Connecticut western news., 1871-09-08
All for a Farthing.

y when was schoolboy, singular trial took place in Dublin, about Queen An ne's farthing. There was, at a popular restaurant in that city, sharp lad, nam ed George Home, Scottish by birth and training, who was intrusted with the till, and had high reputation for honesty He had occupied that position for some years, and was about twenty-one at the was going out, he took change for ten penny bank-token out of the till, and the particular silver coin which he put in which he had long carried in his pocket the time that he was parting with this | which he took were two farthings-one of them had been in the drawer for some time, and being 8 handsome, old-fashion- customers, who admired it, but had no idea of it's value. While Home was out he got glass of beer and, in paying for it, pulled out the particular coin in ques- tion. A gentlemen who was present, Your fortunes made. That is Queen 1 1 if 'tis worth 8 thousand pounds"
 Home hurried back to his place of business, and in an excited manner, mentioned what he had heard. His en- ployer claimed the coin. Home refused to give it up. The master said he had stolen it. Home produced fellow clerk to prove that he had taken 1t, in change, out of the till, and showed the identical coin - Homes luck-penny," (which had been put in the drawer. The mas ter sent for 8 policeman, charged Home with theft, and had him taken before a magistrate. As they were taking him to the police office he slipped his hand into his pocket, and thence removed the far thing, chucked it into a heap of mud piled up on the side of the street. He was searched by order of the magistrate, and though the coin was not found, was committed to Newgate on 8 charge of robbery. Incredible at it may appear, Home was tried in the Recorders Court, Green Street, Dublin, convicted and sen fenced to twelve months imprisonment.
 This matter got into the newspapers, of course, and caused no small excite ment. A humane attorney, was struck with the injustice of the proceeding, and called upon MT. Daniel O'Connell, then in large practice as counsellor at-law, who examined the records of the court. and finding evidence of the illegality of the whole proceedings against Home, placed the case before the Irish Govern ment, and declining to accept free par don for Home (who had done nothing wrong), succeeded in having the whole proceedings quashed, the Recorder repri- handed and Home liberated, his prose cutting employer paying him consider able sum to forego law proceedings for damages. There also was liberal sub- scription in Dublin; and, with the money thus obtained, George Home took 8 lease of extensive premises, which had been occupied as an arcade, and opened restaurant, called the Arcade Hotel, which, in short time, became famous for good cheer, low price great cleanli- ness, and civil walters. In about ten years.he realized fortune, with which he returned to Scotland. His former employer, whose business was ruined by Homes competition, finally became his cashier, and was faithful and trust worthy.
 This story has an ending. At Home's where have often dined, saw the Queen Anne's farthing which made hi fortune. Soon after he had opened the Arcade Hotel, the identical coin agai1 came into his hand, among other money l. taken over the counter. He was able tt identify it by a certain nick or cut upo1 the edge. It was supposed that, on th' removal of the mud-mound into whicl Home had flung it when he resolved that his master should never have i again, the farthing had been found, ant
 had again got into circulation. At tn
 Bank of Ireland, it's value, to coin- col
 lector, was estimated at $25. But Hom , never parted with it. He had it mount ] ed in silver frame with glasses over il g so that it could be seen, and not touched l and was fond of exhibiting it. Tn t coin in fact was one of the great attrac tions of the arcade. So, after all, Quee f Anne's farthing did make a poor fellow 3 fortune.