The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-12-16
A Sad Story.
Parting Scene Between CORsterfeltcr and his
Tax fiV F..

Parting Scene Between C0EBteFfeiteF and his
.'.---t Family.
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. aoa
One of the best engravers in the coun-
try, if not IN the world, was arrested att
his Office, where everything went to prove, |
and where he unreservedly confessed his
gullt-too completely broken amazed and
confused to attempt denial He was a
fine, gentlemanly- looking man, though of
late somewhat dissipated, owing probably |
TO the wretched business in which he WAS
employed. He had worked for Tiffany &
Co, and for the American Bank Note
Company, as a skilled. honest engrayer
and SO, up to within two weeks ago, |
thought his family. Notwithstanding his
dissipation, and the great crime Of which
he is surely guilty, he had been a kind
father and husband, and never carried |
his sin into his home; neither is he what
NAV be termed bad man, If we can re-
concile 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 counterteiters, profits, however,
that he never realized, for once in their
employ and power he must remain so, and
take his chances Of immense gains 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 a
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 a
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 chsir
Clasping her shaking hands one over the
other, and swaying to and fro, she moan
ed the pitiful cry to heaven, " Q God 0
God why can't I dic?" Her wet face
was livid beneath its tears, and shrunk
and sharpened visibly like face that is
dying Tear after tear fell from her star
ing 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 upon her knee, and
the look she turned on him was utterly
broken hearted The young daughter
sobbed frantically, ooh father, father |!
what have you dore?,' Then turning to
the Chief, "Oh don't believe it, sir; my
father could not do it." The little girl
chung to the officers knee in childish en-
treaty. "Don't take my father to prison;
please, please don't p The boy hid I'M
der the bed and the baby crawled at the
mothers feet, whimpering in fright un-
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 Pll never lift it again r'
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
yon, how could you bringus such sorrow
and yourself such dreadful misery? It is
Saturday night and there is neither food
nor fire; they will take you to-to-away
from US, and oh! what shall I do for the
children? Who win pity or help US after
this?" 81, | expected some money to
night" taking from his pocket torn
half dollar; "Shis is all / have take it!
and get a 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 suffer
so?'
Here the Chief stepped forward "You
shall not suffer; I'll see, madam, that you
and your children are made comfortable"
She lifted her streaming eyes. 1 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"
q 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 It's tears and an
guish.
If ever mortal grief was written on