Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-07-21

somewhat excited Tor 4 lew days over the
the case of 4 New York boy who came in
to town by the early train, Thursday morn
ing. Mrs. Gilchrist, milliner, had lost
her port-monaie the evening before on re-
turning bone on the early evening train
from Montpelier. The boy above men,
toned made his appearance on the hotel
piazza early Thursday morning and WAS
seen by Mr.. Ransom, the hotel keeper, to
be counting his money. He also had a
certificate of deposit for two hundred dol
lars which he showed Mr. Ransom asking
him if it was good for anything. Ransom
told him it WAS good for the face Of it to
Mrs. Gilchrst. The boy wanted to know
where Mr.. Gilchrist lived. AMI Ransom
told him ag,in it belonged to Mrs. Gil
christ. The boy. who gives the name of
John Henry Smith, then wanted to know
where the lady lived. Just then Mr.. Ran
went over there. Mrs. G.. had just become
convinced that she had lost her port mon
aie-having supposed the evening before
| that she had left it ut the shop. The boy
then said that he had another of those. =
and produced another certificate of depos-
| it on the bank for two hundred dollars
| The certificates Mrs Gilchris. took and
then wanted he should find the port mon
ale. Smith claimed that he and another
boy came on the train the nj ght before and
| that he had found the certificates in the
depot. He finally said he thought he could
| find the port-monaie by going where he
saw his companion 90 that morning. He
did 20 and the port-Eonaie and papers
were found north of the hotel where lie
went to look for them. The other boy had
gone on to Brookiield Mrs. Gilchrist then
wanted the money which she had lost, ev-
ervthinT else having been recovered. She
did not know how much she had lost. blu,
Smith wandered up to the north part OF
village and man WAS sent after him and
brought him back. He then took out his
own pocket book, which contained about
tifty-four dollars, and htnled it over to
Mrs. Gilchrist saying that WAS all the
money he had and if her money was there
she was to pick it out. This of course she
could not do but she retained the whole
amount till he should produce her money
Smith had 4 ticket for Quebec, by way
OF the Passump>lc road. and explained hi.
| b1-e III
the boy whom he accompanied to North
field, told him there was work in the Slate
qu,rries there and paid his fare up there.
From the time Smith, who is Il boy o
fifteen, gave up his money there were Two
parties in the village, one of whom consid
cred him New York tramp who ought t,
be followed till he gave up the money, ant
the other of which deemed him an ill-uset
mortal who had returned lost goods Of val
ue and who was prosecuted for not return
ing other valuablcs that he never had ir
his possession. Many and fierce were the
discussions. A drummer Interested him
self in the boys case and got 4 Montpelier
lawyer to 90 up Saturday evening, wher
Il compromise was effected by which Mrs
Gilchrist was to pay the boys board ano
return him $37 so. Monday morning
Smith was understood to repudiate this ar
rangement, but. we understand. tinall,
agreed to it. The other boy was brough
down from Brookiield. but disclaimed hnv
ing the money. and there WAS no great at
tempt to put him through an investigation
The result of the whole matter has beef
Il great deal Of "chin music" and a firm
conviction in the minds of many tina
iSmith was uniustly treated-while ar
equally numerous body of villagers thinl
he really got the money that was in tn
port-monaie. The boy has no doubt ex
pended about seventeen dollars in expert
ence, but whether it teaches him the les
son that honesty is the best policy, O.
whether he has become convinced that in
gratitude is sharper than a serpent's tooth
is still an open question. John Henri,
Smith and Henry Ward Beecher know
how it is themselves, but their two conun
drums are too much for Mortified and tn,
nation.