Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-22
HOMEMADE REIICs
An Interesting Seen. In Virginia CITY osurs
Room.

Room.
The depressing dearth Of business In the Grim
inal court Of Virginia City. New, presided over
by Judge Moses. received a pleasant iuterrup-
ton in the case of William v Hendricks. who
was accused Of obtaining money under false
pretenses. The plaintiff was Henry wilkins .
young man from Gold Hill City. New, who vas
boiling over with indignation and impnticnce.
He announced himself to be passionate hunter
OF relics and art treasures but what was parii,-
ulAriy pleasing 20 him was kecpsakes Of promi-
nent personages- In his own words: "Amod.st
flower from the grave Of a gifted poet. n small
piece Of wood from an old venerable cathedral
or branch OF tree from any historical place
Is for me source Of purest joy." He then re-
lated that the defendant had sold 60 HIM large
quantity OF such curiosities for sIOO. assuring
HIM at the time that the same had all been im-
ported from Europe, when. IN fact they had all
been gathered in the immediate vicinity of Nir-
ginia City. He declared that his feelings ms
love for antiquities, &c, were deeply wounded
through the cruel, heartless swindle prActioed
on him by the defendant
Mr.. Hendricks was then called up. Upon
taking the oath he admitted HE guilt ana re-
marked, ironically, with a whitening look at the
plaintiff:
"well. yes; il is true. I found in wukin. a
man who had craving for curiositie.. who
continually hunted for cid autographs rare
postage stamps, faded flowers and pieces n
bark from trees which grew IN celebrated places.
Accordingly, manufactured quantity OF such
stuff"
Mr.. Drake. the attorney for the plaintiff.
thereupon produced the articles sold ~ VII
kins.
Mr.. Drake exhibiting an old piece Of from
What is this?
Defendant (smiling)-Ihis is a piece Of the
cannon ball which wounded NAPOLEON I st
Waterloo.
Mr.. Drake-where did you get il?
neiendant-from the iron foundry up in the
hills. lLaughterl
Mr.. Drake-Here is another relic. marked "A
piece from ST. Pauls Church an London. before
the great ire. Where did YOU get that from2
pelendant-From my wood pile 1 stained 10
with tincture Of iron 10 give IL the look OF re-
specialize age daughter IN auditorium
Mr. Drake-And this?
Defendant-A branch Of evergreens from the
grave of Bismarck
Mr.. Drake-Dut Bismarck is not dead vet.
Deiendant-Not dead2 thought he died last
year.
Mr.. Drake-Here is a brick
Defendant-From the house OF Oliver Crom-
weii- picked IL up in a street The bundle %
grass you hold In your hand did indeed NOT
grow on the grave OF Mary Stuart even II I
told wilkins lie paid me "a for IT, Ipicked
the grass near the Reservoir. The other things
1 have all picked up around town and properly
labeled. AS your honor will see. The autographs
OF Washington, Garibaldi. Lincoln. Wilkes
Booth, Lafayette, Talleyrnni. Metteruich Vol
taire. &C., have all written myself and placed
in damp place to give the app earance Of . re-
spectacle age.
Mr.. Drake-Did you fool other people xcept-
ing my client with such relics
Deiendaut-Mell, yes, I sold TO a greene
from Colorado who lives in jaw street an oil
painting for ESQ, a sketch from Hogarth. ~ I
told HIM In fact 1t only an old saloon
sign, but so blurred that nobody could recog-
nize II any more. lie paid me SlO0 each ana I
have never called for the balance. Immense
laughter i'm auditorium.l
Judge Moses-Are you the same fellow who
last summer sold to me an original sketch OF
Rembrandt2
Defendant-Yes, your honor. and also the
pen with which John Randolph signed the
Declaration of Independence.
AT this answer the previously subdued laugh-
ter burst forth in volumes Even the sober
laced Constable Norton was compelled to JON,
much to his disgust When order Was restored
the court announced that sufficient testimony
had been introduced 20 establish the guilt OF
the defendant and decision was reserved.
Judge Moses busted himself finding O para
graph in the statute books that covered the
case. The sentence, shortly thereafter an
nounced and cooliy received by the defendant,
was that he be imprisoned At hard labor IN state
prison for the term Of three wears.