Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-06
Albany POLICE-Feb. a5th.

The Wo0den Nufmegs again IN maarHet'
and gold to copper Notwithstanding In
December last, a man named Smith, together
with a woman who passed for his wife, made
their appearance in this city, with the banner y
of distres. "hung upon the outer walls Inc
story Of Smith was, that in emigrdting TO this
country from a foreign one, viz. New Bruins
wick, Quebec, Montreal and Lake ~Champlaln,
with a large cargo Of the super6ne productions
tom house %se- u:sg ss,fhs had isiYs", With bG ali, Or M ne s"i
all, of his worldly inheritances into the hands
Of a U. States collector in Vermont. This sto-
nv was backed by the occasional display OF a
quantity Of sovereigns. Among those who
lent a listening ear 10 his eloquent relations OF
wrongs and opPressions, was a MIR. Holmes, OF
whom Smith had rented a tenement, and there.
by acquired a "loeal habilation." The &C.
quaintance thus commenced was much improv-
ed BY some theatrical quarrcls between Smith
and his wife about the ''soversfgns," which, as
she insisted, constituted a sacred deposi, in her
hands, not 10 be parted with without the con-
sent of all the parties concerned. Pending this
sovereign appeal and negotiation, The visit Of
Gov. Van Ness. Of Vermont, to this city, was
a subject Of very considerable no,oriety. With
that gentleman Smith pretended q personal &C
qnaintance-tu have had interviews with him
in relation TO his property held in durance vile
by the wicked collector, and also TO have re-
ceived from Cow. positive assurances, that
for the trihing sum Of BIS or $50, he could
obtain a release Of the large amount which had
been seized.
To "raise the wind" to this amount, was now
the object. According 10 another branch Of
Smiths private history, however, he had fortu.
nately rescued or saved, or snatched from the
rracn nj ttouthoritu a frunk confaininp n
quantity of Irish linens, fifteen pieces Of which
he had still on hands, and which he proposed
10 pu, in pledge with MIR. H. for a loan OF the
REQUISITE. The trunk of linen was accordingly
brought into the store Of Holmes in the eve
ming, and received by his son, who took a me-
morandum of the number Of pieces and the
number of yards in each, as they were called
over by Smith, and exhibited, nicely "done up,"
and labelled in the first style. The next morn
ing, the father, understanding that all was right,
counted out ",he silver" In the mean time,
the next lt,le trunk, the trunk which contained
the sacred dust, was also placed under the SUI
Vigilance of MIR. II. for safe keeping, merely, as
the house occupied by his tenants was rather
insecure and in an exposed situation. II was
accidentally very soon discovered tina. Smith,
instead Of facing the storms and iempesls Of
the north, had taken stage with his wife and
child. for Boston! Suspicion being lhus awak
ened, i, was deemed a just ground OF inquiry
into the contents Of the trunks, when on their
examination, 10 the no small surprise Of Mr.. H.
the yellow boys had been melamorphosed into
base copper coin. and the bleached pride Of the
Emerald isle had become solid billets Of wood,
nicely cut and snugly bound up in due form Of
Irish linen! 4. knowledge Of this discovery put
the vigilance Of our police into active opera
ton. Mr.. Se;h Green, one of the city coDs,a.
bles, with a requisition from Gov. Van Buren,
UPON the chief magistrate Of Massachusetts
was dispatched in pursuit Of Smith, who was
found by him in Boston, brought back to this
city on Tuesday evening last, and safely COM
mi,ied.