Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-26

"Passing counterfeit money, eh ?' inquired
| the magistrate of the plaintiff
Yah dat ish de mOnish vot he vos pass on
| me, says the Dutman.
"Umph ah yes, base ecounterfeit-rasealIv
fraud :" continues the magistrate, feeling the
greasy white coin, which was nicked with
penknife, rung, smelled, and otherwise tested
by the tales de eireumstautlbns.
Well, Mr.. BOmwig," says his honor, 90
on and tell how and when this transaction took
place, and all about it,"
His honor then gave a magisterial snort and
| cough, and the beer man went on to state his
case.
we'll, den, squhires, vos behint mine coun-
ter, all by mineself, NIT Shorge, mine clark,
and all desc oder shentlemen vos stbanding
dere, too veil, vile vos going out, dis dam
| Come, come, sir no swearing here, Mr..
Bomwig," says the magistrate.
| "Nei, den, squhires, dis tt Yankee come to
mine shop; eat mine cakes and drinks mine
bear, den de ta-ta magistrate shakes his head
| den he, dis Yankee, shrews me down to four
| teen cents, and den he gives me dis ta-(frOwn
from the magistratc) c)-dish boyle tollar, yot ish
a tam spurish counterfeit -
| siall fine you, sir, five dollars for that
| oath, sir ~ said the magistrate in a rage
That's right, squire, put it tn the darned
eritter, cOnsarn him ~
Silence, you rascal, or I'll send you TO the
| ing magistrate, to the Yankee, who had M to
the moment Of breaking silence, been quietly
chipping oil the top Of very ugly cane in his
possession.
80. well, squire, if you say so, guess I'll
Shet pan at once and if yeou jest hand over
that pewter o'mine, guess I'll put eout this
| town, anyhow"
"WiIl You? Well, we'm see about that, Won
rascal - responded the magistrate. " Now,
constable, he continued search the rascal
see how much of that base coin he has secreted
about him.
The Yankee was forthwith fumbled over.
tumbled and tossed, every seam and quarter of
MS rough, plain and substantial toggery duly
scrusinized, and the contents-a large Jack
knife, piece of chalk, strings a wallet and two
letters rs-were placed upon the desk of the mag
istrate.
The contents Of the wallet exhibited several
hundred dollars in good specie paying bank
funds, gold piece, and two five francs, all gen.
ulne stuff; although the court tried mighty
hard to throw some doubt upon the purity of
the funds, but 1t was no go, and the attempt to
question the means by which so much money
came into the possession of such q queer look
ing biped proved equally futile as the exam-
nation of the letters indicated very distinctly
that the down easter had q dad and nam of
some repute in the State of Maine, who had
heaps of love, affection and regard for their
Perambulating ofspring-now in the meshes of
Western law .
"Have you been robbing any body, sir? Are
these your letters. and this your money, sir?'
inquired the magistrate, keenly scrutinizing
the Yankee.
We'll, squire, L reckon as how them docu-
ments be mine, ef know anything beout law
and gospel"
What is your calling-what do you follow
for living ?" inquired the magistrate
"What deou L follow for a living? Yeas
wall, squire, live about like other folks do
breathe principally, and
Come. sir, no impudence," says the mayis-
trate; answer direct and to the point. How
came you in possession of this counterfeit dollar
this vile fraud, eh ,''
Counterfeit says the Yankee with evident
spirit; counterfeit ?'
"COunterfeit, sir Certainly | do: and If
you don't render q ready and distinct account
OF how 1t come in your possession, I'll commit
you forthwith
well, perhaps you will, SAYS the self-pos.
sessed dOwn-easter. But L calculate SQUIRE,
to prove yeou re no judge Of specie if you be of
law, and I'll jest bet yeou or any ono else.
squire, that ar dollar there, is the gen -eo-ine
stuff, and notbin' else; n fust rate rale pen-eo.
Inc Spanish dollar, bg Jingo."
Why. you rascal. says the magistrate;
''don I know good money from bad ?''
"Calkerlate yeOu don't, squire If yeou
wan't to bet ont We got the document tu Law
up, anyhow !" says the Yankee
"Bat him bait him, squire, Safe bait,
squire, was the cry in the court; and the mag
istrate in the heat of the excitement and appa-
rent safety Of the risks that Is, having ali the
funds in his hands, forgot his dignity and au-
I'm bet you fifty dollars that is bogus dol.
lar''
"Donc," says the Yankee, with the utmost
coolness; done, squire; jest lay yeour rags
along side o my hull wallet there, and eff I
lose, rake Elm all down"
"That will, says his honor. "and send Won
to Columbus into the bargain, sir"
CO. yeOu needn't give yourself any onessi-
| ness abeOut me; perfect business transaction,
squire, and calkerlat. it will come out nice
| aad squar any how"
Now, Well soon settle this" saws the
squire. Here, you Jones, your silversmith,
feel this dollar
| Jones felt the dollar, grinned smelt it, gave
two grins-
| Pewter or Brittany, SQUIRE" says Jones
| feou," says the Yankee to Jones, "do
yeou know seelver whom yeou See t?r he CON
tinued, grinning at the siversmith
| Reckon | ought to" says he
| Fire in that stove yeurn, squire?"
Squire nodded yes ''Wall, meow, lest give
me them tOngs and the dollar so; now. squire,
dun get alarmed, no hOcus pokers 'beout this.
| tali on the tender hooks of excitement y but by
| jest holding that dollar over them Goals min
ute and u half, II fetch out bran spick and
| span bright geneo-ine.'
| The mob rushed to the desk where the Yam
kes dropped the dollar from the tongs, and be
fore ycu could say John Robinson, Esq, the
| silversmith bawls-
Squire, yO'ye lost, by thunder, it's good
dollar, been covered with tin foil or quicksil-
Inc entire crowd acknowledged the corn, the
4 mnVlstra a cnnfas xal - l..
ration of handing back the Yankee his wallet
and contents, dollar, &C., he generously said
they call 1t square, and he d let the stranger
The "leetle ends" of the Yankee 8 coat were
soon standing out towards sunset, and court
| closed for that day