The Portland daily press., 1898-02-24
"HAD AN HONEST FACE"
Case of Counterfeiting in Which Ben But
terworths Summary of a Mans Coun-
tenance Proved Correct.
t(Washingtou Post. J

One day when Major Butterworth wal
in reminiscent mood he told the follow
ing story, which is fine illustration OF
the trend of his whole life:
"When 1 was District Attorney in
Cincinnati, he said, ga man was brought
before me who had been arrested fol-
passing counterfeit money. The man Was
plain working man, evidently country
bred, and when ! looked into his face ]
thought: If this man is rogue the
Lord is a very bad writer He stood be-
fore me with misery painted on every line
of his countenance, and depicted in
every end of his body, and so took him
into my private room and said to him:
" You can tell me your story If you
wish, my man; and will try to do what
ever is best
I" Well, it is no use for me to deny it,
he began; fer I done it. But I never
meant to be dishonest
"And then he went on and told me how
he had worked and saved up his money
till he had enough to pay the first Install
ment on a farm out West, to be a home
\
lived in small town in Ohio, and had
left them there while no went to secure
the home; and on the boat he had met
stranger, smooth, speoious individual,
we'll dressed, well hammered, and plausi-
BILE. This man showed him some new
bills, and told him that while he had
made them himself, they were not coun-
from the genuine dies which had been
distracted from the Treasury Depart
ment. and told it in such q way as to
make it seem to this simple minded man
but venial fault, just sharp business
trick, in fact, rather commendable than
otherwise for its enterprise; and he offered
to sell them to him for half price. Here
was enough in his very grasp to pay for
his farm, and he could all the sooner have
his wife and children with him, thought
he.
"He was simple-minded man, and he
gave the man all the money he had laid
up to buy his home, for twice the amount
in worthless paper. The man left the
boat at the next landing, and then his
victim began to think in earnest about
wha5 he had done. He took the next boat
going back, giving the last cent of good
money he had for his fpassage, landing in
Cincinnati again, without cent in his
pocket, nor Jan idea what to dc in his
head At last hunger assailed him, and
he thought he would try his new money,
as that would be the best test of its value.
He offered fifty cent currency note in
payment for his dinner and another for
his bed. He was detected at once, for
the counterfeit, far from being made on
real plates, was very poor imitation.
He wound up his story with:
" L suppose L will have to go to the
penitentiary, STRIP
g 1T looks very much like it, my man,
/ said, not wishing to encourage him too
much. / wrote at once to the postmaster
of the town which the man had given as
his residence and asked rs to the truth of
his statement about his family, his years
of savings, etc., and as to his reputation
there. l received an immediate reply
corroboratiDg all the man said, and also
stating that he was Woodworking,
honest man, universally respected by his
neighbors.
81 then had him again brought before
me- and the poor fellow came evidently
expecting to receive his final sentence,
and said in trembling voice:
penitentiary now?' g No, my man, )
said I, and am afraid my own voice was
rather husky. Il am going to send you
home to try 1t again. Here is the money
to pay your fare, ana hope you will
never let scoundrel take you in again.
"The poor man wept for very joy, and
as soon as he could command his voice
poured out his gratitude. He took the
next train home, ana beginning at the
hottOm. went to work once more -