Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-02-20
IcoDyrisht 1906. sy Meclurf Nswspaps,

Jonas 4. Smith and William B. Jones
were schoolmates and bosbm friends.
At the age of twenty they entered the
same counting room. Two years later
Smith went into the draperfs business
and Jones went to South America to
/ represent firm.
Three years after Jones had departed
j for South America things so changed
1 with his firm that he returned. Smith
knew that he was coming and was the
1 first to greet him. Neither had mar
ried during the interval. The draper
had prospered, but desired to enlist
more capital and enlarge his business
Jones had money and became part
ner. So great was their faith In each
other that no papers were drawn be-
/ yond those making 1t legal partner
ship. They trusted to each other in
everything else. The partnership con-
tinued for FIVE years, and the firm
made money. This made at least six
teen years that they had been daily
| together as boys and men, and one
would have said that each thoroughly
uAACAntOOA thC OtnCks OAC QdJt al
view of further improvements, they
had a balance sheet drawn. This
showed the exact share of each and
the profits made. There was a differ
ence Of just a halfpenny in favor Of
Smith. The matter was first mention
ed in joking way and in the greatest
good nature, but later on 1t became a
bone Of contention. Here were two
lifelong friends who had handled thou
sands of pounds between them disput-
ing about halfpenny. Each declared
that he was actuated by principle, and
so hot did the dispute rage that
dissolution Of the copartnership was
agreed upon.
Jones went out of the firm and es-
tablished an opposition trade. In two
years he bankrupted both concerns.
People for thirty miles around were
furnished with free railroad tickets to
come and buy, even at half price, and
they were furnished free meals at the
stores.
When bankruptcy came 1t made
clean sweep. Both men went out into
the world without dollar. Smith took
situation In warehouse, and Jones
secured one with real estate agent.
Smith secured board far away from
the other place, but inside Of two days
Jones was boarder at the same place.
Then they spoke for the first time In
two years, and their words were over
heard by the landlady, as testified to
afterward. AS they met in the upper
hall Jones said:
"Smith, have just word to say to
you. shall kill you some day for your
meanness about that halfpenny."
'"rhats my intention toward you."
That was all. They sat at the same
table and slept within few feet Of
each other for FIVE months and never
passed another word. They ignored
each others very existence. The other
boarders in, the house came to under
stand the situation and fell into it,
though Of course 1t was subject of
general remark. On a dozen different
occasions mutual friends interceded,
but each time they were rebuffed.
That poor little halfpenny stood in the
} way and could not be put aside. At
the end OF Ave months a relative of
Smith died, and he decided to buy a
house in suburb Of London and have
d widowed sister act as housekeeper.
This project was talked over at the
table before all.
1t was q most curious thing that
Jones should be In the employ of the
real estate man who had erected the
houses In the suburb referred to and
!, that 1t was part of his duties to
show would be purchasers through the
houses. Such was the case, however,
; and one afternoon when Smith alighted
from the underground at the suburb
he found Jones ready for him. 1t
must have been surprise to him, and
yet he was equal to the occasion. He
asked to be shown a certain house,
and Jones led the way into it People
} on the street heard and saw this. That
! evening neither man returned to his
boarding house. They did not return
next day. Then the police were spoken
to, and a search was instituted. Smith
|, 0dQ kHlu IudL u6 was BuluE W AOoh 80 ..
} house. Jones' had said that he was
going to show house to customer.
They found the house into which the
two men had gone and had not been
seen to reappear with It's outer door
unlocked. In a room upstairs they
!, found Smith and Jones dead. What
happened was told by a tramp who
was In hiding in the house because he
} had committed theft and feared the
police were after him. He was asleep
in an upstairs room and was awaken
! ed by the sounds Of the mems voices
In dispute. He heard one say:
"Smith, Providence has sent you
} here to your death. l am going to
kill your
Clones, have been waiting for Just
such an opportunity to take your iifeF'
replied the other.
There was little or nothing more said
. before they closed with each other.
The struggle lasted about five min
t1tnu TT was haars1 hut not seen BY