The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-17
LOCALH MATTERS

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80 at3 hsbagasa 9ia ----s Hnl3Ef Y5
FEAT or A GIpsy--AsroNIsHING DIFFUSION =
gang OF gipsies, consisting of three or four fam
lilies, have been for some weeks occupying the
large brick building near the stone warehouse in
the neighborhood of the Observatory j, whittier
have been attracted many credulous persons-
| men and women, boys and girls--under belief
| that these yagabonds had the power to foretell
beir late in life. Other portions Of the same tribe
| have been in Georgetown, and perhaps some are
there yet. circumstance has lately occupied the
| attention of our police, and its publication may
tend TO put people on their guard against these
people, and also to disspate the foolish creduty
which induces some persons to put faith in for
tune telling, @ aazeo Agoas h.a
| These gipsies were some weeks ago encamped
near Bristol post Office, Anne Arundel county,
Maryland. and the women, as we are informed,
dida thriving business at fortune telling. store
having been broken open and robbed in the neigh
borhood, and no clue to the robbers being found,
resort was, had by some of the parties to the lead
ing gypsy woman, to see if she could put them
on the trail of the robbers. Amongst the many
who visited her for this purpose was Captain Rob
ert Perry, gentleman of respectable standing,
OF considerable means. and hitherto considered
sharp enough to protect himaelf from folly in the
business affairs of life . e a--9ts-.%
Captain Perry was selected by the gypsy as a
victim She told him that on bis form was secreted
| treasure, the enormous value of which be could
scarcely conceive, and that if he would grant her
a private interview at his house she would dis.
cover to him the means Of securing it. He con
scented, and they met according to appointment,
She told him that she could proceed no further
unless lie exhibited to her one thousand dollars in
current money. Captain p. said that he had not
tn It much in his possession, all be had being
$3.50 'Phe gypsy was firm, and declared she
could not disclose the secret without the full sum-
The suspicious Of Captain P were partly aroused,
but the prospect of future wealth proved too strong
for his scrupfes, and he promised to borrow the
balance OF the required sum, and appointed auo-
ther day for the meeting, being somewhat assured
that there was no danger OF loss, the money was
at no time to be taken from his possession. At the
next meeting Captain Perry was present with
S ,O35, he having borrowed 5000. The money
was counted, placed in shot-bag, enveloped in
brown paper, and gain wrapped in cotton cloth,
and was placed in atrunk, which was locked, and
The key taken by Perry. 1t was there to remain
and she and Perry had an interview alone The
trunk was opened, and the bundle was found exact
ly as it had been placed. He was required then to
go upon his knees order that her lamentations per-
formed over the trunk and money might have their
fullefect.o While go engaged her cloak fell upon
the trunk, bat eiquickly replaced it on her shout
ders. The mysterious proceeding being over,
Perry was called to examine the trunk, and found
He was now told thatthe work was done, and that on
the ninth day she would return, and if the money,
&C., in the trunk were all right, she would be at
liberty 10 point out to him the exact location OF the
treasure ON his farm. She fUrther told him that If
she detained by sickness or other use, he
was to open the trunk himself, and would find the
necessary instr uctions 1t can scarcely be credit.
ed that man possessing his ordinary senses could
true that the trunk sacredly kept closed for the
ninth day, "a Saturday, and the gypsy did not
return Preferring to receive ocular realization
of his hopes by the personal aid of the gypsy to
trusting to written instructions from the invisible
world, he delayed opening the trunk, in hopes Of
her reappearng, till last Monday. He then I'M
locked it, took out the bundle, removed the various
wrappings, and found shot bag which he hastily
few leaves of tobacco! Thr gypsy had substitu.
ted this bundle for the one containing his money
Without informing his family or friends of his
mishap, he obtained the services of two or three
persons, and, mounted, they fastened to this city
in pursuit of the gpsies, it being stated they had
come this way. Ascertaining that some of them
were residing in the First ard he stated the above
facts to Justice Drury, who issued warrant to
search the premises of the gipsies. 81 .- ..s
The officers visited the place, and the appear.
ance OF the parties presented the most squalid and
wretched poverty; no furniture, save some beds
thrown on the floor, was found in the house. Two
OF the beds were occupied by women in confine
ment. No obstacle was presented to the search;
and, tied up In hand kerchiefs, rags, in tin kettles
boxes, SC, the officers found large quantities of
gold and silver coin, amounting, it is said, to at
least $4,000 Captain Perry could Identify none
Of his money-the greater portion of it having
been in bills of baltimore banks-nor could he
identify either OF the women here as the woman |
who had promised him the treasure Since then,
with the aid of several officers he has been scour-
ing the neighbor;ng counties of Virginia and Ma
ryland, but up to last night had obtained no know
ledge of his fortune teller. 1919 al2s.i4G@ @si
We regret to have it to say that any one should
have been unfortunate to fall victim to such
supersttious folly; and still further have to regret
TO add that Captain Perry, on Saturday, not con-
tualy visited professional fortune teller in this
city, to be informed where it was likely he could
find his lost money I7~.S- "@--& %'4s .. ..'':