The Midnight Thief on the Steamer Isabel

Among the passengers on the steamer Isabel, bound from Victoria to Tacoma, was a lady on her way to visit some friends. Soon after the steamer got underway, the purser came around to collect fares. As she paid, she took from a satchel a smaller one, in which she carried her money. She replaced the purse in her satchel, which she kept by her side. Directly, the breakfast bell rang and, without thinking of her money, she went to the dining room. Soon, however, she remembered leaving her money in her cabin and sent immediately to have her satchel brought to her. Imagine her surprise upon opening it to find that every cent of money had been stolen from her purse. She immediately notified the captain, who instituted a search, and every passenger on board was examined. At length, all had been searched except one man who did not seem to like the idea of having anyone go through his pockets. Some of the passengers insisted, however, and money of the same denomination as that lost by the lady was found upon him. The man, whose name is Fred Cummings, well known in this city, was arrested at Townsend, but on account of not having sufficient proof and the transaction happening as it did on a boat with an English bottom, he was discharged and has commenced suit against the captain of the Isabel to recover the money taken from him.