Beats a mattress, I suppose . . . not as lumpy <g> Jennifer Geo. wrote: > >From The Times, 01 Apr 1818, posted with permission of the transcriber, Petra Michinson. > > Geo. > > > > SINGULAR DISCOVERY. - As two gentlemen and a constable were in search of some > stolen goods, a few days ago, in a village a few miles distant from Carlisle, > they visited the dwelling of two miserable-looking beings, a man and a woman, > who, it was reported in the neighbourhood, gained their livelihood chiefly by > begging. The man being known to have had connexion with persons of notorious > character, was suspected to be acquainted with some of the circumstances at > least of the robbery in question. It was on this ground that the search was > made. The appearance of the house beggars all description. A large heap of > rotten sticks, used for fire-wood, rendered the entrance almost impracticable, > and it was rendered still more difficult by the mire and filth immediately > within the door. The whole room did not exceed 12 feet square, one half of which > was occupied by a huge bedstead covered with two or three mattresses and > feather-beds filled with filth and vermin. The roof and walls were covered with > a solid mass of cobwebs, and the furniture in general corresponded with the > decorations of the house. Among other articles was an old oak desk, which the > constable requested to examine; this was, however, steadily resisted by the > woman, who as well as the man had hitherto shown no disposition to hinder the > search. Resistance only increased the anxiety of the constable to view what she > was so desirous to conceal, and a desperate struggle commenced between the > heroine and the peace-officer. The latter imagining that something was > concealed, that, to answer the end of justice, ought to be divulged, immediately > took steps to enforce his authority, when the Amazon became perfectly composed. > The officer then proceeded in his examination of the contents of the mysterious > desk. After turning out a variety of old rags and articles of apparel, he came > to a large bag, which he immediately began to search, not doubting but he should > find evidence of coining, if not forgery, having been practised by this happy > couple. To his utter amazement, however, and that of his party, he found 50 or > 60 small parcels tied up in rags and pieces of paper, each containing different > sums of money from two or three old shillings and a little copper to 20L. in > banknotes and gold, besides promissory notes; the whole amounting to several > hundred pounds. The man appeared as much delighted as he was astonished at this > sudden display of his chere amie's wealth, and gave every encouragement to the > constable to go on with his search. As, however, so much money was not safe in > such hands, and in such a situation, the gentlemen earnestly exhorted the > possessors of it to put it in a place of better security; which suggestion > having beem seconded the next day by some of their neighbours, they have wisely > complied with it. The old woman to whom the wealth really belonged was in the > habit of taking the bag constantly about her, under her clothes. The whole of > the silver which the gentlemen saw was of the old coinage, and amounted alone to > a very considerable sum. - Carlisle Patriot. > > ~ >