The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-11-05
1 Remarkable History.

4 New York letter says The history Of
the old man, Luther Bryant, whose home was
robbed of Sl2u 900 while he was in Jail await
ing trial upon q charge of having purchased
stolen postage stamps, is most remarkable
one. He was born in Cummington, llamp-
snire County, Mass, where his father practiccd
medicine At the age of fourteen he was grad
uatcd from Williams College, and he then
travelled in Europe for more than two years.
Returning, he WAS soon given his physician $
diploma and began work in his profession.
After residence of many years III Burlington,
he changed his home in 1878 to Charleston,
! S. c. Then he came to New York and having
fancy for old coin, he opened 4 stand on the
sidewalk near City Hall Park. He soon began
TO do a large business III quiet way in buying
mutilatcd currency at thirty per cent. discount
which he had redeemed 1T its full value at the
United States treasury. He continued in his
business, notwithstanding legacy Of many
thousand dollars left him by his brother. 1t
had been his habit for thirteen years past to
leave his home at a. m walk TO restaurant
i'm Chatham street. eat breakfast, and then 20.
ING to his stand, begin the work of the day.
Subsequently, he moved his little stand To the
railing in front of the old Dutch Church, and
here he became landmark. He WIS seldom
missed from his place He plotded on, mind,
ing his own business, and constantly adding to
his little treasure. Recently, to h!> great SUR
prise, hc was shown a warrant for his arrest,
and WAS taken from his stand - the lomi.
Police Court. He had never been III Il court
room in his life before, an! WIS terrified bE
the surroundings Being unable to procure
bail, he w;ls pat in Il cell, and there remained
for five days. Meanwhile his few friends were
unaware of his having been arrested, and his
rooms, with their hidden treasure remained
unguarded Late on Sunday night October
IL, q resident i'm lne ou,e SAW carriage uriV-
en- rapidly away from in front OF its doors. In
vestyation showed that the premises had been
ransacked, and that the old mans hidden
treasure had all disappeared, The room where
the treasure had been kept WAS handsomely
furnished, and was fitted up with secret draw
ers, in which Bryant had placed >;1oooo in
twelve years Before conccaling the coin, he
would weigh it carefully, so as to be certain
that it WAS 4 piece Of full weight, and then
would punch a small hole in the head Of the
Goddess of Liberty on the face OF the coin
He would then enclose one hundred pieces Of
the coin in silk paper, and store the rolls away
in the secret drawer A shelf above the floor
supported large tin case This case was al
most filled with rare coins, too. Gradually the
box had become heavier, and at last he WAS
unable to lift it to the floor Accordingly he
bought q small ladder and used ii III ascending
to the box to put in coin. The coin in the box
Bryant estimated WAS worth Sl2,0O0. hanging
against the wall there WAS 4 large morocco
travelling bag. In this there was - 600 III mu-
tiatcd currency and 500 in the new currency,
gold watch valued at 5000, gold chain
weighing 100 pcnnvwcigh q diamond ring. a
| ,\t. rlr bD
bag wis Il trunk, in which WIS hid S2o,0oo
worth of postage stamps. Ali thi, bad dl>ap-
pcarcd and us soon as the fact discovered,
little girl went to the cell where the poor old
man was confined and told him the sad story.
Not one gold coin WAS left, and some OF bry-
ants clothing had been taken. The lock OF
the trunk had been torn open with Il Jimmy,
and the contents Of the trunk were strcwn over
the floor. When apprlScd Of his misfortune he
showed great anguish. He wrung his hands,
and his ewes were filled with tears. The police
obtained his release on his own rcco-niAlnce
to appear for trial, and then took him to his
house. "\ll gone all gone" ne said sadly.
'Thcn." he continued, ''lhcrr WAS an engage
mcnt ring; the setting cost sob, and there WIS
still another ring-bul never mind they took
them al" lie was confident the thieves had
procured his arrest for no other purpose than
20 liuilucr MS nome. IHcTc Sccll9 to w iio
doubt among those who know Mr. Bryant that
his story i, strictly true. While he h"arlcd
money and cwclry, he lived we'll Hi, apart
mcnts We're mean but none in New "rk were
more richly furnished. He cn"v"d good din
ucrs and WAS good to the poor hri,,;n~ those
around him, but had little To say To thcn Ills
money, he said, he kept i'll his room because
he had no confidence in banks. \ irw years
ago he made II will bc1ucathing money to va
ros friends and then he had added codicil
after codci until the paper WAS covered, and
then Wishing to put III another c"iiril and not
having the room to put 1t IN, he had burned
the will The story goes that disappointment
in love made him resolve t" her"nr :; rrcl'iN"
but when this is spoken "i he shakes ms mead
and saws. "It's too bad too bad ;l.at people
will say such things
,,.,l, III