTENDED FORCED MARRIAGE DEFEATED.
THE MARKED BILLS.
A LITTLE KEY BEARING A MONOGRAM SHAPES THE DESTINY OF AN INTELLIGENT MAN—HOW THIS MAN CAME TO BE INVOLVED IN THE MATTER OF WHICH THIS TALE DISCOURSES—MY PARTNER AND I—FAR-OFF MYSTERIES MAY SOLVE NEARER ONES—A CONSULTATION—A COMMITTEE "SEEK LIGHT," AND FIND CONSOLATION—BURGLARIES AND HIGHWAY ROBBERIES BY THE WHOLESALE—MY PARTNER LEAVES FOR EUROPE—A TOWN IN OHIO INFESTED—A "DOCTOR HUDSON" APPEARS IN THE TOWN—HE MAKES A PROFESSIONAL VISIT TO ONE MR. PERKINS—A COLLOQUY; SEEKING LIGHT—A CALLOUS HAND, AND A CLEW TO MYSTERIES—"DOCTOR HUDSON" EXTENDS HIS ACQUAINTANCESHIP—HE MAKES A NIGHT'S VISIT OUT OF TOWN, AND GETS WAYLAID AND ROBBED, BUT MANAGES TO CREATE THE FATAL EVIDENCE HE WANTS OF THE ROBBERS' IDENTITY—A COUNCIL OF PRINCIPAL CITIZENS—"DOCTOR HUDSON" MAKES A DISCLOSURE—A SCHEME LAID—A "MILITARY INVESTMENT" OF A DOMESTIC FORTRESS; AN EXCITING HOUR—BREAKING INTO A HOUSE AT MIDNIGHT AND SURPRISING A SLEEPER—THE THIEF LEAVES TOWN TO GO TO CINCINNATI TO STUDY MEDICINE WITH "DOCTOR HUDSON"—A SUICIDE—PURITANIC MERCILESSNESS—THE MUSIC TEACHER'S INGENIOUS LETTER TO HIS LADY LOVE.
THE COOL-BLOODED GOLD ROBBER.
A SUDDEN CALL—GREAT CONSTERNATION AT THE—— BANK IN WALL STREET—TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GOLD STOLEN—A HARD, INSOLUBLE CASE—"TRY," THE SOUL OF SUCCESS—BANKS COMPELLED TO GREATEST CAUTIOUSNESS—NO ESPRIT DE CORPS AMONG MONEY-CHANGERS—THE WAY I "CREATED" DETECTIVES—RAG-PICKERS MADE USEFUL ABOVE THEIR CALLING—AN UP-TOWN CARRIAGE HOUSE, AND ITS TREASURES—A LAUGHING COACHMAN—A PRESENT—COMPLICATED EVIDENCE UNRAVELLED—AN OLD OFFICE-WOMAN INVOLVED IN THE MYSTERY—A BIT OF FUN FURNISHES THE DESIRED "KEY"—"SMOUCHING," AND WHAT CAME OF IT—EXTENDING MY ACQUAINTANCESHIP—THE THIEF FOUND—A WALL STREET BROKER—STUDYING HIM—HIS CLERK WILED AWAY—GOOD USE OF THEATRE TICKETS—THE SCHEME OF IDENTIFICATION—A PLOT WITHIN A PLOT—THE BROKER WORSTED—HE STRUGGLES WITHIN HIMSELF; GROWS PALE—HOW HE EXECUTED THE ROBBERY—THE TERRIBLE "FORCE OF EXAMPLE" SOMETIMES—THE THIEF BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL—A SALUTARY WARNING TO OTHER THIEVES.
$1,250,000, OR THE PRIVATE MARK.
MONEY-GETTING AS RELATED TO CRIME—A VERY STRANGE HISTORY—THE MOST WONDROUS PURSUIT OF A MAN BY HIS ENEMY WHICH EVER (PROBABLY) WAS KNOWN IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD—JAMES WILLIAM HUBERT ROGERS AND "NED" HAGUE, TWO ENGLISHMEN—"DAMON AND PYTHIAS" IN EARLY LIFE—A CHANGE COMES—A DEPARTED AND CONSIDERATE UNCLE DESCRIBED, ONCE A PROTEGE OF THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA—OLIVER CROMWELL HAGUE, A RICH INDIA MERCHANT—A MARVELOUS SEARCH FOR A LOST MAN—A MAN FOUND AND IDENTIFIED BY NUMEROUS FRIENDS AS THE ONE IN QUESTION—PLOTTING AND COUNTER-PLOTTING—A SHREWD VERMONT "LAWYER" MAKES A THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING—THE INDEFATIGABLE ROGERS COMES TO AMERICA IN HIS SEARCH—LOST IN THE VASTNESS OF THE COUNTRY—WE MEET, AND DEPART FOR ST. LOUIS—TROUBLES, AND AN ENLIGHTENING DREAM—A WICKED LAWYER—THE RIGHT TO REPENT—A SPIRITED COLLOQUY WITH THE LAWYER—AN ENEMY FOUND AND SET TO WORK—THE GRASPING LAWYER OUTWITTED—THE LOST FOUND IN A TERRIBLE CONDITION—A LITTLE PRIVATE FUN OVER THE LAWYER'S DISCOMFITURE—A SHARP EXAMINATION AND CROSS-EXAMINATION—LAWYER OUTWITTED, AND LOSES FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS—MR. ROGERS DEPARTS WITH THE "LOST ONE," BOUND FOR ENGLAND—DROWNING OF THE LATTER AT SEA—THE CHERISHED VICTORY OF YEARS VANISHES—OUT, WITH A LAUGH.
WILLIAM ROBERTS AND HIS FORGERIES.
A MAN OF THE OLDEN TYPE—HIS SAD STORY ABOUT HIS WIFE AND HIMSELF—THEY ADOPT A BRIGHT BOY—THE WIFE'S PROPHET SPECULATIONS ABOUT THE BOY—THE BOY GROWS UP AND GOES TO COLLEGE—A PLEASANT YEAR—HE LEARNS CERTAIN MYSTERIES OF LIFE—STUDENTS' PITCHED BATTLE WITH THE FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE—OF THE "WHITE HORSE"—A WHILE IN A LAWYER'S OFFICE—BECOMES A MERCHANT—MAKING MONEY TOO FAST—A FATAL HOUR—THE VORTEX OF WALL STREET—SUNDRY FORGERIES—A STRANGE CAREER—AN IMPORTANT WITNESS LOST, AND FOUND IN THE INSANE RETREAT, HARTFORD, CONN.—A TERRIBLE COMPLICATION OF AFFAIRS; LAWYERS AND ALL BAFFLED—I AM CALLED IN TO WORK UP THE CASE—DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED—FATE INTERPOSES—WENTWORTH, THE INSANE WITNESS, RECOVERS—A VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLACK INK AND BLUE INK—DYING OF GRIEF—AN UNHAPPY HOUSEHOLD.
OLD MR. ALVORD'S LAST WILL.
THE DESTRUCTIVE GREED OF GAIN—A WEIRD, WONDROUS TALE—"WHAT IF THEY BUT KNEW"—TELLING STORIES AWAY FROM HOME—REVELATIONS—AN OLD MAN OF THE HIGH MORAL TYPE—CURIOUS NOTION ABOUT THE SIZE OF A FAMILY—THE MYSTIC NUMBER THREE—PORTRAITS OF A FAMILY; A PERFECT WOMAN—DEATH AND INTRIGUES—A "FAITHFUL SERVANT"—OLD WILLS AND NEW—LEGAL COMPLICATIONS—THE LAST WILL MISSING—A CRAFTY LAWYER—A THOROUGH SEARCH—A DIABOLICAL COURTSHIP, AND FIERCE STRUGGLE THROUGH THREE YEARS—A DETECTIVE AT LAST CALLED INTO THE MATTER—A PLOT LAID TO FOIL OLD BOYD, AN UNSCRUPULOUS LAWYER—DID IT SUCCEED?—THE READER PERMITTED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR HIMSELF—A VITAL DISCOVERY—MORE PLOTTING—A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY MAKES A DIVERSION IN THE PLANS—OLD ANDREW WILCOX'S FUNNY LETTERS SEARCHED AND A TREASURE "FOUND" AMONG THEM—OLD BOYD'S CONSTERNATION—THE LAST WILL FINALLY CARRIED OUT—"NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE"—A FORTUNE TOO LARGE TO BE LAUGHED AT—A CUNNING WIFE LEADS HER HUSBAND A CURIOUS LIFE—A BIT OF COMFORT, PERHAPS.
THE CONFIDENTIAL CLERK.
THE INNOCENT OFTEN SUFFER WITH THE GUILTY—THE DETECTIVES' "KEYS"—REGRETS—LEONARD SAVAGE, A YOUNG MAN OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND HIS FAMILY STOCK—RICHARD BROOKS, A WEALTHY NEW YORK MERCHANT—HIS VISIT TO YOUNG SAVAGE'S FATHER—RESULTS—PARTIAL BIOGRAPHY OF MR. BROOKS, IN WALL STREET AND ELSEWHERE—A SLAVE TO FORTUNE—A FATHER'S PRIDE—MR. BROOKS' FEARFUL DREAM—MR. BROOKS IN THE OLD HOME OF HIS CHILDHOOD—HOW A TRUE MAN TREATS HIS WIFE—FAMILY ASPIRATIONS—THE LOVE OF YOUNG MEN—COUNTRY AND CITY TEMPTATION—A "NEW SUIT," AND A TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS—A SURPRISING PRESENT—A HAPPY SEASON—A FEARFUL CHANGE COMES—TERRIBLE RESULTS OF AN UNJUST JUDGMENT—STRANGEST THING EVER KNOWN—A CATHOLIC PENITENT AN ACTOR IN THE SCENES—REMORSE—UNRAVELLINGS IN AN UNEXPECTED WAY—A SPEEDY VOYAGE TO EUROPE TO RESTORE THE WRONGED TO HIS RIGHT PLACE.
THE PECULIAR ADVERTISEMENTS.
THE DOCTRINE OF CHANCE—A NIGHT AT THE GIRARD HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA—AN INOFFENSIVE GENTLEMAN, MY ROOM-MATE—I DISTURB HIS SLEEP—A QUEER TALE—NELLIE WILSON AND HER UNCLE—WILLIAM WILSON, NELLIE'S DISSOLUTE COUSIN—FEARFUL LOVE-MAKING—A RESCUE—A CALL TO DUTY—A DEAD MAN'S WILL MISSING—STUDYING UP THE CASE WITH THE GREAT CRIMINAL LAWYER, JUDGE S.—FATE INTERPOSES—A MYSTERIOUS AND PECULIAR ADVERTISEMENT—AT THE CONTINENTAL HOTEL, WAITING AND WATCHING—AN "APPEARANCE"—WILLIAM WILSON AGAIN—AN UPPER ROOM, AND THE VILLAINS THEREIN—A PRIVATE CONFERENCE NOT ALL SECRET—A FLASH OF VICTORY BEFORE UTTER DEFEAT—NOTES AND DOCUMENTS EXCHANGED—BASE REJOICINGS—FATAL NEGLECT—THE SURPRISE—COMPLETE DISCOMFITURE—END ACCOMPLISHED—"COALS OF FIRE," BUT THEY DO NO GOOD—VIOLENT DEATH—HAPPY CONSEQUENCES—PECULIAR ADVERTISEMENTS UNRAVELLED.
