The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-07-25
A Case Of
Overreachinq
By DOROTHEA HALE

By DOROTHEA HALE
Herman Gottz was a very old man.
He had received no education in his
youth; consequently he 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 n to rely on in their
old age. when they were unable to
work. There seemed nothing for them
to do but 60 to the poorhouse. and
there is something SO melancholy about
1t that many would rather die than
resort to 1t.
One day Herman while walking
along the street found a large pocket
book. n of that kind that will hold
a bank bill without its being folded.
Herman opened it and saw that It con
tanned $27O. He looked about him to
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 it home to his wife.
Maria, to consult with her as to what
he should do with It.
Maria asked her neighbors how one
could find the owner of a pocketbook
lost on the street and was told to look
In the newspapers. for the owner
would doubtless advertise it and would
offer q 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.
It stated that a p~ocketbook had been
lost near where Herman had found 1t
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 v
in his life taken anything that did not
belong to him. and 1t was too late for
him to begin. II he should keep the
money 1t would trouble him and it
would not likely last him as long as he
lived anyway. II he returned 1t he
would get q third of 1t. 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 so
loud In his praise that he forgot to
count out the money for the reward.
When Herman asked him for it be
opened all the different compartments
a though looking for something. then
began to abuse the old man. saying
that there had been much more money
In the pocketbook than he now found
there. Herman denied having taken
anything out Of 1t. whereupon the
man began to curse and to swear at
Herman. calling him a thief. and. hus.
Ting him to the door. put him out. Civ
ing him q kick at the same time.
1t happened that q policeman was
going by the house at the time and
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 he had offered.
besides a~ssaulting him. The police
man took them to the station. where
he entered a charge Of d~isorderly con.
duct against both Of them in order that
the matter might be thrashed out in
court.
The next morning they were brought
into court with other prisoners. and
when their case was called the Judge
asked for a statement Of facts. It was
soon made evident to him that Herman
had been beaten out of bis reward.
He also got from the old man that he
was too old to work and that he and
his wife were about to go to the poor
house. Honesty under such circum.
stances made a very favorable impress
sion. while the conduct Of the owner
of the pocketbook appeared very repre-
hensible.
"You say" said the Judge to the lat
ter. that there was much more money
In the pocketbook than was returned? p
"Yes. your honor"
"How much more?"
There were seven $1,000 and four
$500 bills. In all $1,000"
How did you happen to have so
much money in such a placer"
Il have carried it there for several
years. don't put money in bank. |
don't like banks"
Wasn't 1t rather an unsafe way to
carry billsy"
The prisoner saw that he was getting
tied up by the judge in his statements
and looked confused.
Were these bills In the same part
Of the pocketbook." asked the Judge.
"as the money returned?"
mo. your honor: they were In q com
partment BY themselves"
(Which COMPARTMENT"
The man looked more confused than
ever at this. The Judge called for the
pocketbook and asked the prisoner
70 show him inst where the bills had
been kept. The man then confessed
~ A. ---AL