Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-25
- .N.F.N' HE.tT.

The Governor of Missouri has recently
pardoued an inmate of the Penitentiary,
under circumstances which furnish re-
markable aud tou ching instance of what
devoted, trusting, and energetic wife eau
do for an unfortunate husband. The latter
used to live in Toledo. Ohio, aud the facts
of his case are vouched for by respectable
journals OF that place. Some time ago he
removed TO Missouri with his wife, and
early in 1870 the events fell out that proved
so disastrous TO him. 1t appears that LIE
was not very prosperous, and had occasion
to scll-as nearly the last of all his possess
sions--a pair of fine horses. For these he
received $500 in clean, new national curren-
cy. The stock dealer who bought the
horses ailerward disappeared. On the next
day after the sale the vender paid out two
bills Of $40 each. 1t was discovered that
they were counterfeit. and the utterer was
promptly arrested and lodged in prison.
He, of course, directly protested his inno-
cence and told how he got the money and
the remaining $3.50 was found on his person.
The householder was traced and brought
forward, when,' TO the horror and amazement
of the accused man, he steadily denied all
know ledge Of the bad bills, and swore the
money he had paid for the horses was in
bills on an Illinois bank. No conlirmatory
evidence of the prisoners tale could he got,
and, as much counterfeit money had lately
been circulated in that region, public feel
ing ran strongly against him. lie was
tried, and, despite his earnest protestatons,
anI IL ,yi Iatarp,inaI = rnpUlaa in his
behalf he was found guilty, and sentenced
to five years Imprisonment in the Peniten-
lary.
Bat the W lie never for moment believ-
ed him guilty; and, with astonishing res
olution and pertinacity she now bent her
self to the task of proving his innocence
and ciIecting his release. To the latter end
she first sought and obtained interviews
with the Governor of Missouri. To him
she stated her case as she saw and believed
it. But the Governor, although kind, was
firm. The prisoner was shown TO he guilty.
Counterieiting was greatly on the increase.
II was necessary to make examples, and
there was every just reason why her hus-
band should be one Of them. He could
hold out no hope, save in the condemneds
restoration 10 his family after Eve years.
The wife went home, converted all she had
into cash, and thenceforward devoted her
whole time and brain to following the
horse dealer who had given her husband
the spurious notes, with the hope of con-
victing the really guilty person of that of
fence. Pursuing him like shadow, but
keeping out of his sight she soon found
that when he went TO place counterfeit
money was said to he in circulation soon
after. This happened at Freeport, H., and
afIerward at Fort Wayne, Ind. At the lat
ter place she caused his arrest. But moth
ing could be proved against him, and he
was set free. She then logged him to Can
ton, Ohio, to Pittsburg, Altoona, Lancaster,
| Chambersburg, Philadelphia, Goshen,
Binghamlon, oswego, Elmira, and other
towns in New York, sometimes staying
two or three months in each place. The
man was, however, so guarded and ingen-
| ious as always to manage TO cover his
tracks-in fact he never passed false "pa-
per" himself at all-and his implacable
pursuer was unable to bring him to an ac-
count. At last, however, he fell i'll at New
| ton, Sussex Co., n. j., and she believed
and proved that her golden opportunity
was at last at hand.
When the horse dealer fell ill., the wife of
| his victim was at the same hotel. She
found out the physician attending him
and frankly told her whole story. She de-
scribed how she had tracked the cause of
her husbands misfortunes, and begged
the doctor for the sake OF right aud justice
to help her The physician was moved by
her tale, and agreed to do what she asked,
which was to give bis patient some depress-
ing, but safe medicine, and adroitly TO lead
him to think that he was in a very critical
condition. This was accordingly done,
and worked to a charm. The patient beg
ged at once for a clergyman, who, arriving,
pointed out the necessity of full repentance,
and at this juncture the wife entered the
room, and implored the supposed dying
man to repair the great wrong he had done
her husband. The result was that the suf
ferer made deposition before magistrate,
confessing that he had passed the five hun
bred dollars, as described, aud further
! more that he was y member Of an extern