Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1898 — Sleight of Hand for the Pastor. [ARTICLE]

Sleight of Hand for the Pastor.

Many years ago, when Hon. Joseph Marsden lived in Hawaii, he attended church on Sunday morning in Hilo. Mr. Marsden was then noted for his skill In legerdemain. When Dr. passed around the contribution bag at a Sunday service Mr. Marsden held up ti ten-dollar gold piece between his thumb and forefinger so that Dr. could plainly see it. He then placed his hand over the bag, palmed the gold piece, and dropped in a silver quarter. Hr. returned to the table with his collection. After the service he emptied the bag on a table, but could not find the ten-dollar gold piece. He shook the bag repeatedly, turned over the small pile of contributions, got down on the floor and looked under the table, walked down the nisle, looking closely nt the cracks in the floor, felt in his own pockets, fearing that he had made some mistake, and then weiW home wondering nt the strange loss of the gold piece. Rome time afterward the deceiver quietly sent the gold piece to the church