The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-27
Strange Credulity-A 5000 swinale.

from the columbus W STATE Journal aug
About two weeks ago, rs gentleman fArmsr,
living in Madison county, was riding towards bus
home not far distant. he observed naa and wo
man by the road side, engaged IN repairing tinware.
A few days afterwards, o woman called at MS house
and after some conversation, asked him II he did
not ecoIlect her. He replied that he did not. S,e
then iold him that she bae seen him on Che road q
few days before, and that his appearance had made
such an i'm. resson upon her mind, that she was
compelled to coll and see him. She told him tina.
che WA an Dstrologer, and that she was well &C.
quaintf with its mysteries. Sue saw at once that
be was an extraordinary person, and knew tina. he
great things might be expected of him. She then
took from Der apron book which seemed to con-
tain number Of diagrams, figures, &C., and read
from it, IN an unknown tongue, few "hocus pO
Gus" sentences, after which, closing II and put
ting it back into its hiding place. she went into the
kit hen, bought few pounds of butter OF the wife
Of the gentleman, for which she paid literally, and
A day or two afterwards, the woman called again,
reitera;ing what she had said ON her first VISIT the
farmer paying but little attention to what she said,
looking uron the whole affair as attempt ~ hum
bug him. Not at all discouraged, tbs woman called
again tee next day, and wound up her converse
tion by saying that she knew where three hat
full OF gold had been burrd on his farm, and that,
If he would do "a she directed they could cover
it but that it necessary to allay the spirits
that stood guard over it that large cum Of money
must be present with them, ut the incarnation. She
thoughtive Thousand dollars would be required, bat
was lot sure as to the amount and she proposed,
II he would 60 into it, and furnish the money that
she would give him two.thirds of the tressnre while
she would reserve the other one third as her share
Up to this time, the farmer appears to have
had no confidence In the woman but as shs
took his hand, aud traced the mysterious lines
therein, telling hi the great things in store for
him, be began to place some confidence In her.
especially she Lad told him some things that had
occurred in hs life that he supposed had been
known. About this time he sold large lot OF
cattle for which he received in cash about 81 900.
The next day the woman called again, and said
that So Geo was the amount required to be present
to alay the spirits. The far me- then produced the
package Of money re cevei foc the cattle, and the
two sat down to table and counted out 50 900 in
bank Lotfs, excepting four small gold coins The
money was then folded up and put into handker
chief, the woman all the time making strange mo
tons and talking strange talk: The next day and
counting the money as before, making the same
signs, &C., but leaving the money with the
farmer, wrapped up 10 the handkerchief. At
The next visit, she required him to take solemn
taIh that be WAS not to tell to q living soul the
object they were In pursuit Of, that she was
going away, TO be absent short time; he was
not to look 1T the package OF money ct any
time excepting WREN she was present; and. al
ter makpg sn earnest PRAY err she took hold Of him
while she bed the package IL money in her ham,,
and swung him around, 20 that they came together
back t. back. She then gave him back tn g hand
kercbief, q be supposed, all right and told him
that she aould return on the l5sh l6th or 18th Of
August. and then they would 90 Ia company, and
secure the hidden treasure. On the 18th he hardly
expected 70 meet her. and was not disappointed that
abe did net come. On the 10th he cat up late at
night expecting her arrival.
After waiting ell near midnight, on the 18th,
he began N suspect all WIS not right and he feared
all this might be trap TO rob him. So strong did
tSis Suspicion fasten npon him, that he took up his
gun, loaded Il, and vent otSt into the shrubbery
the house, where he could see al VINO
appHoaS he'd ~ithout being seen, and remained there
until two o'clock In tho msrAing. Bot no ono same.
the time had elapsed that vas let BY his lar vsl
tor, he conidared himself sbsolveG from nn opilg@
ton, never doubling In the least bat that hn money
was safely deposited IN the handkerch Vel.
Unroling carefully, what was In osmAy y
seeing, not roll OF bank blls, and fou, pieces o.
gold "a be had left t. but package Of br, wa paper
AID four cents In lieu thereof. Even the 1enok0
chief had been changed instead Of being own,
= IVES one precisely sisoilsr One Of the STR vecN
'hngs IN AL this strange transaction IL that oan
ere4t nve dollsr bill that was PLACED In the pa =
IKE OF money was taken out Of It, aud returned
ne roll OF brown paper. How this was done Is
mystery We cannot solve. The farmer Who been
% completely bamboozled out Of 50 900, now seeks
o aid some remedy Mt Law.
Strange as this story may appear 70 many we
ave the facts fro n the most undoubted authority
nd we have given them Just as they occurred. We
an syupathize with our Il end, the farmer, In the
)ss OF his money. for he IL not the first Of the mss-
uiine gender who has been, aud alas he IA not the
"a ~ hi hc dun~d Nv a pr~Hxv $500.