Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-07-01
Daily kennebec Journal.
Local Matters
MANY PERQu|sITEs.
A Former Ex-CoIIector and Private
4 Secretarys Story.
The Way the Officers in Jerusalem Procure
1heir Money.

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II W as a burnal mans interesting
good fortune to have a chance. not
long ago, to converse with a man OF
official position in Jerusalem. but who
has now changed his religion, and fo:
obvious><easons would not care to have
his name mehtiyned in connection with
the manner iH which he used to deal
with the people of his country
He was of rich parentage, and was
sent to a private school, where he
learned several languages. and could
repeat many chapters in the Bible.
When once out of the school he wished
to earn his own living, and his father
secured his appointment as the col
lector of Axek The assessment is not
made as in other countries, for the col
lector not 6nly makes his own assess
ment, bW The collects as well.
Il would go to a man and see how
many sheep he kept, and then l would
charge him SO much for them.
But would they not cheat you?"
No. Y would cheat them and the
goverDfnent. as we'll. l would see how
mapf sheep they kept, and tell them
how much the tax would be. They
would be anxious to settle cheaper, and
| would tell them that if they would
give me 500 l uld/make their taxes
gred deal less is case they were
large. l used to- settle about all the
| taxes in that way, and l made a grea-
deal of money out of them.
Why, had to make money in some
way. My salary was only s. month.
as it was when was private secre-
tary to the governor. could not sup
port my wife on that amount, and they
expect a man in a government office
to make money. There are the per-
quisites that go with the office
When l was the private secretary
pa SNNEH SVoiS man NOulu come 10
me and want a paper made out oh.
go away | would say. cannot at
tend to you today. l am busy. You
give me $40 and l will make it out.
If he would give me the money |
would do the work. but otherwise [
would send him away and keep send
ing him away. He would perhaps go
10 the governor and complain of me.
The governor would call me before
them and ask me about it. l would
say I had never seen the man before.
| and the man woUd be fined and given
"a hours in prison for telling a lie about
me.
Il once e9rned fine horse from a
rich man. He was in Jail and he sent
| for me. Invent to him and he began
to kiss my feet. l asked him what was
| the trouble, and he said he wanted me
to get him out of Jail.
But, | said, / am nothing but the
private secretary, l can do nothing
oh yes, you cam he said you can
get me out and l will reward you
libetally.
Il arranged SO that he was to be
taken sick. the next month, and then
| he was to send to me. | was to send
doctor whom he was to bribe, and 1
was to order the patients removal to
| the hospital We carried out the ar
rangemeHt. and | sent two different
| doctors, at different times, so that no
suspicion would be aroused against me
While he was in the hospital. the rich
| man bribed the soldiers and escaped
Very soon after | was presented with a
saddle horse that was valued at about
$500. and he is today in my fathers
sta bles
Il Was riding out toward Winthrop
yesterday, and as / came near your
lake with the long name-Cobbossee-
contee-it reminded me of the scene
along the banks of the Jordan. l saw
great swamps of alders, and that is
just what line the banks of the Jordan
The travellers make their own way
along through this, and they are beset
upon by thieves as much. and more,
today. as they used to be in the days
of the times of the Good Samaritan.
That parable is very likely one. The
wilderness is still filled with the
thieves"