one evening to the bootmaker's house,
requesting him to send the boots lately ordered by an old customer, J.
C, to the "Blue Balls," at Clontarf, addressed, "George J. Grogan, Esq."

The shopkeeper, on receiving this epistle, immediately communicated it
to the authorities, who could not fail to see in it another circumstance
of deep suspicion. From the first moment of having learned his name,
they had prosecuted the most active inquiries, and learned that he had
actually been in town the evening of Rutledge's death, and suddenly
taken his departure on the morning after. The entire of the preceding
evening, too, he had been absent from his hotel, to which he returned
late at night, and instead of retiring to bed, immediately occupied
himself with preparations for his departure.

As the individual was one well known, and occupying a prominent position
in society, it was deemed to be a step requiring the very gravest
deliberation in what manner to proceed. His political opinions, and even
his personal conduct, being strongly opposed to the Government, rather
increased than diminished this difficulty, since the Liberal papers
would be sure to lay hold of any proceedings as a gross insult to the
national party.

The advice of the law officers, however, overruled all these objections;
a number of circumstances appeared to concur to inculpate him, and it
was decided on issuing a warrant for his arrest at the place which he
had named as his address.

Secrecy was now no longer practicable; and to the astonishment of
all Dublin was it announced in the morning papers that Mr. Curtis was
arrested the preceding night, on a judge's warrant, charged with the
murder of Barry Rutledge.

Terrible as such an accusation must always sound, there is something
doubly appalling when uttered against one whose rank in society would
seem to exempt him from the temptations of such guilt. The natural
revulsion to credit a like imputation is, of course, considerable; but,
notwithstanding this, there were circumstances in Curtis's character and
habits that went far to render the allegation not devoid of probability.
He was a rash, impetuous, and revengeful man, always involved
in pecuniary difficulties, and rarely exempt from some personal
altercation. Harassed by law, disappointed, and, as he himself thought,
persecuted by the Government, his life was a continual conflict. Though
not without those who recognized in him traits of warm-hearted an