Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-05-21
Gge fauiIp Girtle,
THE MONEY THEFT.
BY THE CHAPLAIN OF A pENIrENrIARY.

One Sunday morning after service a
young convict, not more than eighteen
years of age. said he desired to speak
with me. When all had left the wards, |
sat down by him on the bench.
have never been baptized, sir, and
| wish to be, as / feel am heather I'M
til am" were the words with which he
addressed me.
In conversation with him / found him
Intelligent, and well instructed upon the
duties and obligations of one baptized
His offence was for stealing money. Sub
Isequenty, after his baptism, he told me
the story Of his SIM and its truth have
since had an opportunity of verifying
His story is as follows:
My father and mother are not rich,
but had small farm. They died when
| was seven years old, leaving me in
care of my uncle, my fathers brother. who
was wheelwright in the village Of.
near Knoxville. This uncle was a wild
lower, and had no children; but he was
very DESTROYS of getting rich, and he near
lly went in rags and without proper food,
to save money and lay it by"
:" OF course he kept me very close and
was hard master to me. He was the
executor of my fathers property, and had
in his hands property worth four thous
and and eight hundred dollars, which he
was to take control Of until / became Of
age"
But he was false, sir, to his pledge to
my father. He never sent me to school,
and was so ragged that was ashamed
to appear with other lads. | was also
such a sufferer for want of food, that
would walk three miles to the tav-
ern, to help the hostler take care of the
stage horses to be permitted to share his
dinner. My uncle not only deprived me
schooling, clothing and food, but he Sc
verely beat me. He could not speak kind
ly to me Whenever he had anything to
say to me, or an order to give, it was in
loud Tone and with an GA that made
me, little boy as was, to tremble. He
was tyrant of the worst sort sir. and my
life was one of misery and suffering. He
made me look after the COW and horse dig
in the garden, cut wood, go his errands,
and whatever else was to do: and at night
slept on the floor under an old saddle
blanket in the lumber-room with his sad
die as my only pillow.
Such was the life led until [ was in
my sixteenth year. Up to this time !
knew not what money was, as | had not
a penny in my hand since my mother died.
He used and squandered my property, and
made me his slave.
At length he hired boy of about
nineteen to work at his trade. This boy
and myself soon became acquainted. He
soon saw how matters we're with me. He
was wild money spending youth, and
was always out nights. He soon got
me to accompany him. But had no
money to spend. felt ashamed on this
account. He limited that my uncle had
made money enough, and that it rightly
belonged to me. His temptations and the
allurements of the new life he introduced
me to, had their effect. Up to this time. |
had been perfectly honest; and even now
sir have never told lie or uttered an
oath! One night my uncle came home
tipsey. He had just made the sale of
cart, and had large sum Of silver in his
trousers pocket. l heard it ring as he
threw off his clothes upon the chair by the
bedside. The idea of getting up when he
should fall asleep, and take some of the
money (my money, as reasoned with my
active conscience,) at once took possession
of my mind.
" l lay awake waiting till all was STILL.
| then softly arose and crept to the chair
where his pantaloons were. [ carefully
sought for the pocket. In my haste and
fear, | pulled the clothes of, and they fell
to the floor with loud ring of money
Instantly my uncle started up, and cried
out, who is there?"
Crouched down out of sight. answer
ed by initiating, which l could do very
perfectly the mewing of the cat.
:" It's that Internal Bess. I'll have her
hanged tomorrow he growled, turning
himself to sleep again.
When all was once more Quiet,
stretched my hands for the pocket, and at
length found it: and with a throbbing
heart, distracted several pieces of money,
and silently regained my own bed. / did
not know how much had taken, but sup
posed about dollar. 1t was too dark to
count. In the morning | found / had
eighty-seven and half cents in all. This
seemed vast sun to one who had never
had any money before. | went out at day
dawn and concealed it underneath the hub
Of an old cartwheel that lay setting in the
corner of the yard.
That day | was in constant and most
lively apprehension, lest my uncle should
miss his money. But | concluded having
probably been tipsey he had expended
portion before he came home, and really
did not know how much was in his peck
ct. But | was mistaken.
Tie success of this first theft, and the
temptations Of my uncle's apprentice, led
me to watch other opportunities to alb
stract further sums. The result was, that
! in the course Of six months, in about TWEEN
| ty visits to his pockets at that time, had
taken about twenty-five dollars.
1t was time for uncle to act. He had
been from the first night aware Of the loss
of his money and had traced my footsteps
to the old hub and there discovered the
missing money. Instead of at once charg-
ing me with the theft, he let it remain in
preserved silence. He knew Of all my
subsequent pillerings sir, he placed
the money often in my way, so that
could not help taking it without being
perceived. He set traps for me sir, aud
xuac at lact TO l. al, II, cnnl