The Newtown bee., 1879-09-03
THE BEE.
Our Rceent Good Eortune--22o65 q
 LuckY Number.


 Lucky Number.
 It Is pretty well known throughout this State, that last month, (Augu5t l2th,) we drow theasum of $5, GOO in the Louisiana state Lottery. The ticket cost just one dollar. Wo have not in either of our publications, until this present time, said anything about it, and would not do so now bat for the fact that there arc so many stories atloat that are not true, wc wish to correct them, The moving cause in our recent investment was our poverty, and the heavy burden that we were attempting to carry without capital. We had two printing offices one in Bethel, the other in Newtown, both to be paid for. The weekly expenses of these two papers, and moderately large family to look after, placed us in q tight spot. Notes wore coming due; times were dull; sub scriptions werc due; but there was no nonay., Advertisers we're waiting for trade to start up and we, too, were wait ing for business to revive. Our prospect was not very bright Though we had plenty of friends to give aid an encouragement, still our situation was not bottered. On Sunday evening, August 3d, while in our BETHEL LEDGER office. we were thinking of our financial prospects, and thought of a plan how to raise a few dollars. We wroto q letter to a gentleman, d hat manu- facturor, asking q loan. It then occurred to us to buy a lottery ticket Somehow l. tx i+Cnlf in o form which impressed us. We took out our little cash on hand, three dollars, and the question arose which to send, the two dollar bill or the one. We reasoned that If wo lost the two dollars we could not stand tho press if the one drew a blank we would not be Yerymuch out of pocket. Wo decided on the dollar, and then sent the following letter:
 BETHEL, CONN, Aug. 4th, 1879. NJ. A. DAUPHIN:
 DEAR SIR :-Enclosed please find one dollar, for which send one-half ticket in class II, to be drawn August l2th.
 Send to Box 32.
 Hawleyvillc,
 Fairfield Co.,, Conn.
 Il Ill0 l''GLtL Vt IIilIlCu hDuIL'Itty IlS Ib' Three or four days after we went to Haw- leyville, and found letter addressed to Box 32, and on opening it, saw half ticKet, numbered 229G5 tho very instant we looked at tho ticket, the number was impressed on our mind, and placing the ticket in our pocket we remembered the numbers so well that we took it as a good sign of a lucky ticket. We said not d word to any one, and when we saw the published tolegraphic report ill the Sun, August 18th, that 229G5 had drawn the second capital prize and that we held the half ticket, worth $5,000, and no mistake, we felt suddenly elevated, and told the glad news around to our friends, all of whom congratulated us with an earnest ness that filled us with gratitude to think that we had won so many sincere friends. We were doubly happy-happy it is true, because we were $5 GOO better off in this worlds good, yet happier to know that we had the good will and wishes of friends whose worth cannot be measured by money.
 It has been reported that the ticket was sent to us by NJ. A. Dauphin, who knowing us to be tho editor of two papers, put up the job, giving us 5000 to advertise them. We never saw M. A. Dauphin, and the agent, B. Frank Moore, of 319 Broadway, who sent the ticket, never saw us or knew our name until after the drawing, when we communicated by tele- graph. We went into the lottery busi- ness just as any other man would do; we were fortunate, hundreds have. been just as fortunate. Thousands of people never draw penny, and we presume that be- cause of our success thousands will try their fortune, some one will be successful, but hundreds will not. Every one will suppose himself to be the next to get prize, we shall not advise in the matter, 1t Is nothing but chance. We are not sorry, however, that we invested.
 In justice to the Company, we will state in closing. that we sent our ticket from Bethel, Thursday, August 14th by Adams Express, and on Saturday the 23d, MT. Samuel Gillett paid us S5, GOO, the full value of the ticket. Out of this sum we paid him s37. 50 for collection. It was reported that we paid fifteen per cent. discount, which was not true.
 We believe that the Louisiana State Lottery is what it is represented to be, m honest, fair, square dealing associa- tion.
 Respectfully,
 JOHN T. PEARCE,
 EJi+nr onI D,,I1;,bo,