Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1877 — A Pointed Illustration of Retributive Justice. [ARTICLE]

A Pointed Illustration of Retributive Justice.

A strange case of well-deserved retribution has been lately reported to os, the circumstances of which are as follows: On one of the best farms in Orange County, located within a few miles of Middletown, there lived a farmer who came into possession of his property, it is said, by defrauding his agea tether out of it. He Induced the old gentleman to deed the homestead and farm over to him, representing that he would be well taken care of during bis declining years, and that were the property in nis own name he would take more interest in It. No sooner was the deed made oxte And delivered than the son began ,* series of petty perseto perform duties aboufthe term, overtaxing his strength; excluding him from the family table and dealing out to him in a gingerly manner susten*nce hardly sufficient to keep soul and body together. These acts of cruelty were carried to such an extent that the broken-hearted father was compelled to leave the roof which he himself had erected, and throw himself ujx>n the charity of the world, at one time, we believe, becoming an Inmate of the County Poor-House. Things went on in this way for some years, the son apparently prospering and accumulating quite

a large share of this world’s goods. He became suspected of severs! sets of dishonesty In dealtog with his neighbors, and lost no opportunity to enrich himself at the expense of others. To Much an extent did he carry hiaf parsimonious practices that at last be endeavored to escape the payment of some of his Just debts by secretly conveying his property to his son, little thinking that his own son would be so ungrateful to him as he had been to his father. He thus successfully evaded the payment of his debts, bnt when he attempted to continue control of the farm an unexpected obstacle presented itself—the son proclaimed himself solo owner and refused to follow out his directions, or allow him in any way to control the proceeds. Disputes and recriminations followed, until finally tbe son ordered the father oil the premises, And refused to contribute to his support. The upshot of the whole affair is that the grandfather is now reinstated in the old arm-chair in the family circle, and will be tenderly cared for during tbe remainder of his natural life, while his son is employed as a farm laborer in a distant part of the country. Ingratitude, in every second generation, is no doubt hereditary in the family, and it will be curious to observe what the present owner’s son will do if he gets a chance.— Middletown (N. Y.) Argue.