The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-08-15
A Case Of
Oveneaching

Herman Gottz was q very old nan
he had received no education In his
youth: consequently be had been oblig-
ed 70 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 to
work. There seemed nothing for them
to do but 60 to the ~poorhouse, and
there is something q Melancholy about
It that many would rather die than
resort to 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 its being folded.
Herman opened 1t and saw that It con.
tanned $27O. He looked about him to
see II any q was neal who might
have dropped II. but there was no n
at all in sight. So he put it in OILS
pocket and took It home to his wife.
Maria. to consult with her az to what
be should do with II.
Maria asked her neighbors how n
could find the owner Of q p~ocketbOOk
lost on the street and was told to look
in the newspapers. for the owner
would doubtless advertise 1t and would
offer a reward for its return. So the
next morning Herman went to q read
ing room for poor persons and looked
through all the morning papers. for be
could read and write also, though very
badly. In one Of the papers he found
the advertisement he a looking for.
It stated that a pocketbook had been
lost near where Herman had found II
and IL 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 bis life taken anything that did not
belong to. him. and 1t 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 a. he
lived anyway. II he returned It he
would get 4. third Of It, which would
keep him and Maria for several
months.
He took the pocketbook to the owner.
who at irst praised him very highly
for his honesty. Indeed. be was 20
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
a. though looking for something. then
began TO- abuse the old man. saying
that there had been much more money
n the pocketbook than be. now found
there. Herman denied having taken
anything out Of II. whereupou the
man began to curse and to swear at
Herman. calling him q thief. and. hus-
Ting him to the door. put him out. CIV.
Ing him . kick at the same time.
II 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 be had offered.
besides assaulting him. The police
man took them to the station. where
be entered q charge Of disorderly con
duct against both Of them in order that
the matter might be thrashed ont 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 his reward
He also got from the old man that he
was too old to work and that be and
bis wife were about to 60 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
aYou say" said the Judge to the lat.
ter. that there was much more money
IN the pocketbook than was returuedT'
'Yes. your honor"
"H0w much mOref'
'~Thsrs were seven $1,000 and four
800 bills. IN I'll $4,000
How did yon happen TO have 20
much monsy In such . placer"
Il have carried Il there Tor several
ysark I don't put money IL hank. 1
don't Ike banks"
wasn't It rather m unsafe way 10
carry bflsr'
The prisoner cav that he vas gettne
ded up ~ the Judge II biz STATEMENTS
and looked confunad.