The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-03-28
Sheriff ssylor Helps q slsv and Saves the
County a Big Board Bill.

Among Sheriff Sayior's many accom-
plishments that Of translating an nu-
known language remained 70 be devel-
thies were aroused by poor Slav, who
had been committed 20 Jail on a charge Of
defrauding boarding -hOusekeeper. Du-
ring the week the Slay was confined in
jail he spent most of his time in prayer.
He sought TO separate himself from his
fellow inmates, with none Of whom be
was able to converse. and, silently steal
ing away into 8 dark corner OF his cell,
spent hours making crosses over his foro-
head and breast and Offering mute sup
plications for deliverance from bondage.
Sheriff Saylor, who speaks German and
Pennsylvania Dutch as fiuently As Eng
lish. and who has been known to carry on
prolonged interviews with his mute
friend William Marteeny, finally decided
that he would learn what was the matter
with "John''-the Slav. After patiently
watching John's gestieulations for hours
at a time, be by degrees discovered that
John has wife and five children in Rus
sia; that he has bank account amount
ing to some $500 in the town where his
wife resides; thai he was last employed
by a contractor who had agreed 10 pro-
vide him with boarding; that the con-
tractor had left Windber without doing
so, resulting in his (JOhn's) incareera-
ton; that be had an old satchel at his
former boarding house in Windber, and
that he could not secure possession Of It
until he had paid g to the party who held
it for unpaid rent After this he impart-
ed to the Sheriff by means Of his fingers
that there was sl47 in currency concealed
in the satcheI. and that If he could ge;
possession of Il he would cancel the debts
charged against him, If by doing so be
could regain his liberty. The attaches
about the county prison al secuted the
idea Of Johns having so much money in
satehel at boarding house, but the
sheriff, following his own inelinstions,
sent a deputy to Wiudber with instruc-
tions to pay the s. and secure possession
Of the satehel. When the grip reached
the SLeriff's Office the deputy threw it on
the floor with disgusted air. as much as
70 say: There's no money in that dirty
old thingr' Sheriff SaylOr directed thst
John be brought from his cell, when he
pointed TO the satchel. The Slsv made a
dive for it and speedily produced badly
soiled wooleu workman's cap. He felt
the cap over and over again, all the while
glaneing inquiringly at the Sheriff. The
Sheriff raised his hands alternately %
times, and then counted two on his fin
gers. John coInprehended wnat the OH
Ger meant, and, denly removing few
stitches which held the lining Of the cap
ia place, be drew forth roll Of bank
biIls-ten l0s, nine 81, and two ls-Sl44.
An hour later John was discharged. hut
n 4 until after be had paid the costs and
the disputed board bill, as well as the
costs charged against fellow country
man serving sentence In default thereof.
The two slavs ieft the Jail after making
many bows TO the sympathetic Sheriff,
who had not only secured their release
from prison, but had saved the county
the expense Of boarding two prisoners
for a number of months. Sheriff Saylor's
big heart is in the right place.