Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-08-11

CRIME AND REPENTANCE.-Ihc here died
recently in New York an aged Hollander
named Shumm, who for long time has
been an object of compassion 10 his neigh
bcrs, as well or account of his apparent
poverty as for mons;rous hernia, from
which he seemed to suffer exceedingly.
lie was known for very eccentric and
stubborn man. Although he had been all
ing for several weeks, not only bad he re-
fused all medical assistance, but he was de.
termined TO retain upon him all his ward
robe, consisting of a pair Of velvet panta-
looms once green, IN old pea jacket and a
summpr'surlout-- habiliments which I'll tes-
tilted to the lasting and profound attachment
ielt for them by their proprietor.
A few hours before his death he sent for
Mr.. Van Duerson, respectable citizen in
the vicinity. who bad frequently sent him,
during his illness, some slight articles of TODD
AID desired him to write down bis last wish
es. 70 the great aslonishmenl Of tins gen.
lleman he proceeded TO devise different
sums Of money, amounting, finally, to ucarly
1000 pounds sterling, 10 his son AID grand
son residing AZ Newark and ALBANY, and
Indicated conideulialiy where the money
was deposited. He llen recounted the
following facts OF his history:
"It is now twenty five years since I was
clerk in a business house in Hamburg.
As had long held the position was Of
ter entrusted with large sums to be deliver
ed at ether establishments. One day an evil
Thought came over me and allowed my
self to be,ray this confidence. left the
country with large sum, and embarked
for America. Arrived in New York, em,
barked a large sum in the purehsse Of two
contiguous buildings. had not yet bad
time to insure them when they were de
stro, ed by fire. Conscious that this loss
was Judgment upon me for my crime,
adopted the resolution to devote the remain
der OF my dayG to labor and a severe econ
omy with the sole object of restoring to my
old employers or their heirs the amount OF
which robbed them.
81 changed my name and with what had
left | embarked in the business of selling
tobacco NotWi outstanding my losses and
though sold only at retail succeeded, in
five years in accumulating the necessary
sum IoE 'hc CC1biptsiiitu' I" NY pdi puSe
| sold out nny establishment and prepared
to start for Hamburg, To make the resiiu-
ton when learned that the house had a
branch in Philadelphia TO that city re.
paired and protfered the sum of 5000
poands sterling equivalent to the sum orig
inally taken with the interset. The latter
was generously returned to me by the son
of one of the partners and this money to-
gether with what had besides. now de
sire to leave to my descendants"
During the last i've years of his existence
the old man had lived in complete obscu
rity and with great parsimony. His tesla
mentary executor, Mr. Van Duerson, founC
the sum of five thousand pounds sterling
chiefly in donbloons hidden with care in the
lining of his pantaloonG. 1t was this mass
OF coin that had by its volume and its posi-
ton raised the suspicion of hernial enlarge
ment. There was also found some silver
in his coat and quantity Of small change
in an old tobacco-box where he deposited the
funds arising from his current receipts
Courier des Etats Unis.