I would advertise for a person dressed as I believed Mrs. Van Burnam to have been when she left the scene of crime. If I received news of such a person, I might safely consider my theory established. I accordingly wrote the following advertisement: "Information wanted of a woman who applied for lodgings on the morning of the eighteenth inst., dressed in a brown silk skirt and a black and white plaid blouse of fashionable cut. She was without a hat, or if a person so dressed wore a hat, then it was bought early in the morning at some store, in which case let shopkeepers take notice. The person answering this description is eagerly sought for by her relatives, and to any one giving positive information of the same, a liberal reward will be paid. Please address, T. W. Alvord, ---- Liberty Street." I purposely did not mention her personal appearance, for fear of attracting the attention of the police. This done, I wrote the following letter: "DEAR MISS FERGUSON: "One clever woman recognizes another. I am clever and am not ashamed to own it. You are clever and should not be ashamed to be told so. I was a witness at the inquest in which you so notably distinguished yourself, and I said then, 'There is a woman after my own heart!' But a truce to compliments! What I want and ask of you to procure for me is a photograph of Mrs. Van Burnam. I am a friend of the family, and consider them to be in more trouble than they deserve. If I had her picture I would show it to the Misses Van Burnam, who feel great remorse at their treatment of her, and who want to see how she looked. Cannot you find one in their rooms? The one in Mr. Howard's room here has been confiscated by the police.[C] "Hoping that you will feel disposed to oblige me in this--and I assure you that my motives in making this request are most excellent--I remain, "Cordially yours, "AMELIA BUTTERWORTH. "P. S.--Address me, if you please, at 564 ---- Avenue. Care of J. H. Denham." This was my grocer, with whom I left word the next morning to deliver this package in the next bushel of potatoes he sent me.