The herald., 1895-08-18
A ROMANTIC
ADVENTURE OF A SILVER DOLLAR
OF THE YEAR 1904

This is a story OF the romantic 'adve n nt-t
ures OF silver dollar. Not the dollar OF
political controversy, but dollar of 1904.
which 10 said to be worth about 81, 800. or
even more.
1t came out through the trial OF one
Charles Schultz. an alleged vagrant, for
the larceny of pair Of trousers. an old
gold watch and chain and silver dollar
from Felix Schultz of 108 East Tenth
street.
The latter declares that while walking
along the street one night several weeks
ago he was approached by a seedy-look-
ing young man, who said that he was
homeless and hungry and begged for
something to eat.
Felix Schultz had com passion on his
homeless namesake. and took him to his
hons on East Tenth street, where the
stranger was fedsand then tucked away
IN a nice, downy bed. But when the
trusting Felix awoke the next morning
he found that his guest had fled and his
new trousers, his watch and valuable coin
had gone with him.
The police were notified. and in short
time the ungrateful Schultz was behind
VuO UaIS JChoibOu PlIoOhs
Lawyer Thomas +. Gibbons of 1O5 West
Tenth street was retained by Felix to
prosecute Charles. The latur confessed
his guilt and was remanded for trial.
This came off short time ago before
Judge Fitzgerald. The prisoner was
promptly found guilty, but before SEN
tence was passed Lawyer Gibbons sal d
that his client had req uest to make.
The Judge consented to hear him, and
then Felix begged the court to be meroi-
full to she prisoner, provided the latter
would tell what he had done with the sill
YER dollar.
~ don't care anything about the watch
and the other things" he said, "but
would like very much to recover my
pocket piece. 1t was silver dollar OF
1904 and has been IN our family for three
generations. My mother used to bite on
1t whom she was taething, then l used it
for the same purpose. and recently my
children have been using it."
IA very. interesting relic" said the
judge. with smile. Then turning TO the
prisoner he demanded, what did you
do with the CONF"
Then the prisoner told his story. He
said that after he left Schnltz's house
with his booty he first pawned the trous-
ers and watch. Then he went into sa-
loon and ordered a drink, at the same
time throwing on the bar.the dollar OF
1904. The bartender examined the coin
critically, and proved himself to be an
honest man by handing it back to
Schultz with the remark that it looked
like a rare coin and advising him to
take it to dealer aud learn its value.
Schultz says he took the bartender's
advice and went to branch of the Scott
Coin and Stamp company, 1S East Twen-
ty-third street. and asked its value. To
his amazement the dealer offered him $95
for it. He at once concluded that the
dollar must be of greater value and de-
cided to try other dealers.
He went from Broadway to the main
Office OF the Scott company and invited
a bid on his dollar at that place and was
offered $50. He retufped to find the
branch Office closed and then went back
and accepted the 500.
The mans story was listened to with
amaZement especially on the part OF the
late owner of the dollar and his attorney.
Mr.. Gibbons" said Judge Fitzgerald,
"what does this mean?"
When the lawyer had recovered his
breath he gasped: "Your honor, it is all
news to me. l have never heard word
| of this before" Felix, Schulz was ap-
| pealed to but he was as much taken by
surprise as any one else. He declared he
| never suspected the coil represented
| more than its facs value and he had sim
ply treasured it on account Of its associ
| ations. In view of the prisoners confes-
sion that he had stolen $50. more than he
had been charged with. Judge Fitzgerald
did not see any grounds for Clemt ncy, and
sentenced Charles Schultz to two and one
quarter years in state prison.
After the trial Felix Schultz told the
story of the silver dollar to his lawyer.
He SAID that from his pa:ents he had
heard that about forty years ago young
German had appealed to his grand m other
for asslstance.just as Schultz, the convict
had come to him. But he was an honest
young German and in genuine distress.
So the grandmother took him in and
cared for him. But il a short time he
became ill and died.
Among his effects was quantity of
German silver money and the dollar OF
1904. The grandmother wrote to the dead
mans family in Berlin and in reply re-
ceiyed a request that the German money
money be retained. This was done and
the American money became the family
teething and pocket piece alternately.
Lawyer Gibbons at once began an in
vestigation as to the - and where
abouts OF the missing dollar. The Scott
company denied any knowledge Of the
coin, and declared it had never been
offered them for sale. But suit at law
is pending to determine that fact.
The history OF the coin and the reason
for its great value is easily learned. In
1903 the secretary of the treasury ordered
the coming of a certain number of silver
dollars for the following year at the Phil
adelphia mint. After 5000 of them had
been coined and put out it was discov-