Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-05-01
.rred Boughton indicated.

Ing by the lnn0cent, we take from the
Jackson Daily Patriot, Of April 9Th. 1t
is of special interest to many Of our cit
liens whom 1t is known that the Bsugh-
tom referred to is none other than the
genial Fred BOughton, who resided in
~Chsboygan for a number Of years. Dur
ing his residence here his conduct was
such that not a person of his acqaaint-
ance ever doubted his honesty. and in
view of the facts here related who is
there that can doubt that the cause Of
his only falling, the use Of intoxIcants at
times, can be attributed to the suffering
occaSioned by the great wrong he en-
dured for so many long years. His nu-
morous friends will rejoice with him in
his v~indication. and all will earnestly
ly hope that although coming at a late
day, it will lead to kinder and better
days for kind and genial Fred:
Seventeen years ago, when mail stages
were in vogue and the music of their
echOing horns flOated over hill and dale
the stage careered merrily on its way,
ID. B. Hibbard had a line of stages be-
tween Jackson and Lansing, via Eaton
Rapids. In addition to tne passenger
traffic this line carried express packages.
Mr.. Hlbbard's agent at Eaton Rapids was
a young maa named BOughtOn, who was
also clerk Of the hotel at that point. He
had been recently married and had one
little one to love and care for. He was
poor. but universally respected and
esteemed, and with the good will Of his
fellow tOnwsmen, a lovely and loving
wife, a happy home and health and
strength it would seem indeed as though
the future held only bright and prosper
Gus days for him. And yet but a few
short hours changed this sunny outlook
into a scene of misery, disgrace and ruin,
bat what chain Of terrible events
wrought this change? you will ask, and
theanswer Is the greed and crime OF one
unprincipled mana man blessed with
good and wealthy parents, had yet allow
cd himself to become a lOafer, q gambler
and finally a thief, a young man who
was well known in Eaton Rapids in those
days, but whose name out OF respect
o tho family, we suppress. His parents
lived on q farm some four miles from
town but their u%nprincipled SON spent
most of his time at the village taverns
or in such gambling rooms as the place
afforded.
One day a package containing 800
was sent by express, consigned to Henry
Marvin, Of Eaton Rapids. Express pack
ages Of money and the way bill were
always enclosed in q leather ease made
for the purpose, The packages was duly
received by young B0ughtOn, who took
it from the case and put 1t in the drawer
of the desk, neglecting, however, to lock
1t. He was hurried and gave no further
thought to the money. He was going
that very evening to join a temperance
society, and did join it and elated and
happy returned to his young wife to
tell her what he done. But with the next
morning came the business cares OF the
day and one of the first things to be
to its owners. Upon opening the drawer,
however, to his amaZement the money
was gone, Who could have taken it?
Search was made, inquiries set on foot,
but all to no purpose, the money was
gone. What should he dOp He was poor,
he could not replace it. His misery may
be conceived. His good name and char.
acter were at stake, but he could do moth
ing. But worse was to come. Suspicion
fastened upon him as the thief. His
fOmer good name went for naught. He
was arrested and tried for a crime he
never cOmmitted-bnt he was acquitted.
But though acquitted by a jury he was
not believed by the public as innocent,
opinion declared he was guilty,
because public opinion had said so at
first and didn't want to be cOntradicted
but his cup was not yet full. His wife
who had promised to eleaYe to Kim in
sickness or in health, in happiness or ia
misery, to share his lot for veal or woe,
was convinced of his guilt and left him, !
refusing to longer live with N whom
she considered a thief. From this time
onward his downward course was rapid. |
He struggled along for a time at
Eaton Rapids, Stunned by all and con-
tracing habits Of drinking and the
resultant ills, and finally want to the
wilds of the Lake Superior region.
Meantime the yOnng man who had
the sneaking theft had been
indiscreet enough to inform a cousin
of his of the act, who repeated to another
Sometime afterwards had q quar-
rel over the foreclosure of a mortgage
on property held by this cousin number
and in the quarrel the secret of the
theft was allowed to leak out and came
to the knowledge of an attorney named
who could not use 1t at the time
but held it in allegiance for nearly II years
In the meantime the young thief had
gone to q western state to live and only
returned a few days ago. He was con-
by Kenney and charged with the
theft but denied it, He finally agreed to
settle the matter by paying to ID. B.
Hubbard, who had been obliged to make
good the loss the original 500 with int.
crest, making a total Of $211, OF which
amount Kennsy, the attorney with the re-