The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-08
A Case of
Overreaching
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 bad 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 TO
work. There seemed nothing for them
to do but go to the, poorhouse, and
there is something so melancholy about
it that many would rather die than
resort to it.
One day Herman while walking
along the street found large pocket
book. one Of that kind that will hold
bank bin without its being folded.
Herman opened it and saw that it con-
taIned S2To. He looked about him to
see If any one was near who might
have dropped 1t. but there was no one
at all in sight. So he put 1t In his
pocket and took 1t home to his wife,
Maria, to consult with her as to what
he should do with 1t.
Maria asked her neighbors how one
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 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 be was looking for.
Ii stated that a pocketbook had been
lost near where Herman had found 1t
and If returned a third of the contents
would be given the finder.
The habit of honesty was firmly fixed
on the old man. Indeed, be had never
In his life taken anything that did not
belong to him, and 1t was too late for
him to begin. IL he should keep the
money it would trouble him and it
would not likely last him as long as he
lived anyway. If he returned it be
would get third Of It. 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 1t 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 he now found
there. Herman denied having taken
anything out OF it. whereupon the
man began TO curse and to swear at
Herman, calling him n thief, and. hus-
ting him to the door. put him out. Civ
Ing him a kick at the same time.
II happened that a policeman was
going by the house at the time and
asked what was the matter. The own
er OF the pocketbook told bis 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. where /
be entered charge OF disorderly 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. II was
soon made evident TO him that Herman
had been beaten out Of his reward.
He also got from tine old man that he
was too old to work and that be and