Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-03-29
PRESCOTT, WIS. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 20, 1871.
Finally it was proposed by Nj. Die

Harris and seconded by Mr.. Peter Hodg
son that the person who had just repre-
! sented himself 10 be Tom Ponlton res
tored TO life was not 10 the least like Ton
! Poulton, and that be had no claim, anc
never by any possibility could have AM
claim to the legacy in question. Thi
motion also was carried by reclamation
The question was considered settled
by all but Tom Pouton himself.
Tom Poulton besieged the club doors
day after day but to no effect. The bal
portei-they had started hall porter
and many other conveniencies since Ton
Poulton's death-had received strict in
functions not to admit any person calling
himself Tom Pouton. He treated Tom
kindly enough, believing him to be 8
harmless monomaniac, but no considera
ton could induce him to admit Tom
within the club Threshold.
Tom next tried the parish surgeon
who gave the certificate Of the dead Tom
Poullon's death. But all the surgeon
could prove was that the Tom Poulton
who died was not all like the Tom
Poulton who stood before him. On the
whole, this materially strengthened the
clubs case; particularly rs the descrip
ton given by The surgeon of the dead
Tom Poulton's personal appearance cor
responded exactly with every members
recollection of the unfortunate chairman
of the Serious Family. It was finally
voted that. on the surgeons evidence,
poor Tom Poulton was more dead than
ever.
Do what he might, Tom Poulton could
not prove himself to be alive. Nobody
would hear of il for moment. He ap.
pealed (at some pecuniarv loss) to his
tradesmen for Identification. They iden
titled him without hesitation rs the Tom
Poulton who owed them money; but
they furnished no clew that would serve
to ideRtify him with the Tom Poulton
who had been chairman of the Serious
Family.
He never rested. He prepared psti-
tions, but no one would present them
He commenced actions, but he broke
down at the declaration for want of mon
ey He called day after day at the club,
but the ball porter WAS sdamant. He ad
dressed letter after letter to every mem
Der Of the club, and. incIosed stamped
envelopes for reply; but they tore up the
envelopes, and applied the stamps to
other uses.
At first these appeals amused the club
immensely; but aftor six or eight months
the Family began to get tired
Of it. The Soi disant Tom Poulton nas
voted q bore; and at length it was sol
'v ui'eneoNsffd b that negotiation. should
irving at some cU.s.gy WIN the view Of ar
Poulton was formally invited into the
hub room; but he was informed that,
or the purposes of that meeting, his name
vas Major General Arthur Fitzpatrick.
Tom was reduced to that condition of self
.bnegaton that he really had no objection
o this arrangement.
1t was then and there arranged with |
Major General Arthur Fitzpatrick that,
70 long as Tom Poulton continued TO be
lead, an annual salary of one hundred
pounds should be paid, quarterly, to the
by he committee of the
'rious Family, vice Tom Poulton de
,ased
And Major General Fitzpatrick accep-
ed his election, and eventually became
hartman Of the Club. And poor Tom
ooulton lies dead ard buried at a salary
# hundred pounds a year, payable
quarterly in advance. On one occasion,
indeed when the Major Generals quar-
erly installment was some three weeks |
u arrears, poor Tom Poulton showed
trong symptoms of revivification; but
lis disturbed spirit was event ualy ap-
,eased by an additional advance Of five
pounds on account of the Major Generals
lext quarters salsry.
ABOUT Occasionally young
nen of good character are in gloomy
doubts concerning the average Ameri-
ian women. but such doubts can be east,
y traced to disappointed affection or
perhaps it may be produced by the hor-
'ors of cheap boarding house. Mat
~