eived your letter, but have made inquiry,
and found that in the spring of 1827, the person alluded to in your
letter was robbed while in Wheeling, on his way to Philadelphia, out of
rising three thousand dollars: which money he has never heard of. He is
a man in good circumstances, and was at that time, in fact he has always
been, considered wealthy. I conversed with him one time upon the
subject, but he dislikes to have it mentioned to him. You likewise
wished me to inquire if he received any letters of introduction or
recommendation previous to his departure, on the date mentioned. He had
several, and with one exception, they were all from his best friends.
One he had given him by a man residing in Lawrenceburgh, Indiana, was
for the purpose of introducing him to Daniel Brown, a merchant of
Dearborn county, whom he met in Cincinnati, on his (Brown's) return, and
had but a few moments' time to converse with him, after he gave him the
letter. You, therefore, know all I can ascertain about your request." I
could then see through the whole lead of his misfortunes, and it is
about in this way. The letter which he bore to Brown, having the
particulars concerning his temperament, likewise the amount of money,
&c., enabled Brown to set the band upon him, who robbed him, and then
divided with Brown and his Lawrenceburgh friend. These letters I had
transcribed and put them up and lectured to the citizens of
Lawrenceburgh concerning the horrible fact of their existence; and
these are the letters spoken of, that made the pigeon's flutter, and
likewise caused so many threats of my assassination; and all that
prevented them was, that they feared whoever might have the handling of
the papers hereafter might handle them with less mercy.

CHAPTER XIII.

I have frequently, in the course of this work, had to notice the very
intimate connection which those concerned in the administration of
justice, or ostensibly in the suppression of crime, had with those who
perpetrate it. In all of our large cities, this occasionally forces
itself into public notice. Anxious as the authorities always are to
conceal any thing of this kind, it accidentally leaks out. The
opportunity for concealment, and the advantages afforded by official
station, have not been overlooked by the Brothers, and the police of
every city contains several of the fraternity. In all fairness, however,
the great mass of crime connected with such establishments ought no