Evening journal., 1913-07-10
A Case Of
Oveneaching
By DoRoTHEA HALE


Herman Gottz was very old man.
He had received no education In his
youth: consequently be had been oblig
ed to do very ordinary work. which had
paid him very little. he had had chill
dren. but they had died. and he and
his wife had no one to rely on In their
old age. when they were unable 10
work. There seemed nothing for them
to do but so TO the poorhouse. and
there Is something so mela ncholy about
It that many wonld rather die than
resortsto It.
One day Herman while walking
along the street found a large pocket
book. one Of that kind that will hold
a bank bill without It's being folded
Herman opened II and saw that It con
taned S2To He looked about him 10
see II any one was near who might
have dropped It, but there was no one
at all in sight So he put 1t In his
pocket and took II home TO his wife
Maria. to consult with her as TO what
he should do with It.
Maria asked her nelghbors how on,
could find the owner Of pocketbOok
lost on the street and was told to look
in the newspapers. for the owner
would doubtless advertise Il and would
offer a reward for its return. So the
next morning Herman went to a read
ing room for poor persons and looked
through all the morning papers. for he
could read and write also. though very
badly. In one Of the papers he found
the advertisement he was looking for
II stated that a pocketbook had been
lost near where Herman had found It
and II returned a third Of the contents
would be given the finder.
The habit OF honesty was firmly fixed
on the old man. Indeed. he had never
In his life taken anything that did not
belong to him. and II was too late for
him to begin. II he should keep the
money It would trouble him and II
would not likely last him as long as be
lived anyway. II be returned It be
would get a third of II, which would
keep him and Maria for several
months.
He took the pocketbook to the owner
who at first praised him very highly
for his honesty. Indeed, he was 50
loud In his praise that he forgot to
count out the money for the reward
When Herman asked him for It he
opened all the different compartments
as though looking for something. then
began to abuse the old man, saying
that there had been much more money
IN the pocketbook than be now found
there Herman denied having taken
anything out Of It. whereupon the
man began to curse aud to swear al
Herman. calling him n thief, and, hus
Ting him to the door. put him out, Civ
Ing him a kick at the same time.
IL happened that a policeman was
going by the house at the time ant
asked what was the matter. The own
er Of the pocketbook told his story
and Herman charged him with refus
Ing to pay the reward be had offered
besides assaulting him. The police
man took them to the station, wher
be entered charge Of disorderly con
duct against both Of them in order tha
the matter might be thrashed out II
court
The next morning they were brough
into court with other prisoners. am
when their case was called the judg,
asked for a statement Of facts. II wn,
soon made evident to him that Herman
had been beaten out of bis reward
He also got from the old man that h,
was too old to work and that he am
his wife we're about TO go TO the poor
house. Honesty under such circun,
stances made very favorable impres
sion. while the conduct OF the owne
Of the pocketbook appeared very repro
hensible
"You say" said the Judge to the lat
ter, that there was much more none,
In the pocketbook than was returned ?
"Yes, your honor"
How much mofei"
There were seven $1,000 and fou
$500 bills. IN ell $1,000"
How did you happen to have .,
much money IN such placer"
u have carried Il there for severn
years. don't put money In bank.
doB't like banks"
wasn't II rather an unsafe way /,
carry hillsT
The prisoner saw that he was gettin,
tied up BY the Judge in bis statement
and looked confused.
Were these bills In the same par
Of the peeketbook." asked the Judge
''ap the money returned1"
mo. your honor; they we're In com
partfHsht by themselves"
Which compartment"
The man looked more confused thai
ever at this The Judge called for tn,
poeketbook hnd asked the prisone
to show him Just where the bills ha,
been kept The man then confesse,
that they were IN part which wa
sewed together He examined tn
pocketboes closely and. feeling a thicl
part. took out knife and ripping
open. sxtincted the bills exactly as tn
prisoner named them.
"Yos are a truthful fellow" said th
Judge. "what reward did you offer 70
the return of your property"
Ths man did not reply. and the judy
called for the advertisement whiel
I Herman produced
"You offered one-third OF the con
tents OF tho pockethook.' continued th
Judge Then he hrnded Bermnn 81 NIX
being one-third OF the whole content
OF the pocketbook. at the same tim
! ,otHn~ ths otnar fhof ~ he fro,,hiod th