Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-06-10

III JuAl itSSuSGV VI tlIuIOcE. Ills uliy
not he astonishing. for many an limo.
cent man has not only been accused Of
but has been hanged for murder, but
what is remarkable in my case is that
am accused of numbering myself.
Perhaps this isn't quite clear. If it
isn't. it is either because the case is q
very complicated one or l am not in a
fit condition of mind to make it clear.
The only way to unravel the matter so
that it can be understood is to tell the
story from the beginning.
Twelve years ago came to Mertford,
a young man Of twenty-five, to look for
a job. had no funds, and, not get
ting position at once. l ran in debt to
my landlady. A month passed, and l
had found nothing to do. My landlady
told me that if didn't pay up by the
next Saturday night she would have
me arrested for Il common vagrant and
swindler.
That same day While walking about
looking for a job met man OH the
street who looked so much like NE
that | stared at him as we passed.
He turned and said:
You must be a kin of mine. You
look enough like me to be my own
brother"
"What's your namc:" asked.
civilian Higgins"
Il am Nicholas Van Wrinkle"
We couldn't trace any relationship
but he asked NE into beer saloon,
where we pursued that and other
subjects. lie was an insinuating fell
low and Won my confidence SO far
that told him of my financial trou-
bic. What did he do but whip out a
roll of new, crisp bills and invite me
to help myself. demurred at incur
ring obligations to stranger, but he
insisted and finally literally forced
upon me four ten-dollar bills. saying
that he was sure from the likeness
between us we had sprung from a
common stock and he didn't propose
that any kinsman of his should suffer
so long as he had plenty of money. l
asked him for his address that might
return the loan after getting posi-
ton. He put his hand Oh my Shout
der and said, II won't tell you. lest
you rob yourself to pay Inc before you
are ready" With that he went out
somewhat suddenly and left ME very
much surprised at all that had oc-
Cured.
The only thing to do was to consider
the episode Il piece Of good luck, and
going to my landlady. gave he,
three of the bills. keeping the other
for current necessities. which pur,
chased Immediately.
The next day Il policeman came to
the house and produced a warrant for
my arrest. The charge was passing
counterfeit money. and the accuscl
was a druggist of whom had bought
toothbrush and from whom l had
received change for ten dollar bill.
OF course the generosity of my new
found friend was now perfectly plain
to me. didn't know and don't know
now what he expected to gain by the
transaction unless he hoped to use me
later. My landlady on seeing me
marched away by policeman under
a charge of passing counterfeit money
took the bills had given her to hel
bank. where they were pronounced
spurious. When l was brought up fol-
examination both she and the drug
gist appeared against me. told g
straight story. but without effect
Counterfeit bills had been showed into
circulation, and the police had becl
looking: for the shower. was heiG
for trial and spent six weeks in Jail
Then WAS tried AS there was II,
evidence connecting me With gan.
of countcrfciters. was acquitted anG
released
But one thought absorbed mc-to &c,
even with the man who had PLAYED
the trick on me that had kept me 81,
weeks in Il horrible cell and ruined
me in the place where had intended
to settle. walked the streets hopin.
to meet him till ] was so weak from
hunger that ! couldn't walk am,
longer. then gave it up. But all thu
while ] was thinking of Il plan fol-
revenge. At last concoctcd one tina
might catch the counterfeter and pun
ish him for something more tia,
brcaEing the government money laws.
went to Il wood in the outskirts O
the town and to Il tree pinned Il piece
OF paper OF, which had written in :
trembling hand that ! was about to b.
murdered by man who had force,
me to pass counterfeit money, | liav
ing threatened 10 put the police on t,
him and his gang described tn
man who had given me the spurious
bills. In doing so Of course de
scribcd my own personal appearance
but didn't care for that. for PRO
posed to disappear from the place an,
play dead Having taken this tn
only means ! could think Of tn gai,
my revenge. l converted myself into
tramp and dix! not stop moving unit
] had gone some 1900 miles from tn
town where had had so much trou
BILE. At til" end Of my tramp foun.
a man who gave me Il job and | re
joiced that at last ! had reached