The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-04
A THRILLING STORY

through some records of the United
States court, with tho assistance of Its
clever clerk, Charles s. Lincoln, thcre
was happened across a yellow-stalned
bill of indictment bearing the dete OF
August, 1928, and charging one Jacob
X. Boyer, with Selling. utterlns and
delivering forged one hundred.dollnr
note on the bank OF the United States"
which then had Its bldlng place in thu
marble pile on Chestnut street. above
Fourth, where Uncle Sam, In the per-
son OF Collector John r. Read, sits
daily in the receipt of customs duties
Folded within the crease OF the indIet-
mcnt was the counterfeit note itself
The record showed that the accused
had been found guilty and had been
sentenced TO an imprisonment of three
Years at hard labor An everyday tale
lllllN. apparently, ami yet that inliltv
bill OF Indictment brings to mind a
story worth the telling.
In the summer OF 1913 David Paul
Brown, who had Just been admitted TO
practice at hte bar OF Philadelphia, was
travelling through New Jersey on his
way TO spend few days with some rel
attves at Berkeley. At that time he
had not achieved the fame that after
wards made his services in such de-
mand and consequently In the absence
OF his clients he had much leisure tlmc
ut his disposal. He was therefore. jour
neying but slowly. and proceeded only
a few miles beyond Camden when his
0ttention was attracted by q gathering
OF fully one thousand people who were
eongreSated upon an open field. Upon
Joining the throng he found that there
had been a horse race In the neighbor-
hood. and this had been succeeded by
all manner OF races and games OF
chance. All the athletes OF the eoun-
try for miles around were there as
sembled, and they were contrasting at
wrestling, Jumping, running. p!tching
quoits and like paEItimeS. The greater
part OF the crowd appeared 10 be In
tereStcd In the Efforts OF q dozen mus
cular Jerseymen at throwing the bar.
which implement weighed about thirty
pounds. One man Of Hercufean bniit
appeared to be the tavorlte. He finally
distanced all his competitors and was
hoigted upon the shoulders OF his
/ friends and paraded around mo ilGld.
Loud offers OF money were made to pit
him against all Corners. ii
While the huZzaS were at their loud
est o rough, greasy-looking butcher
from Pennsylvania. evidently chagrln-
cd by the elatlsri OF the Jerseymnn. In
Quired whether their champion would
compete with any man upon Ghe
ground There were loud cries In the af-
flrmative, and many bank notes werG
rlStled In the aSr as an earnest OF their
owners faith. The preferred bets were
quickly covered by the butcher and
some OF his friends. and in a Few min
,oaes they brought forward one who
had been apparently an uncOncernet
spectator OF the previous struggle. He
was about twenty years OF age. tall
and magnlficently proportIoned. and
with short, thick, black curly hair. Dav-
ID Paul Brown. afterwards describing
him. said Upon rolling up his sleeves
preparatory 10 his efforts he displayed
IN arm which struck all present with
mute amazernent. II was q perfect
model Of strength and symetry. No
artist in his warmeSt fancy ever CHS
eled or delineated such an arm as that. +"
Each man was given three trials. and
at he decisive effort the young Penn
sylvanlan seized the bar as II 1t were
n feather and hurled Il many. many
feet beyond the furthest mark and won
the contest.
Ten years rolled by. when, as Mr..
Brown sat In his law Office in this city,
there entered the room two men, In one
ot whom he recognized the victor Of che
bar, whom he had never seen during
the Intervening years.
He had been charged, together with
his companion. with passing counter
felt notes OF the Bank OF the United
States. and had been held for trial ut
the approaching circuit court in this
city. His name was Jacob X. Boyer.
The oftense was alleged 10 have been
committed at a horse race IN Delaware
county, and his defense was that the
money had been received by him as
stakes and wagered without knowl-
edge of It's spurious character. In
speaking OF the trial, MIR. Brown after
wards said: "He was arralgned, ana
as he uttered the words not guilty my
eyes sat upon him for moment and
observed the same fixed. firm and re-
solved expression OF his countenlnce
\ which years before he had displayed
when summoninE as 1t were his whole
body and soul for the last physical et-
fort In the New Jersey field. The Jury
was lmpaneled, his trial-and It was an
awful -proeeeded, and still he re-
malned the same. Day after day. dur
ing which the protrAtted Investigation
continued the ordeal apparently had
no effect upon him. although he had
told me that he would rather a bullet
had been sent 10 his heart than he
should hcve been thus accused.
The current OF evidence was lrresls-
tlbly against the prisoner, but when
the fury pronounced their verdict Of
guilty. several OF them were moved to
tears. When the marshal approached
TO convey Boyer TO prison, Mr.. Brown
inquired OF him whether .shere was, any
further service he could render him.
lie calmly said that he would like 20
see his wife. II was the first time the
name had escaneSl HE llpe. and u sub.
FeGuently appeared thai he olsa had
i've helpless children. The ofllcec for
some reason refused the request. New
err mind" said Mr.. Brown. "lt would
be n sad parting and can on5wer no
possible purpose but 10 sharpen your
mutual aiIllctIon. We will endeIvor 20
obtain a new Srlal, and you can then,
It Is hoped, meet under more favorable
circumstances" =.
''But." said Boyer. ut will kill her"
and then added with a determined
1mIle: Very well, ] have no more to
fsay, but would rather they put a bull
let in me-"
The following morning Afr. Brown
visited the convicted man in prison
His demcnnor was still unrufiied. He
handed his counsel some papers upon
which he desired suit brought, and an
account OF the proceeds made TO his
wife, II hope shall be able ito ar
count to you" said Mr.. Brown. encour-
very WE'LL" said Boyer: account to
me then" Mfr. Brown begged him 10
be composed and said that he would
! see him again later in the morning,
"AIn't composcd7" replied Boyer, with
a smile. do you see any want OF COM
posIIre In me?" Counsel said nothing,
| but took his hand and Withdrew. In