Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-09
A Sad Story.

THROUGH the guilty the Innocent must
suffer, and never was the fact more dis
tressingly illustrated than in the Late ar
! rest Of New York counterfeiter.
One OF the best engravers in tire coun-
try, if not in the world, was arrested at
his office, where everything went to
prove, and where he unreservedly con-
fessed his guilt-too completely broken,
amazed and confused to attempt denial.
He was a fine, gentlemanly looking man,
though Of late somewhat disspated, owing
probably to the wretched business in
which he was employed He had worked
for Tiffany d Co., and for the American
Bank Note Company, as a skilled, honest
engraver and so, up to within two weeks
ago, thought his family. Notwithstand
ing his dissipation, and the great crime
of which heis surely guilty, he had been
a kind father and husband, and never car
ricd his sin into his home neither is he
what may be termed bad man, if we
can reconcile these incongruities with the
fact that he was arrested for the worst
crime that an individual can practice
against the government
Bad men tempted him with large prof
its, for his genius was invaluable to the
regular counterfeiters, profits, however,
that he never realized, for once in their
employ and power he must remain 80,
and take his chances of immense gins
along with possible discovery, conviction,
and the State prison.
After his arrest, in company with the
Chief of the Secret Service and two sub
ordinates, he was escorted to his home
ruined, disgraced, guilty wretch, and the
scene that ensued was indeed heartrend-
ing Accustomed as were the officers to
painful family griefs, brought about by
their summary arrests, the usual sequence
Of home innocence and tears was nothing
new or unlocked for; but this family's
despair touched even them, and they did
not care to meet the gaze of the afflicted
woman who met them at the door,
A beautiful daughter of sixteen lifted
white, Mortified face beyond her mothers;
another of ten shrank against the wall;
bright, intelligent boy of six stood trans
fixed in wonder, and smiling infant of
two confronted the miserable father and
husband.
The officers needed not to search the
house for traces Of his evil deeds. Wife
and children were innocent, and the long
practiced officers knew it at glance.
The unhappy wife sank into chair.
Clasping her shaking hands one over the
other, and swaying to and fro, she moaned
the pititul cry to heaven, 80 God 0 God !
why can't die?" Her wet face was livid
beneath its tears, and shrunk and sharp
ened visbly like a face that is dying. Tear
after tear fell from her staring eyes, and
rolled down her pallid cheeks to her lip.
Never once putting up her hands to wipe
them away, they lay idle and helpless on
her knee, and the look she turned on him
was utterly hearted. The young
daughter sobbed frantically, oh father,
father what have you done?" Then
turning to the Chief, "Oh don't believe it,
sir; my father couldnot do it." The little
girl clung to the officer knee in childish
entreaty. Don't take my father to pris-
on; please, please don't The boy hid
under the bed and the baby crawled at the
mothers feet, whimpering in fright I'M
needed
The father looked upon the ruin he had
wrought, the grief that he had brought
upon his loved ones, and sob after sob
broke from his bosom. Dashing down
his graver, he cried "God cursed me in
my genius, and I'll never lift Il again y
He covered his face, and in his tears those
who loved him hushed their cries
The poor wife found her strength and
voice at the piteous sight, and came and
put her hand gently on his shoulder.
"My poor, poor husband How could
you, how could you bring us such sorrow,
and yourself such dreadful misery? 1t is
Saturday night; and there is neither food
nor fire; they will take you to-to-away
from us, and oh, what shall | do for the
children? Who will pity or help US after
thiss" a., | expected some money to-
night" taking from his pocket a torn half
dollar; "this is all | have; take it and
get little bread for them tonight" He
put it in her hand, but the trembling
fingers dropped it unnoticed. "My hus-
band in Jail, my children starving! o
God what have | done that must suf.
fer SOY"
Here the Chief stepped forward. "You
shall not suffer; I'll see, madam that
you and your children are made comfort
able"
She lifted her streaming eyes. | am
so full of trouble that | don't know how
to thank you he is guilty, guilty, but
my husband"
"Yes," burst out the prisoner 81 am
guilty; you have the presses, plates
everything, and know it, but before AL.
mighty God they are innocent; they knew
nothing of it"
81 am perfectly well aware of it," said
the Chief, and as it was painful to all, they
departed with the prisoner, leaving the
desolate home to its tears and anguish.
If ever mortal grief was written on
woman's features, 1t was stamped on the
ghastly face of this counterleiter's wife,
when she looked around on her weeping
children-no reproach only, "how could
you, how could you'' have seen the
law forced into many loving homes, where
its head, by recent crimes, brought sud-
den woe, but never did witness so har
rowing scene as at this misera ole en-.