Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-01
AN EARLY sW,NDLER.
Scheme Worked By Smart Irish
Rogue in 1851.

That the publications of the His
toricai MANUSCRIPTS Commission are
not altogether dun reading may be
gathered from the subjoined extract
from calendar of the MSS. of the
Marques of ornondc, *. F., Pre-
served at Kilkenny Castle" Under
date London, Apri 80, 1861" Colonel
+. Cooke writes to the Duke of Or
monde. then Lord Lieutenant of Ire
land, long letter in which after COM
municating certain political intclli-
sence he proceeds to retail some re-
markable stories of the town:
"One habited like the better sort of
serving men, having more subtility
than honesty, viewing the plate cX-
posed t" show in goldsmith's shop,
took note of it, which reading to the
goldsmith as parcels his master,
naming doctor of physic the gold
smith had heard of. had sent him to
buy, the goldsmith undertook To
furnish him to the value of between
80 Ii and 90 Ii. The goldsmith and
his apprentices Immediately fell fur
bshinG up the plate he appointing to
call for it within two hour because
his master was to make present of
it that night. Accordingly he came
just as it began to be dark, borrowed
one of the servants to carry it. and
the note OF its weight and worth along
with him.
'As soon as he came to the doctors
house he ordered the fellow to stay
in d corner of the hall till he waited
on his master. and Immediately as
cendcd the stairs t" his closet door,
and on knocking had entrance, told
the doctor he had a kinsman, a hope
full young man (cXactly describing the
goldsmths servants person and
habiD, who from the distempcr of this
new fever, though he had recovered
his strength. vet he had so impaired
his senses that he frequently fell into
raVing fits the warning he gave of
their approach was to fall a-talking of
plate and money, and money for plate,
and then two or three men could
scarce hold him; because he had not
long been so distempered he the more
hoped of recovery, especially encour-
aged from the doctors fame; he added
he would take care to convey him to
the doctor. and so left the doctor to
give order for dark room against he
came, and returned to the fellow for
plate and note to carry to his master,
who himself would weigh it, and he
would Immediately bring down the
money.
Away slips he out of the back door
with his burden and when the fellow
had outstayed his patience he desired
to speak to the doctor to whom when
he approached the doctor concluded
him to be his bespoke patient and,
being in the middle of recipe, bade
him sit down and he would discourse
with him presently by his bell sum-
moning up his servants, and as soon
as at leisure began to question him
how long he had been ill., He, staring,
replied that he had not been i'll. I
mean said the doctor, of this new
fever He answered he never had it in
his life. The doctor would fain feel
his pulse; the fellow struggling to
prevent it, and began to say he came
not for physic. but for money for his
plate, or his plate again. Immediate.
lY three of his servants were COM
manded to seize him. and chirugeon
sent for to let him blood, which bv
mere force he did, and to take a great
Quantity from him. nay after sent for
a barber to shave off his hair. and the
more the fellow argued for his plate
OF money tn" more mailman he was
accounted, and having lost his blood
and hair was clapped into "a dark
room, not only kept there that night.
hut the next day also. and the night
following.
The goldsmith all this while. con-
cludihg MS servant run away with the
platc, was determined to garet him,
put gentleman accidentally coming
10 the doctor and he mentioning his
new patient. the gentlemans curiosity
tempted MN to see him who it seems
'tle fellow had seen and began to de-
'Etre WhoS" servant he was. The
gentleman knew him not in that dis
suise. but, sending for his master. the
cheat came out."-The Lancet.