THE TIMES, NEW BLOOM FIELD, PA., SE1TEM11EH 0, 1881.
THE COUNTERFEIT DUCATS.
IN the end of the fifteenth century
when the cities of Italy were render
ed rich by their trade to the Went Indies,
Padua was one of the ulost flourishing
of Its towns, and posesed a body of
merchants, and particularly goldsmiths,
Jewelers and dealers In silk, with whom
Veulee Itself could scarcely hear a com
parison. Amongst these goldsmiths aud
Jewelers there was one more eminent
than his brethren. His dwelling was
upon the bridge, and Padua was scarcely
more universally known In Italy than
Jeronlmo Vlucente was known for one
of Its citizens. "It never rains hut It
pours," says a northern proverb ; "riches
begets riches," says an Italian one.
Jeronlmo found the truth of both these
sayings. He was already rich enough to
satisfy a dozen merchuuts and to make a
score of German princes. Fortune, liow.
ever, did not yet think she had done
enough for him. Every day some traveler
was arriving at Padua, lit the exchange
of whose foreign money for the coin of
Padua he obtained some good bargains,
and added to his over-flowing coders.
Pew died without relatives but that he
was appointed their executor. Many paid
tribute to his wealth and reputation by
leaving him their heir. The city of Padua
gave him all the public contracts ; aud
he almost sank under the weight of
trusts, ofllces, et6., not merely offered,
but obtruded and imposed on him.
Who could be more happy than Jero
uiaio VIncente ? Wo he thought himself
.us he walked on the bridge of Padua one
beautiful Summer's evening. A coach of
one of the nobles passed at the same
moment. sXo one noticed it. On the
other hand, every one who passed him
saluted him. "Such have been the effects
of my Industry, my dexterity in business,
and my assiduous application. Yes, Jero
niiiio, others have to thank their ances
tors ; you have only to thank yourself.
It Is all your own merit.-'
Aud with these reflections his stature,
as it were, increased some inches higher,
and, a.suming a peculiar port and a self
satisfied step, he walked in vanity, aud
almost in defiance of every one and
everything, to his own house. He fell
asleep in the same mood, and dreamed
that the ancient fable of Jtipiter was re
peated in his house, and that the lieav
eus opened and descended upon him in
a shower of ducats aud pistoles. In all
this soliloquy of Jeronimo, you will ob
serve, there waB not a word or thought
of any one but himself ; he did not at
tribute his plenty to the blessing of God ;
he felt no gratitude, to Him who had
showered down upon him In abundance;
his wind, his spirit, and his vanity
were that of Nebuchadnezzar ; and the
fate of Nebuchadnezzar, was nearer to
him than he imagined. It Is a part of
the wise economy of Providence to vin
dicate the honor and duty which belong
to Him ; It is a part of His mercy to
humble those who in forgetting Him
are about to lose themselves. He sends
them prosperity as a blessing ; they
abuse it and convert it to a curse. He
recalls the abused gift, and seuds them
adversity to bring them to their duty.
8uch was the course of Hlviue govern
ment in the early ages of the world,
such it is to this day,and such did Jeron
imo find it much sooner than he expect
ed. On a sudden, without any apparent
cause, he saw to bis astonishment, the
universal respect to his wealth aud repu
taion on a manifest decrease. Some who
had before nearly kissed the ground in
his presence, now looked erectly in his
lace, and kept their straightforward
?ourse, without giving him the honora
ble side of the path ; others kept their
bonnets as if nailed to their heads ; two
or three recalled their trusts; others
happened to call for accounts of such
trusts,when he was not at home,or busy,
spoke in a peremptory tone, dropped
hints of the laws of the country, and
the duty of guardians. In plain words
he gradually discovered himself to be as
much avoided as he had heretofore been
sought. No one was punctual in his
attendance but those to whom he paid
their weekly or monthly pensions. If
there could be any doubt that something
extraordinary had happened, Jeronlmo
bad at length sufllcient proof; for having
put himself in nomination for one of
the offices of parochial intendant, and
of the great church and treasury of Pa
dua, a competitor ' was preferred, less
wealthy than hirutelf by some thou
sands. Jeronimo returned home ruucffcou
founded at this unexpected defeat. In
vain he examined himself and bis situ
ation for the cause.
" Am I not as rich as ever V said he.
"Have I defrauded any one? No.
Have I suffered any one to demand their
payment of me twice 'i No. What can
be the , cause of all this J"'
This was a question be could not an-
swer.but the fact became daily and hour
ly so much more evident,tbat he shortly
found himself as much avoided, and ap
parently condemned In every respectable
XHupany,as he bad formerly been court
ed ami honored.
It Is time, however, to give the reader
some information as to the actual cause.
A whisper was suddenly circulated that
Jeronlmo had not acquired his wealth
by honest means. It was reported, and
gradually universally believed, that he
was an utterer, If not a coiner, of base
money. He had the reputation, as has
before been said, of being the most able
workman in Padua, In gold, silver and
lace; "and surely," said the gossips of
Padua, " he does not wenr lils talent in
a napkin. He employs his dexterity to
some purpose."
" Are you not speaking too fust V"
said another neighbor; VI have always
held Jeronlmo to be an honest man."
"Aud so have I hitherto," said the
other, " till I assayed it; this ducat I
received from Jeronlmo; let us prove it
at your assay, and you will allow that I
did not speak without some good foun
dation." The proposal was accepted,
the trial was mnde, and the ducat found
to be base In the porportlon of one-third
copper, to two thirds silver.
The name of this neighbor of Jeronl
mo. who had defended him, was Gulsep
pe Cognlgero, a very worthy and honest
man ; not one of those who fonnd a tri
umph in the downfall of another, though
above him in wealth and honor. Gul
seppe, as he said, had always held Jero
nlmo to be a respectable and worthy
citizen. He had many dealings with
him, and had always found him Just
and punctual to the lowest coin ; "Is it
possible," said he to himself, "that after
such a course of honesty and reputation,
he has so far forgotten himself as to be
come a common cheat V I will not be
lieve it. But tills fact of the bage ducat V
Well ; but my friend might not have
received the ducat from Jeronimo. I
am resolved I will make a trial of him
myself, before I will give In to the belief
of these reports in the teeth of so fair a
character for so many years." Gulseppe
was a shrewd man, and never fixed on a
purpose but when he had the Ingenuity
to find the means of executing it. He
Went immediately to his home, and
taking a hundred ducats from his private
store, went with them to the house of
Jeronlmo.
" Signor Jeronimo," said he, " here
are a hundred ducats which I wish to
keep for a certain purpose. I have just
embarked lu a speculation of great ex
tent the result of which no one can for
see. I wish to keep this sum as a depos
it, in the event of the failure of my
hopes, if you will do me the favor to
take the custody of It."
Jeronimo, pleased at a confidence to
which he was now not much accustom
ed, very willingly accepted the charge,
and Gulseppe took his leave in the full
persuasion that the trial would cor
respond with his expectations and that
the report would be proved false and
malicious.
In the course of a few days Gulseppe,
according to the plan concerted In his
own mind, called suddenly on Jeron
imo. "My dear friend," said he, "I sincere
ly rejoice'that I have found you at home;
a sudden demand has fallen upon me,
and I have an unexpected occasion for
the hundred ducats which I deposited
with you."
" My good friend," said Jerohimo,
"do not preface such a trifle with such
a serious apology. The money is yours."
At the same time opening, a private
drawer "You see here It Is, just as I
deposited it. Take your money my
friend, and you mav alwavs have t.h
same or any other service from me."
Saying this he gave Gulseppe the bag
in wmcn. ne brought the ducats to him.
Guiseppe hastened home, counted and
examined the ducats. The, number was
right, their appearance seemed good ; he
sounded, them singly. One sounded
suspiciously ; he assayed It It was base.
wen," said lie, "this may be an acci
dent ; I could almost swear, indeed, that
every ducat I gave him was good; but
thls,perhaps, I might have overlooked."
He sounded another, bis suspicions in
creased ; another be now determined to
assay them all. Hedidso;and to his
confusion (for.the honest man was truly
grieved and confounded at the detection
of his neighbor's dishonesty) he found
thirty bad ducats out of the hundred.
He now hastened back to Jeronimo.
" These are not the ducats, sir,I depos
ited with you ; here are thirty bad ducats
out of the hundred" " Bad or good,"
replied Jeronimo indignantly, "they are
the same which you deposited ; I took
them from your hands, put them in the
drawer, and they were not moved from
thence till you demanded them." Gul
seppe Insisted, and at length severely
reproached Jeronimo. Jeronimo com.
manded him to leave bis house. " Can
you suspect me of such a pitiful fraud V"
said he.
" Indeed, I never should," replied Gul
seppe, "uuless upon this absolute evi
dence. But there muBt be a fraud some
where. Either I am attempting to de
fraud you, or you to cheat me. It is
incumbent upon both our reputations
that this matter should be cleared im T
J shall go to the magistrates." "Go where
you please," said Jeronlmo ;" hut go
without delay."
Gulseppe immediately hastened to the
president of Justice. He demanded a
summons for Jeronlmo. It was granted.
He complained without reciting the
particulars, that Jeronlmo had paid blm
back a deposit, and,iu a hundred ducats,
had given him thirty bad. Jeronimo
denied It. "I gave him back the same
which he deposited, with me." There
was a law at Padua termed the " law of
wager." The substance of this was,
that the party accused had it in his op
tion to clear himself by au oath of his
Innocence.
"Will you take your wager V said
Gulseppe.
"Yes, sir," replied Jeronlmo.
The holy evangelists were according
ly presented to hlm,and Jeronimo swore
upon litem that he had not touched, Btill
less changed the ducats, since they were
deposited with him. The president ac
cordingly gave Judgment in bis favor,
being compelled thereto by the laws of
Padua. And Gulseppe, with horror at
the united fraud and perjury of the man
whom he had hitherto deemed honest
aud respectable, left the court and with
drew to his home.
This trial excited a universal Interest
and rumor in Padua. The president of
the law had acquitted Jeronlmo ; not so,
however, public reputation. Gulseppe
was a man of established character,
Jeroulmo's fume bad been long blem
ished. The previous reports, therefore,
were now considered as fully confirmed
into certainty. The magistrates, accor
dingly deemed it necessary to point the
attention of the police to him and to
bis future dealings ; and Jeronlmo here
after became a marked character. The
police of Padua were administered with
that discrete cunning for which the
Italians are celebrated. Borne of its
ofllcers very shortly contrived, In the
disguise of foreign merchants, to make
a deposit of good and marked money
with Jeronimo, and shortly after re
deemed it back. The money was re
stored as required. It was immediately
carried, as before, in the case of Gulsep
pe, to the public assay, and the result
was that the greatest part of the number
of the coins were found to he base.
Jeronimo was next day arrested and
thrown Into prison. His house was
searched In the same Instant. The search
most fully confirmed what indeed now
required but little confirmation. In the
secret drawers were found all the instru
ments of coining, as well as all the ma
terials of adulteration. Au Immense
quantity of base coin was likewise found
in different parts of the bouse. All '
Padua .was now iu arms. They clamor
ously demanded justlceon u man who
bad not the temptation of poverty to
commit crimes; here is a man said they,
who has raised bis head above all of us,
and lived in luxury aud splendor, year
after year, upon the fruit of bis crimes.
He has even sat upon the public bench
of magistrates, aud administered the
laws of Padua ; if Justice be not made
for the rich, if its objects be the defence
of all, let him now be brought to trial,
and meet with the punishment which he
so well merits. The magistrates, in
obedience to the popular clamor, and at
the same time acknowledging its justice
somewhat hastened the trial of Jeron
imo. He was brought forward, accused
and witnesses examined, he had nothing
to allege which could weigh a single
grain against the mass of evidence pro
duced against him. He wns accordingly
unanimously condemned. The trial
was bolden on Monday ; he was found
guilty the sameyiay, and ordered for ex
ecution in the public square on Friday
following, the interval being granted for
religious preparations.
Who was now so unhappy as Jeron
imo de Vincente, aud what a vicissitude
in his fortune and reputation bad a, very
short time produced! Within those
few months be had been the wealthiest
tmd most respected in Padua. The no
blest families sought the hand of bis
only daughter in marriage ; his wife was
the pattern aud exemplar of all the
ladies of the city and neighborhood ; his
house was full of the richest furniture
and paintings in Italy. Now the ofllcers
of Justice were in possession of it, and
performed the vilest ofllce in the ruost
magnificent chambers ; whilst, with the
ordinary insolence of Buch rufllans,they
scarcely allowed a comer of the house
to bis unhappy wife and daughter,
And where was Jeronlmo himself. In
the public prison of the citj-; in a cell
not four feet square, and under orders
for execution the next following day.
Was not this enough to reduce Jeronl
mo to his sense? It was; he bumbled
himself before God and implored his
pity; and it pleased the Infinite Good
ness to bear his prayer and to send relief
where he least expected it.
Jeronimo bad a confidential clerk or
managing man of the name of Jacobo.
On the day preceeding that ordered for
his master's execution, he was going up
stairs to attend some message for his
unhappy mistress, when his foot slipped
and he fell from the top to the bottom.
His neck was dislocated by the fall and
he died without uttering a word. . This
miserable man had a wife; and the In
telligence of this disaster being carried
to her occasioned Illness that placed her
In the most Imminent danger. She re
peatedly requested, during the night,
that Jeronlmo's wife might be sent to
her, as she had something very heavy
at her heart to communicate to 'her.
Jeronlmo's wife accordingly came very
early on the following morning. The
unhappy woman having summoned up
the small remnant of her strength, and
requested Jeronlmo's wife to hear what
she had to say, hut not to Interrupt her
till she had concluded, thus addressed
her:
" Your husband Is Innocent, mine was
guilty. Fly to the magistrates. Inform
ktbemofthls and save my husband's
soul from adding to bis other crimes the
guilt of Innocent blood. Thy husbaud "
She was about to proceed, but death ar
rested her worls.
Jeronlmo's w ife thinking that her bus
band was now effectually saved, ilew to
the president of the magistracy, and de
manded immediate admission, and re
lated the confession she had Just receiv
ed. The president shook his head.
" Where is the woman that made the
confession V"
"She Is dead."
" Then where Is the party accused In
stead of Jeronimo V"
"He Is dead likewise."
" Have you any witnesses of the con.
yersation of the dying woman V"
" None; she requested every one to
leave the chamber, that she might com
municate to, me alone."
"Then the confession, good woman,
can avail you nothUig; the law must
have its course' Jeronlmo's wlfecould
make no reply; she was carried senseless
out of court, and the president, from a
due sense of humanity, ordered her to be
taken to the house of one of his ofllcers
aud kept there till after the execution of
her husband.
The finshlug of this catastrophe was
now at hand. Already the great bell of
the city was tolling. The hour at length
arrived, and Jeronlmo was led forth.
He was desired to add anything which
he bad to say, without loss of time. He
satisfied himself with the delaratlon of
bis innocence, and with reccommend
ing his soul to his Maker, then knelt
down to receive the destined blow ; but
scarcely was he on his knees before the
whole crowd was thrown into motion
by some of the marshals of justice rush
ing forward aud exclaiming to stop the
execution. The marshal at length made
his way to the scaffold, and delivered a
paper with which he was charged to the
presiding officer. The offlcer.upon read
ing it, immediately stayed the further
proceeding of the execution; Jeronlmo
was led back to his prison.
"Whatlsall this?" exclaimed the
crowd. " Have the friends of Jeronimo
at length the sum of money which our
just judges have required of them, and
is his punishment thus bought off't
Happy inhabitants of Padua, where to
be rich is to be able to commit any crime
with impunity."
It is time, however, to inform the
reader of the true cause. Jeronimo was
scarcely led to execution when the con
fessor of the prison demanded access to
to the president, immediately laid before
him the confession of a prisoner who
bad died under a fever the preceding
night. The wretched malefactor here
upon acknowledged that he was one of
the party of coiners who had carried on
the trade of making false money to a
very great extent; that Jeronlmo's clerk
was at the bead of the gang ; that all
the false money was delivered to his
clerk, who immediately exchanged it for
good money from his master's coffers,
to all of which he had private keys, and
in which coffers, on the apprehension of
Jeronlmo, he had deposited the Instru
ments of coining, lest they should be
found In bis own possession. The con
fession terminated with enumerating
such of the gang as were yet living, and
pointing out their places of asylum and
concealment.
The execution of Jeronimo, as has
been related, was iu its actual operation.
The first step of the president, therefore,
was to hurry one of the officers to stop
its progress, snd In the samo moment
to send off two or three detachments of
the city guard to seize the accused par
ties before they should learn from
public report the death of their comrade.
The guards executed their purpose suc
cessfully ; the malefactors were all taken
and brought to the tribunal the same
evening. The result was, that one of
them became evidence against his com
rades, and thus confirmed the truth of
the confession and the innocence of Jer
onimo. The president, In order to make all
possible atonement, ordered a public
meeting of ail the citizens of Padua to
be summoned on the following day.
Jeronimo was then produced, upon
which the president, descending from
his tribunal, took him by the hand and
aud led him up to a seat by the side of
him on the bench of justice; the crier
then proclaimed silence. Upon which
the president rose and read the confes
sion of the malefactor who died in the
prison, and the transactions of the
others; concluding the whole by declar
ing the Innocence of Jeronimo, and re
storing him to his credit, his fortune,
and the good opiniou of his fellow-
1 cltlzeus.
WHBS
i fy.
OehiIIIiedY.
ifoi
RHEUQATISK.
f
Neuralgia, Sciatica, Lumbago,
Backache, Soranass of the Chest, Gout,
Quinsy, Sore Throat, Swellings and
Sprains, Burns and Scalds,
General Bodily Pains,
Tooth, Ear and Headache, trosted Feet
and Ears, and all other Pains
and Aches.
No Preparation on earth equals Pt. Jacob Oh, aj
a anfr.aur, mitnple and rhmp External Remedy.
A trial entails but the eomaratively trilling outlay
of tie Cent, and every one MilTerlng with pain,
can hare cheap and punitive proof of Its claims.
Direction! in Eleven Languages.
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Circulars and Sample Cards of Paint mailed on
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II pi fYouraelve ty jrakinw money when a a-olden
Mrl Penance i otTered, thereby always )luir
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take advantaire of the pood cuanet-E for uiakintr niouey
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We want many men.women.boyi' aud airla to work for
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atare momeutH. Full informatiou aud all that ie nedd
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iy. -
ESTATE NOTICE. Notice Is hereby given,
that letters t administration ou the estate
ot Kev. 3.8. Klrhmond late ol Torone township.
Perry County. P , deceased, have been granted
to the undersigned. P. O. Address Laudisbuir.
Perry County, l'a.
All persons Indebted to said estate are request
ed to make Immediate Payment aud those having
claims will present theui duly authenticated lor
seiueiueut iu
ALBERT E. RICHMOND,
Chs-H. Hmilet, Att'y. Administrator
MaylO, lSel.