LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 409, 4 October 1875, Page 3

LITERATURE.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. BY CLAUD HALCRO. (From the Saturday Advertiser.) I have lived a wandering life, and have had many hairbreadth escapes, but my worst fix was being entangled in a web of "Circumstantial Evidence" in the United States. I was employed as a clerk in the engineering department of the Michigan State Government. Large public works were going on in Johnsville, Michigan, and ray duties were to make out the monthly statements for the Government. By these statement.-! the contractors were paid. Our " chief" was a Scotchman, from Gourock, named Macindoe. One day I happened to see James Richardson (one of the firm of Richardson Brothers, who held a large contract in connection with the works at Johnsville), in close confabulation with the " chief," and I overheard the words " fifteen hundred." I took no notice of this; but ten minutes or so after, Macindoe dropped a piece of paper. I picked it up, and saw that it was a cheque, drawn by Richardson Brothers, for 1500 dollars, payable to Macindoe. I had heard of such things as "palm oil," and "baksheesh." and my suspicions were naturally aroused. I knew a little about engineering measurements ; so next Sunday I walked out to the works and measured the quantity of excavation done by the Richardsons during the previous month. On examining it with Macindoe's measurements, I found that Macindoe h-d certified for 15,000 yards more than had been done, which, at 40 cents a yard, made a difference of GOOO dollars to the contractors ! It did not require much discrimination to see what the 1500 dollars meant. In plain English, Macindoe and the Richardsons were robbing the Government at the rate of six or seven thousand dollars a month. I resolved to keep my eye open, and soon was in possession of measurements enough to have damned any of them. One of the engineers from Washington came down to see how the works were proceeding, and I had a private interview with him, and told him what I knew. " Well, Mr MacKenzie," said he, "if I persuade the Government to appoint you inspector, with an increase of salary, and nothing to do but to check their measurements, will you accept it ?" At first I demurred as I could not stomach the idea of being a paid spy ; hut on the case being put in the light that I might save the country some thousands of dollars and thwart Macindoe and his fellow scoundrels, I accepted it. The next step Mr Hoskins (the Government engineer, from Washington) took was to inform Macindoe and the Richardsons that a man would be detailed to measure the work done, and that they must suspend operations for a day or two. I went down on the following Monday and commenced my work. Judge of my amazement when I found that false certificates had been granted for over 150,000 yards. Mr Hoskins came down at the end of the week and I disclosed the result of my investigations. He then told me that instant measures would be taken to bring the offenders to justice, and he had shrewd suspicions that other than the Richardsons and Macindoe had been concerned in frauds. I asked him who he meant, and he told me that Green, the assistant engineer, a prominent member of the sect called " Sandemanians," had been acting in a very suspicious manner. On Sunday afternoon Green came to my lodgings at the works, which was about sixteen miles from Johnsville, and told me that Macindoe wished to see me that night on very important business, and that 1 had better take my buggy, as it might be late before I left. He added that he was not going to return that night. I wondered what this important business might be ; but I thought that I might as well see : so, getting the buggy harnessed, I drove off. When I got into Johnsville it was about six o'clock, so I got some dinner at an hotel, and set out for Macindoe's about seven. I was rather astonished to find Macindoe, James Richardson, Green, and a young fellow called Eliot, one of the assistant engineers, waiting for me. After some unimportant talk, Macindoe came up to me, and, patting mc on the shoulder said, "Look here, Mackenzie, I'll give you 5000 dollars to start off to-morrow morning for Europe, and to deliver tins letter for me in Regent road, Loudon." "And I'll put another 5000 to the back of it," said James Richardson. I was rather taken aback, but, smelling a rat, I shook my head. They went on increasing their offers till they came to 15,000 dollars. " Well, gentlemen," said I, rising, "give me till tomorrow morning to think about it," and they agreed to do so. I then left for the works, and got home about one in the morning rather tired, and after a tumbler of good hot toddy, made as only a Scotchman knows how to make it, I went to bed. But I could not sleep. Conflicting thoughts were coursing through my mind, and I could not for a long time decide what to do. I knew that my evidence would send Macindoe and his confederates to the State pi'ison, and I rather liked Macindoe as a man. I was not in receipt of a very large salary, and fifeeeii thousand dollars would have been very grateful to me, and I could not at first see the wrong I would be doing by accepting a bribe. But at last my better angel prevailed, and I determined that, come what would, my conscience should be unsullied. At last, after a weary night, morning broke, and I got up about eleven o'clock, and prepared to resume my work. Just" as I was rising from the breakfast table a man entered the room, and said, " Is your name Mackenzie ?"

"Yes," I replied. 'Then,' said he, 'you arc ray prisoner,' and with these words he handed me a "fugae" warrant. I found, on referring to the warrant, that affidavit had been made before the Judge of the District Court that I was about to leave the State of Michigan, and that as my evidence was required in the impending suit of the ' State of Michigan against Macindoe and others,' I was warned against leaving the said State of Michigan till the said trial had been heard and determined or otherwise disposed of. Here was a pretty kettle of fish ! But I found that there was no help for it, and that I must go into Johnsville right away with my friend the bailiff. So off we went, and arrived in Johnsviile about one o'clock. There I learned that Macindoe, Green, Eliot, and James Richardson had all been arrested the previous night, and were just then in safe custody.

But this did not suffice to explain why I had been arrested, and so I went straight to Kennedy, the ohief of the police department, to find out. Kennedy was a great friend of mine, and so I was convinced that from him I should hear the whole truth. I was ushered into his office, and he rose to meet me, saying,

' This is a bad business of yours, old fellow ; I assure you it was very unpleasant to me to have to do my duty against you, but I had no help for it.' ' I don't blame you for that,' said T, 'but what 1 want to know is why you had to do your duty against me ?' 'My dear fellow,' lie exclaimed, 'if you go and accept bribes from Macindoe and his crew, and make preparations to clear out, you must expect to be detained.' 'Accept bribes!' said 1, 'you must be dreaming, Kennedy.' ' Why, did you not,' he exclaimed, ' did you not get a cheque for 5000 dollars fron James Richardson last night, and cash it at the branch bank near the works this morning V ' Not I. I never lingered a penny of Richardson's money,' I exclaimed indignantly, and with that I turned to leave the room, still however followed by my friend the officer.

' There is some mystery is this,' exclaimed Kennedy, and with that he ran after me, and told me that if I would wait he would explain it. And this was the sum and substance of his explanation. The night before, from information received, he had arrested Macindoe, Richarpson, Green, and Eliot, at the house of the first-named, and Richardson had told him (Kennedy) that 1 had received a cheque for 5000 dollars on the branch bank at the works, and that I was going to clear out on the following day. He bad then telegraphed down to the bank at the works, and had received a reply to the eil'ect that a cheque drawn by James Richardson, endorsed by myself, had been cashed by a stranger that morning. They had at first refused to cash it, but on comparing my signature they concluded it was genuine, and had cashed the cheque. Acting on this information, Kennedy reluctantly had me arrested. Just before my arrival he was informed that at the lodging I had occupied at Johnsville, and where the major part of my luggage was still kept, my boxes had been discovered corded and addressed to ' London England,' in my own handwriting, and that my theodolite, &c, were all packed for

transit. This information astounded me, and I had nothing to say for some time, but at length I found words to express my indignation. I could see that it was all a dodge on the part of some one or other to ruin me, and 1 thought that I could trace it to .Richardson. I was sitting down, resting my head on my hands, and cursing the hour when I had been appointed to the office of Inspector, when Kennedy entered, and stated that he had arrested the man who had cashed the cheque, and would, if I wished it, take me to see him. I saw a ray of hope in this information, and telling Kennedy not to tell him who I was, that I would see if he knew me. It was as I expected. The man who had cashed the cheque was a stepson of Richardson's who had but recently arrived in Johnsville from New York, and who did not know me by sight. When I was confronted with him he gave no sign of recognition, and when Kennedy asked him if he knew me, he said ' No.' ' Why, said Kennedy, ' that's Mr Mackenzie, who gave you a cheque for iJOOO dollars this morning; surely you know him?' Here the young man burst into tears, and confessed the plot. When his stepfather and Macindoe found out that they were caught fast, they determined that I should suffer, and so, procuring a private interview with himself, they had instructed him to make his way to my lodgings, and ticket my luggage with tickets which Richardson had written in imitation of my handwriting, with which he was familiar. .Richardson then gave him a cheque for 5000 dollars, forged my name as an endorsement, and instructed me to get it cashed at the branch bank as soon as possible. ' But the best laid schemes,' —you know the rest—and this was no exception to the rule. Kennedy got this confession sworn to before the Judge, and then liberated me. Well, to cut a long story short, I was re-in-stated, and at the next criminal assizes Macindoe, Richardson, Eliot, and Green were tried, and all except Eliot convicted. Macindoe got fourteen years, Richardson twentyone, and Green fourteen, and richly they deserved it. As for me, I staid in my billet for a couple of years, and then came over by the last 'Frisco mail to New Zealand in search of fresh adventure. But your life here is very tame to one who has seen duels more than once fought across a pocket-hand-kerchief. I will some day or other tell you about the only duel I ever fought, but just now 1 think I have bored you enough, so an re voir vies amis.