Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-18
A CURIOUS CASE.
A Man Receiving Aid from the County
With $500 In Gold In His Clothes.

A Man Receiving Aid from the County
with $500 In Gold In His Clothes
A rather curious and somewhat unusual
case was under investigation by County
Commissioner Charles Rohrig, yesterday,
and the facts brought to light are Of gen.
eral interest. Three months or 50 ago
Fielding Hillsberry removed to this city,
with his family, from Marion county,
renting 3 house on Chspline street, near
Thirty seventh. The family seemed to be
very poor, and Commissioner Rohrig was
frequently applied to for aid, which was
always extended. On Thursday OF last
week H;llsberry got into q quarrel with
Mrs. McConn, one of his neIghbors, and
she had him arrested on warrant sworn
ont before Justice McCresdy. In default
of payment OF foe Hillsberry was COM
mitted TO Jail. On being searched at the
Jail ten $40 gold pieces, one hundred dol
lars in smaller gold coin and s. 10 in silver
was found on the person Of the prisoner, .
pretty good sum for msn in receipt Of
county aid. Hillsberry sent for one or
two attorneys, bot on being told that IL
would cost HIM fifteen dollars TO get out
of jail, concluded to save the money and
remain where he was. A letter was sent
TO Marion county, enquiring into his anti
cedents, and in reply 1t was stated that be
bad been in jail there for come petty Of
tense, and had deposited 800 for his good
behavior for one year, which sum was still
standing to his credit The letter also
stated that Hillsberry lived in ahjsct pow
erty there, ct one time camping with hi,
family, for two weeks, in an open field.
Since Hillsberry moved here, he has
paid no rent to his landlady, Mrs. Hughes.
The latter was unable to pay her taxes,
add learning Of the money found on Hills
berry when he Was locked up, Mrs
Hughes made an effort TO get her taxes
out Of it. Sheriff Handlan had called on
Hillsberry before his arrest, and Gomez
quently before the presence of The cash
was known. Hillsberry represented him
self as being very poor, having no
money, and, indeed, being without the ne
c.ssaries of life. Mr.. Hsndlan offered re-
Lief in the way Of provisions, but at the
same time told the fellow that he ought to
uakr AZ ehoit !" pay VIC rem, M ~ Woo
about all the support Mrs. Hughes had.
HillsberTy said he was not 20 bad of but
what can get along" but said be would
avail himself of the Sherif7s offered aid,
should he need il.
After the arrest, and the discovery Of
the gold, the Sheriff again called on Hills-
berry, this time at the jail, and tried to in
duce him to give up the rent money.
HillsSerry refused, saying the money did
not belong to him, and adding that he did
not have the money when called on before.
"who does this money belong to?''
asked the Sheriff.
'tOh, that will come out further along, {"
said Hillsberry.
The Sheriff very fatty told Hillsberry be
was living. that the money was either HE,
or that be had stolen il, for no one would
trust man like him with 80 much coin.
He added, also, that HilisbeTry had acted
very meanly in the matter. All this had
no effect on the prisoner, who 10 still in
Jail, and still retains his cash, except five
cents be gave to boy, for an errasd, and
an orier for ten dollars 10 an attorney.