The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-05-29 00:00:00

A SINGULAR STORY.

The Preston Chuerdian tells the frill:ming singular story:—

The following facts, if not authenticated beyond
dispute, would scarcely he credited. On October 1,
1867, a Blackburn manufacturer procured from the
Manchester and County Bank, Manchester, in pay-
ment of check, £lOO, of which fiv Bark of England
notes formed a part. These five 4720 notes were paid
to a Blackburn yarn agent, and by him handed over to
his spinner. On reaching home, a little beyond Colne,
the spinner gave the notes to his father, who was also
his partner, and the payment was duly entered in the
cash-book at the mill. The old gentleman did not keep
* private cash-box, but simply deposited the money
where many thousands had been placed before, and for
the time thought no more about it. A little more than
a fortnight ago a man, with a gipsy physiognomy, along
with a child about ten years of age, called at the house
of the spinner, soliciting charity. Compassion was
excited, the man and child were fed, a pair of trousers
was given to the former, and from the wardrobe of the
spinner's daughter the child received ample contribu-
tions. On the same evening the man returned, saying
he had found in the lining of the trousers a £2O note,
which he handed to his benefactor. The man was
rewarded for his honesty, and went away rejoicing.
The fact of the 1720 having turned up so strangely was
told to the police-officer stationed there, and he in turn
told the circumstances to the police-sergeant at Colne.
Unfortunately, our hero of the raven locks and olive
complexion now assumed another character, and the
romantic incident which told no well for him was
altogether changed. The fact in, be found in the
pocket of the trousers not only one, but five £'2o notes,
and report says, though this might not be true, finding
he could not get them changed, he offered them as
flash notes at 3a. each, and yet was unable to part
with them. He then thought that he could ascertain
what the notes really were by taking back one, and
finding out its value the worth of the other notes would
then also be known. Shortly after the man had dis-
covered that the notes were genuine he was seen in
Colne, and he got very drunk. He purchased at
Nelson a quarter of a pound of tobacco, and tendered
a £720 note, which, after some precaution on the part
of the shopman, was cashed. Being now in funds and
in the height of his hilarity, he ordered a pair of
trousers to be made for himself, bought shawls tor the
child, and, in short, isouandered right and and left the
money which he had so strangely obtained. It is
believed by the police, that one of the £2O notes was
used for lighting a pipe; but, as the number is known.
if it has been destroyed the value can be recovered.
The man was taken into custody, and last week the
case came before the magistrates at Colne. The
cashier of the County Bank proved the identity of the
notes recovered; the facts above stated were sworn to
by other witnesses, but as the man pleaded "Guilty"
the case was summarily treated. He was sentenced
to seven days' imprisonment in the Preston House of
Correction. 'l'he money recovered to the spinner
amount to a little over £64.