HARD ON THE JEW.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 564, 8 April 1876, Page 3

HARD ON THE JEW.

“Boy Jack,” in the Naval and Military Gazette, is responsible for the following ; 1 I heard of the death of poor old Isaac Moses the other day, well known at one time in Portsmouth. He used to drive a roaring trade on board some of the men-of war, but once he got such a terrible mauling that he gave up that branch of his business. He went on board a line-of-battle ship at Spithead one day, just before she left for the Mediterranean, and, after selling all his wares, he sat down in a port to count his money. While doing so, a blue-jacket who had been sent to sea by an ungrateful country' for having plied the avocation of pick pocket in London observed him. Cautiously creeping behind the gun, he looked over the shoulder of the unsuspecting Hebrew child, and deftly took down the numbers of the three Bank of England notes. He then went down on the lower deck, and two minutes after a commotion was heard, and our hero appeared, loudly complaining that he had been robbed. Someone advised him to see the first lieutenant ; so going on the quarter deck with tears in his eyes, he told the kindly officer, who in vain tried to cheer him, that he had lost all his “ little savings.” “ But come, my man,” said the lieutenant, “if they were notes, perhaps we may find them. Do you suspect anyont? “Well, sir (with a snivel) that ’ere Jew on the main-deck may have them.” Moses was at once sent for, and thinking the lieutenant meant “trade,” he stepped briskly up. “Mr Moses,” said the officer, “ this man has lost three £5 not’s ; have you got them?” “Holy Moshih ! I? I have only got the notes that I brought off with mo.” “ Well, let me see them.” “ Certainly, sir.” “ Have you got their numbers, else I’m afraid — ” “Here they be, sir,” replied the sailor, wiping his eye with the back of his hand. “ I happened to take ’em down, sir.” The lieutenant turned over the notes in the presence of the master-at-arms. and suddenly cried, “ You blackguard, you, trying to dc-fiaud a poor sailor ; here are the three notes!” In vain the unfortunate Jew swore he had the notes on him when he came on board ; the officer abused him fora thief, and finally he was dragged off by the master-at arms, and hove neck and crop into the waterman’s boat alongside. The ex pickpocket, who had the notes handed to him, to keep up his semblance of indignation, as soon as they reached the main-deck gave poor Moses some helping kicks, and, with a parting one from the quartermaster, Mr Moses was pulled ashore by the waterman, speechless with rage. That night the rascally blue jacket, obtaining leave, as the ship was about to sail the next day, held “ wassail ” in a potshop on the Common Hard.