The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-06-02
POLICE OFFICE.

Me- YORK, 4lfay GA case occurred
Yesterday in the Police office in this city,
which was not only in itself new and inter
csting, but in the event astonished and sur
prised the Court and every one present. "A
boy Of apparently about the age OF l6, who
had been for some time pupil in the Deal
and Dumb Institution in this city was brought
before the Police court OH charge of having
stolen watch. The complainant stated
that at about the time the watch was taken
from his house, This boy and none other was
there: that he was left few minutes alone
in the room, and on his Immediately alter
ward going away, the watch was missing
The Court being rather at loss how to ex-
anime a deaf and dumb person, sent for MIR.
Loughborough, the principal OF the asylum
in this city, who acted as an interpreter,
whilst his assistant. a very shrewd intelli-
gent young gentleman about 2l years OF age
acted as all examiner.
The boy utterly denied knowing any thing
about the watch, dened being at the COM
plainant's house on the day alledged, and
said the only suit of clothes he had, were
those he then had on; these two last facts
were controvertcd by persons present, one
of whom had seen him in different garb,
and another had seen him at the time and
place allcdgcd. While under examination
which was wholly by signs through the en-
tcrpretcr, an officer Of the court entered the
room, who said he had seen the boy before
and had heard him speak and converse. He
said he could not be mistaken; that the boy
was not deaf and dumb, and he was confirm
cd by two other persons present, who rccog-
niacd him as person who they knew could,
for they had heard him speak.
TO this Mr.. Loughborough, to whose
opinion great Difference was paid and was
certainly due. replied that Oh the subject of
the boys disability, there could not remain
a doubt; that although others might be de-
ceivcd by impostors, he thought he could
not be; that about two years ago this same
boy had been brought to his school, and was
SO unmalagcablc as to cause his being turned
away; that few months ago, he was again
admitted through the solicitations and at the
expense of charitable lady of this city, who
! felt for his misfortuncs: and that lie SOON be-
came so ungoycrnabc, through resistance
and stubbornness, as necessarily to cause his
second dismissal; that he was very apt
scholar, and quick and easy to learn, but
wlthal 4 very bad boy.
The assistant teacher [who himself is deaf
and dumb expressed his entire conviction
Of the bo, 8 disability in that respect, and ON
liis representing to him the consequences of
the crime with which he was charged, the
boy appeared much affected and so entire
was the general conviction that the boy was
distitutc of the faculty of hearing, that those
who supposed they had heard him speak, be-
gan to conclude they were most uraccount-
ably eD,-l,eing asked where he had
lately lodged, he offered to so and let them
search. They did SO, ana there the officer
found the watch; and in the neghbourhood
n ;o,us.lIe,. 1yh t,;J al 1,nI :,
few days before Ci'lred the watch to him for
sale, and that the boy then conld talk as well
IS any body. He was then reconducted to
!, the police Office, and the magistrate to try
the effect Of His fears, thought he would "put
the screws on III another shape, and writing
a few lines upon paper, told the high con-
stable to take the boy imne ediatuly to the
stepping mill, and for an indefinite period ci
time. at the prospect OF SO formidable an
encounter, and TO BE- sent there without proof
t OH oath too, the boy othe perfect astonish-
mcnt Of every one present, burst forth in d
fine strain q eloqucncc, telling them he was
not going indefinitely; that they had theiI
. match now; and that he was too cunning for
the whole concern. He gave the teacher
: "a rub or two" upon his penetration, ant
t proved himself to be as fine a talker as the
D fastestof them.
ana the cars OF tho deaf, is "a new qualihca
i ton for our city magistrates; and il "ruttins
: the screws on" will operate i'll this manner
S we think 1t better than any other. Aftel
: this, who will say what our police canno
: do? The boy was committed for trial at tn,
e sessions next week. [Nationui .4dvocue.
: A few days ago, a daughter Of Mr. AS
d Paine, of Barre, i'll Orleans county, (N. &.
about 16 years of age, &ccidently fell into
well Of something like twenty feet deep, ant
Il was taken out apparently without bodil
:, hurt-but SO great was the shock upon he
$ mental faculties, that she has remained to
! tally dcaf and dumb ever since.
!, Remarkable Fish Nory.-NFc learn tina
is Willie "A Cape Ann Fishing schooner wa
J. lying on the Middle ground few days sine
Is with her anchor down, and her men EN-
l. ployed in fishing, they suddenly perceive
IS, their vessel was moving at a rapid rate---ai
"a ter she had gone considerable distanc,
y they saw a large whale rise to the surface
D the water and blow-when he disappeared
the vessel was again carried swiftly throug
&c the water and again the whale rose an
pss spouted, and they perceived the water colol
Ill cd with blood. The fish then sunk, an
the schooner remained stationary I'll
"a crew now cndeayored to raise the ancht
en- but found they could not Soon after a br