The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-09-26
A POOR FELLOWS FORTUNE.

MI ANY years ago, singular trial took
IVA place in Dublin, about Queen
Anne's farthing. There was, at popular
restaurant in that city, sharp lad, named
George Home, Scottish by birth and train
ing, who was intrusted with the till, and
had high reputation for honesty. Ho
had occupied that position for some years,
and was about twenty-one at the period 1
am alluding to. One day as he was going
out, he took change for a tenpenny bank
token out of the till, and the particular sill
yer coin which he put in was one with a
special mark upon it, which he had long
carried in his pocket as luck penny."-
He was unaware at the time that he was
parting with this particular coin. Among
the change which he took were two far
things-one of them had been in the draw
er for some time, and being q handsome,
old-fashioned coin had been shown to two
or three customers, who admired it, but
had no idea of its value. While Homo
was out he got glass of beer, and, in
paying for it, pulled out the particular coin
in question. A gentleman who was pres
ent picked it up off the counter, and said
"Your fortunes made. That is Queen
Annes farthing. / should not wonder il
tits worth thousand pounds"
Home hurried back to his place of bust
ness, and in an excited manner, mentioned
what he heard. His employer claimed the
coin. Home refused to give it up. The
master said he had stolen it. Home pro-
duced a fellow clerk to prove that he had
taken it, in change, out of the till, and
| showed the identical coin-Home's "luck-
penny, (which had been put in the draw
Ell. The master sent for policeman,
| charged Home with theft and had him ta-
ken before a magistrate. AS they were
taking him to the police office he slipped
his hand into his pocket, and thence re-
moved the farthing, 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 a charge of rob-
berry. Incredible as it may appear, Home
was tried in the Recorders Court, Green
Street, Dublin, convicted, and sentenced to
twelve months Imprisonment.
This matter got into the newspapers, of
course, and caused no small excitement.-
A humane attorney was struck with the in
justice of the proceeding, and called upon
MIR. Daniel O'Connell, then in large prac-
tire a c ppuneallnr OF lau, rl,n 4
the records Of the court, and finding evil
dence of the illegality of the whole pro-
ceedings against Home, placed the case be-
fore the Irish Government, and declining
to accept free pardon for Home (who had
done nothing wrong), succeeded in having
the whole proceedings quashed, the Re-
corder reprimanded and Home liberated,
his prosecuting employer paying him a
considerable sum to forego law proceedings
for damages. There also was liberal sub
scrption in Dublin; and with the money
thus obtained, George Home took n lease
OF extensive premises, which had been oc-
cupied as an arcade, and opened q restau-
rant, called the Arcade Hotel, which, in q
short time became famous for good cheer,
low price, great cleanliness, and civil wait
ers. In about ten years he realized q for
tune, with which he returned to Scotland.
His former employer, whose business was
ruined by Homes competition, finally be-
came his cashier, and was faithful and
trustworthy.
This story has an end. At Homes,
where l have often dined, 1 saw the Queen
Anne's farthing which made his fortune
Soon after he had opened the Arcade Hotel,
the identical coin again came into his hand,
among other money taken over the coun-
ter. He was able to identify it by GER
tain nick or cut upon the edge. 1t was
supposed, that, on the removal of the mud
mound into which Home had flung it when
he resolved that his master should never
have it again, the farthing had been found
and had again got into circulation. At the
Bank of Ireland, its value, to n coin-co!-
lector, was estimated at $25. But Home
never parted with 1t. He had it mounted
in u silver frame with glasses over 1t, so
that it could be seen, and not touched, and
was fond OF exhibiting it. The coin in
fact was one of the great attractions of the
arcade. So after all, Queen Anne's far
thing did make poor fellows fortune.