Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-05-15
Famk Politics. Literature Local and General News
Mechapsown Frederick County, Maryland, Thursday May 49, 1890

and should have gone away from the
place but for one thing. Jack and l
had been in the habit Of buying lottery
tickets every month, and the list of win.
ners was in the daily papers on the
morning following the day that Jack
was killed. My ticket had drawn moth,
ing, but l found on reading the list the
ticket that Jack had in his pocket when
killed had drawn SIS, 900, and l made
up my mind then and there that
would not leave the place until / had
either the ticket or the money that it
had drawn.
1T seems that the Chief of Police in
going through Jacks clothes, had found
the ticket, and he of course also knew
that it had drawn big prize, but for
some reason or other he was afraid to
get it cashed from the city in which he
held office. He also knew that | knew
he had the ticket, but did not fear me,
for if | went forward to claim it, |
could easily have been sent to the pen
ltentiary for the burglary. AS it was
| was unknown to him personally,
while he was known to me, and so you
see | had but little fear of being caught.
Fifteen thousand dollars Was too
much money TO let go by. 1twas more
than he could earn in several years of
work at the salary he was getting, while
if got it | would then haye enough to
start some good business, settle down
and liye like a respectable man. At
last news reached my ears that the chief
of Police had resigned his position and
was about to leaye the city. From that
time | seldom let him get out of my
sight, and when he started away | was
with him, and even in the same car,
although he did not know it.
well to make long story short, he
went to New York and put up at one
of the best hotels. I had the next room
to him. He got the lottery ticket cash
ell from there, and then, after Il few
days Of sightseeing, he started back for
the little Colorado city. During all
this time l had no chance to get at the
money, although l knew he had it with
him all the time. Arrived home, how,
ever, he was not so vlgilant, and | found
out that he had slowed it away in a
small safe IN his own house,
The first time he was home was the
only time that | could get the coin, for
| telt pretty certain that he would bank
all or a part of it the next day. So, af-
ter the lights We're put out and every
thing became quiet in his house, | el-
tered through one of the windows, and
golug to the safe | had but little troub-
lie in opening it. There was the mon
ey in crisp, new bank notes in 1000
bills. I hurriedly put it IN my pocket
and leaving the house I caught the
night express for the East, and was
many miles away before the ex-chef OF
police discovered his loss, and III bet
the little Colorado city did not contain
a madder man than he WIS when he
discovered it.
He stopped there, said the narrator,
and I thought he had finished, but a
moment after he went Oh: 4 brought
all the money east, intending to divide
it evenly with the widow Of nv old pal,
but when | arrived there found that
she had also died, and so the whole OF
the big lottery prize fell to me, and |
think I worked hard for 1t, don't you ?
There, that is the story, just as |
heard it from the lips of the man HIM
self. He is respected citizen in one
of the large cities in New York State,
and not one man in five thousand who
knows him, knows how he got his start