The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-01
GAVE HIM A NEW START.
How Ben Butterworth Once Settled
q Case of Counterfeiting.


a Case of Counterfeiting.
From the Washington Post.
one day when Major -Butterworth
was in a reminiscent mocf ne told the
following story which is n fine Illus
tration of the trend Of his whole life.
when was district attorney in
Cincinnati" he said, "a man was
brought before me who had been ar
rested for passing counterfeit money.
The man was plain workingman, evil
IDENTIFY country bred, and when | looked
into his face | thought: If this man
is rogue the Lord Is a very bad writ
er. He stood before me with misery
depicted on every line of his counten-
ance and depicted in every bend OF
his body, and so l took him into my
private room and said to him:
You can tell me your story, If you
wish, my man; and l will try to do
whatever is best
We'll, it is no use for me to deny
it, he began for | done 1t. But l
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 instalment on a home out west,
to be a home for his wife and seven
children. He lived in a small town
in Ohio, and had left them there while
he went to secure the home, and on the
boat he had met a stranger, smooth,
specious individual. well dressed, well
hammered and plausible. This man
showed him some new bills and told
him he might make them himself, they
were not counterfeit because they had
beeen printed from the genuine dies
which had been distracted from the
treasury department. and told 1t in
such a way as to make it seem to this
simple minded man but a venial fault,
Just a sharp business trick, in fact,
rather commendable than otherwise
for it's 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 soon
er have his wife and children with
him. thought he.
He was q simple-minded man, as
! said not an acute reasoner, and the
glamour of the situation, together with
the ceaseless arguments of the strang-
er hindered him from thinking over
it as he should, and he gave the man
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
what he had done. He wanted to see
somebody to ask about it; somebody
who would know whether this pretty
new money was really good before he
got any further from home, so he took
the next boat going back giving the last
cent of good money he had for his pas
sage, landing in Cincinnati again
without cent of good money he had
for his passage, landing in Cincinnati
again, without cent in his pocket
nor an idea what to do in his head.
"At last hunger assailed him, and
he thought he would try his new mon
ey, as that would be the best test OF
| it's value. after all, and in his simple
| ity he thought that a dollar or two
could not make such difference when
| he had paid several hundred. for if the
| money turned out to be bad he could
make that small sum good when he
got home and at work again. So ne
| offered a i0-Cent currency note in pay
ment for his dinner and another for his
| bed. He was detected at once, for this
counterfeit far from being made or
| real plates, was a very poor imitation
| He was Immediately arrested. Alas!
| he had no chance to make anything
| good, and he wound up his story with;
II suppose ! will have to go to the
| penitentiary, sir?"
| 1T looks very much like it, my
| man. l said, not wishing to encourage
| him too much though l meant to in
| quirc into the case, and sent him back
| to his cell But | wrote at once to the
| postmaster of the town which the man
| had given as his residence and asked
as to the truth of his statement about
| his family, his years of savings, etc.
and as to his reputation there. / re-
| ceived an immediate reply corroborat-
| ing all the man said and also stating
that he was a hard working, honest
man, universally respected by his
neighbors.
Il then had him again brought before
me, and the poor fellow came evidently
expecting to receive his final sentence
and said in a trembling voice:
Are you going to send me to the
penitentiary now?
"'No, my man. said I, and / am
afraid my own voice was rather husky
4 am going to send you home to try II
again. Here is the money to pay your
fare, and l hope you will never let a
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, and beginning at the
bottom went to work once more"