The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-11
ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH
That Became the Burden of an Unprincipled
Yankee-Making Restitution in His Will

1HdI DecIHe TIE DuTueH Vi I'LL UHpFlHClVlcu
Yankee-Making Restitution in His Will.
HARTFORD, Conn, March 1O.-Peleg Kenyon,
aged sixty, recently died in Griswold. rural
manufacturing village in the eastern part of this
State, leaving property worth. it is estimated.
$3.50, 600 Kenyon was bachelor lank, keen
eyed, and bald, and typical Yankee. He died
a miserable old miser The boast of his life was
that he started at machiuists trade at seven
teen years Of age and at twenty one was worth
$75. 600. He had lived alone in the barren Ken
yon homestead for years, an unhappy, frienciess
old man. At his funeral not a tear was shed on
his bier, and there was particularly interested
attendant save Boston lawyer. Most of his
property is in real estate and mortgages IN
Eastern Massachusetts, and he left it to the heir
of Henry Henderson, an importer of West India
goods, who thrived at the Hub somewhat more
than forty years ago.
Peleg Kenyons mother was hard-fsted
Yankee widow, honest but ambitious. When
her son left the old farm, more than TWO score
years ago, just as the ploughing for oats was
about to be begun, to seek his fortune in
a Boston machine shop, the widow was
mad at him. She took held of the
plough handles herself and told Peleg never
to come back until he made his pile. Before
month had elapsed he was the butt OF the shop
where he worked in consequence of his frequent
ly and carelessly expressed determination to be-
come a rich man within five years He was con-
sidered cranky. year later the gawky strip:
ling was installed in the great warehouse OF
Henry Henderson as the nghtwatchman. He
also did odd jobs of repairing about the place.
He soon ingratated himself into the good graces
of his employer Dy his indefatigable labors and
his faithfuness.
During the six months that followed Peleg was
not idle. He attended closely to his duties, and
in his leisure hours he made first duplicate key
to the Office, then one to the SAFE and lastly one
to the cash box inside the safe. From time to
time he would investigate the contents of the
cash box, but never finding more than So 900 to
S., 900 in it, he bided his time patiently One
Saturday afternoon the house received after
banking hours, a cash payment of $l05, 900 for
crop Of molasses. The money was placed in
the cash box in the Office for safety The safe
was both fire and burglar proof, and
the presence of a trusty Waterman in the
building convinced Mr. Henderson that the great
packages of bills would be as secure there as
anywhere. That night, as soon as Kenyon was
left alone, he opened the safe and the cash box,
stuffed tho bills into his pockets, locked the
door behind him, walked to the depot and took
the evening train for Putnam, Conn. AT II
o'clock that night he drove up to the old home
stead in GriSwold. At 5 the next morning he
was at the Putnam depot again, but minus the
money. Sunday night he resumed his duties as
nightwatchman in the warehouses of Henry
Henderson.
On Monday, of course, there was an outbreak
CONSERVATION reigned in the establishment when
the cashier, on opening the safe at the beginning
of business hours found the cash box empty.
Where could the money have gone tos The
nightwatchman was questioned closely. He
knew nothing about it, had seen no one about
the place nor in it. nor had he been Off the prem
ises after dark. Two detectives were put on the
case, and the next day Kenyon was arrested on
suspicion. He stoutly maintained his innocence,
and was reluctantly taken to prison and locked
up. Dir. Henderson visited him daily and talked
with him, but Kenyon held an unbroken front
for weeks Finally the merchant grew desper
ate. His business was badly cramped by the
loss of the money. No trace of it could be found
anywhere. No one was suspected except Peleg,
and many believed him innocent Mr.. Hender-
son walked into mis- cell one day and said:
"Peleg, this thing has gone on long enough,
You stole that money"
"Well, what if did!' coolly replied Peleg. ,
What if you did! You scoundrel, why, I'll
send you to prison for life"
mo, you won't Mr.. Henderson. Massachu
setts law provides seven years only for the man
who steals from his employer Peleg replied,
laughingly.
''You villain! What do you meanr said Mr.
Henderson.
Il can't earn 500, 900 in seven years, Mr. Hen.
dersor, and you know I'm bound to be rich
man. Now I've got that much, and after I've
been punished seven years for taking it, it's
mine, don't you sect"
The merchant was baff1ed No amount Of
talk would affect the thief. The detectives were
baffied. All their wiles had failed to secure the
money. The Widow Kenyon too, was baffed.
She was taken to Boston. and with her eyes
streaming with tears she implored Peleg to make
restitution. 1t was without avail.
''H on told me to make nv nile before / came
back. mother" he said, land when come home
I'll show it to you"
Mr.. Henderson was disgusted. At the end of
a week he offered Peleg his liberty if he would
return the money
why, 1 want to go to prison for it," was
his answer. II expect to be punished for taking
it."
GWEN give you your liberty and 1000" was
the merchants next offer.
'l'll give you $1,000 to let me go" responded
Kenyon
''Ill make it $1,000 said Mr.. Henderson in
dismay.
''And so will T. said Peleg
The offer to Kenyon was slowly increased to
$4,000, and he as steady advanced his offer for
liberty to that amount Mr.. Henderson was
now in dispair. He gave up all hope of getting
the money, and arranged his business so as to
do without it. Kenyon was not brought to trial,
however, and two months later Mr. Henderson
asked him submissively what he would do.
IF you'll let me go with written guarantee
not to trouble me- Iii give you all but 49, 900 to-
morrow said Peleg, blandy
Hanged if will said the merchant.
Six weeks more rolled by and Mr. Henderson
saw fit to accept the terms of the shrewd Yam
lee thief. For 100000 he signed an instru-;
ment putting Kenyon out of harms way with
the lions share of the money in his
pockets. Kenyon was released He went at
once to Griswold, crawled under the horse stablei
in the red barn at the old homestead and drew
forth the bundle of $685. 900 in bills intact. He
counted out $50, 900, and. going into the house,
said to his mother:
Mary, there's my pile
mo good Will come of it, my son" she sternlyi
responded.
Peleg went back to Boston and paid over $50, :
000 first investing his own money sklfully in real
estate, mortgages, and loans. Financially he was