The native American., 1838-12-08
NEW WAY TO DETECT A THIEF.

The father of the great American statesman
Mr.. Webster), was a very numerous, iocose per-
sonage Innumerable are the anecdotes that are
related of him. AS he was once iourneying in
Massachusetts,, and far from his native town, he
stopped rather late one night at an inn in the vii
lage of ---. In the bar-room were about twenty
different persons, who, as he entered, called ou,
for him to discover a thief One of the compa.
ny, it appeared had watch taken from his pock.
ct. and he knew the offender must be in the room
with them. @& l5s.
'Come, Mr.. Almanac maker, you know the
signs of the times, the hidden things of the sea-
son; tell who is the thief ot
Fasten all the doors of the room, and let.no
one leave it; and here. landlord, go and bring your
wile's brass kettle
Wh-ew! want to know! my stars! my WIFE $
-wh-ew" quoth boniface.
Why you would be more struck up if
told you to get pot Iut
Boniface did as commanded. The great brass
kettle was placed in the middle of the floor, its
bottom up-as black, sooty, and smoky as a
chimney back! The landlord got into his bar and
looked on with eyes as big as saucers.
You don't want any hot water nor nothing, to
take off the bristes of no crtter, do Won, squire!
said the landlord, the preparations looking lit
tie too much like hog killing-'the old woman's
gone to bed, and the wells dry
Now go into the barn and bring the biggest
cockrell you've got .
sWhy!-you wont bite him; will ye-he's a
tough one. | can swear, squire, he didn't steal
the watch. The old rooster knows whento crow
without looking at a watch!
Go along, or | won't detect the thief
Boniface went to the barn and soon returned
with tremendous great rooster, cackling all the
while like mad.
Now put him under the kettle, and blow out
the light
Nov, gentlemen, don't suppose the thief is
in the company, buff heis, the old rooster will
crow when the offender touches the bottom of the
kettle with his hands. Walk round in circle
and the cock will make known the watch-stealer
The innocent need not be afraid you all know.
The company then, to humor him, and carry
out the joke walked around the kettle in the darl
for three or four minutes.
All done, gentlemen?'
AL done!' was the cry, where's Your crow.
ing, we heard no cock-a-doodle.do?
Bring us light ..
A light was brought as ordered.
Now hold up your hands, good folks. 81
One held up his hands after another. They
were of course black, from coming in contact
with the SCOT of the kettle.
All up9'
An upv was the response.
All black!'
sA-ll-don't know, here's one fellow who
hasn't held up his hand.'
.Ah, ha my old boy-let's take peep at your
paws"
They were examined, and were not black like
the rest Of the company.
You'll find your watch about him-now
search
And SO it proved. This fellow not being aware
any more than the rest, of the trap that was Sc
for the discovery of the thief had kept aloof from
the kettle, lest, when he touched it, the CROWN,
of the rooster should proclaim him as the thief
AS the hands of all the rest were blackened, tn
whiteness of one showed Of course that he wa
the offender. He jumped out of the fryingpar
into the fire, and was soon lodged in as uncom
Portable place as either, to wit, the Jail.