The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-18
How Lost Money was Recovered.

From the n Y. Herald, 24th ult
Stories romantic, stories tragic, stories O
matters of common place fact, stories al
most surprising the tarthest stretch of fan
cy, stories of unusual though oft quoted Sc
quence about fact being stranger than fic
ton, mi ght be given, based on developm ent:
brought to light through Advertising We
give below story in point-an g DER true
tale,' and only one of many that might be
given-in connection with the - Personals
in the Herald
Five years ago Mr.. Homer E. Sawyer
came to this city from Boston. He stop
ped at the Belmont Hotel, in Fulton street
He had 1859 in bank bills, which, for
safe keeping, he carried in his pantaloons
watch pocket, and, to make assurance doub-
ly sure as to its safety, keeping his pocket
pinned. Being en route to New Orleans.
he went to a railroad ticket office, bought 4
ticket, took out his money, paid for the tick
ct, returning the remaining roll to his watch
pocket, carefully pinned it as before and re-
turned to his hotel. He shortly missed his
money, but on examination found his pocll-
ct pinned. The only conclusion he could
come to was that he placed the roll of bills
inside the waist of his pantaloons instead
Of his watch pocket, and thus lost it. This
was on January s, 1864. 1t rained hard
all day. The supposltion was that the
money soon got mixed up with the slush
Of snow and mud Of the street, aud with
the refuse-for they cleaned the streets in
those days-would find its way to some
dumping ground, an irremediable loss
"What shall do about II" he asked OF
Mr.. j. P. Richards, proprietor of the Bel
mont Hotel. after reciting to him his loss
Advertise in the Herald" answered the
keenly penetrative Mr.. Richards.
The loss of the money, though with no
statement of the amount, was advertised
as Mr.. Richards suggested, the finder tc
call on Mr.. Richards. There came no re-
sponse to the advertisement. Mr.. Sawyer
went to New Orleans, where two years ACC
hedled of yellow fever. That advertisement
was seen in the Herald. The finder re.
membered aforementioned the name o
Mr.. Richards, to whom the information
was asked to be given, remembered the ho-
tel, remembered everything but giving back
the money The memory, in fact, haunted
him, followed him through five years. The
struggles of conscience none can know He
determined to restore the money but with
the determination resolved not TO let him
self be known. He wrote a note, without
signature, to Mr.. Richards, asking him tc
specify in Herald PERSONAL particulars OF
the loss of the money aud to whom it be
longed. This letter Mr. Richards received
on the 4th of December last. In the mex
mornings Herald he inserted the following
PERSONAL:
MONEY LOsT-ON BROADWAY FIVE YEARS
N1 ago "a snowy day], about $3.50 i'll grcenbacks
owner Is dead any Communication tor his widow, wh'
ed by j. r. r., for Mrs. IL. Sawyer.
The above was not sufficiently explicit
Another letter, by the same anonymou.
hand, was writ ell to Mr.. Richards, upol
which the fol lowing personal was pub
lished:
4 FIVE YEARS AGO MONEY LOST; MRS. II
~. E. Sawyer, III Warren avenue. Boston; amount
$3.50; smallest bill $50 the roll might have separatet
in losing.
But yet the anonymous letter writer was
not satisfied. He wanted to know more
about the death Of tie original owner o1
the money and date Of his marriage. The
name of Waters was si@ned to this third
note, with special request that the an
swer should be directed to this address, Sc
there could be nc mistake that he was hold
ing his commuucalions vita the same par
ty. The following third personal was tn,
result of these further inquiries
WATERS-H. II. +. s;-MARKIlD OCTOBER Is
Oct. 10, 1867, at New Orleans yellow fever The re
mains were brought to Massachusetts and Inferred b.
express to III West avenue
In fourth note the money inder-lol
there can be no doubt OF course but thi.
was the individual writin5 5-a5ils about the
circumstances of the widow of the one los
ing the money, tile expense Of advertising
and If there is no shadow OF doubt that She
is the widow of the origin;; owner OF the
money. This called out the following per
sonal
H p. $. IS THE RIGHT PERSON; ICAN GIvt
IL. bonds to that effect. Her only means OF uppor
is singing in Il church. Paid at't 9l5. j. z, il.
1t is unnecessary to trace tis story on
in all its minute details The auouymcus
letter writer became satisfied with tile cor.
rcctness Of Mr.. Richards stat, ;lieuts. And
we come to the end. \ lady, closely veil
ed, restored the money to Mrs. Sawyer
not only the money lost, but interest on II
from the day of its loss till the day of it
restoration, and expenses OF advertising
altogether S2,160. On the 10Th inst. tlls
money was given TO the widow and her ia
therless children-thc result Of one in
stance of advertising.