Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1877 — An Imprisoned Briton. [ARTICLE]

An Imprisoned Briton.

Is it a crime to permit yourself to be robbed? It would appear so, from the experience of William Kirby, an English emigrant, who, with his wife and three children, recently arrived in New York. Before he had been three hours in the land of liberty, a sharper “ borrowed” five dollars of him —“just for a few minutes,” as he said, and then fled. Two days afterward, while waiting for the train which was to convey him to Detroit, a sleek, sanctimonious-looking strangei, accosted him in the Erie Depot, learned the emigrant’s destination, and said that he, too, was on his way to Detroit. How fortunate! They would be companions on the long journey. As the train would not starffor half an hour, the sanctimonious stranger, who said he was a minister of the Gospel, invited the emigrant to take a walk with him—he wished to get a few parcels of merchandise which he had purchased. The emigrant and the minister sauntered off together, and w ere soon met by a man wdio informed the minister that the parcels had just been left in the depot, and that the charges upon them were sl7. Tne minister hurriedly examined his pockets, but could And no coin or bill less than a S2O gold Ciece. He asked the emigrant to Tend im sl7 until they returned to the depot, and gave him the S2O coin as security. The good-natured emigrant gave the minister sl7, and pocketed the coin. The honest clergyman paid his bill on tjie parcels, and the man hastened The minister and the emigrant strolled on a block farther, when suddenly the minister ran into the side door of a saloon, without waiting to say good-by to the amazed era. grant. The Engl ishin an’s SuSpTcions were instantly aroused, and he hurried around the corner just in time to see the clergyman bouncing out of the other door. The emigrant collared the divine and held him until a policeman arrived. At the stat jon-honse a chargeuf passing counterfeit money was made against the self, styled clergyman, and he was held in $1,500 bail. The unfortunate emigrant has been Confined in the House of Detention for Witnesses, where be will remain until the trial takes place, some time next month. In the meantime, the emigrant's to do the best they can without their natural protector, and very likely their passage tickets will be forfeited, because not used in time. Well may the imprisoned Briton exclaim “My heyes 1 what a blawsted country! Honly three days 'ere, and robbed

twice; and ’ere Hi bam, caged like a han* imal, while my peer family are friendless in a strange land. Ia it a crime to be robbed?”—2V. Y. Weekly.