The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-04-16
NEW WAY TO DETECT A THIEF.

NEW WAY TO DETECT A THIEF.
The father of the great American states
man q r. Websterl Vas q very humorous
iocose parsonage. InnumetabIe are the
anecdotes that are related OF him. As be
was ooce iourneying in Massachusetts, aud
Tar from his native town, he stopped rather
late one night at an lnn in the village OF
-. 10 The bar room were about twenty
different persons, who as he entered, called
out for him to discover thief One of the
company It appeared, had watch taken
iron bis pocket, and be knew the offender
must be in The room with them.
Come Dir. Almanac maker, you know
The signs of the times, the hidden things Of
the season tell who is the theft"
Fasien all the doors Of the room, and
Iet 10 one leave il; and here landlord 60
and bring your Nites brass kettle
sWh-ew want to know my stars
nv viie's-wb-eU = qVo'h boniface.
Why you waai1'ai be more struck up,
II told you to get pos.
Bonleace did as commanded. The great
brass kettle was placed in the middle Of the
floor, us bottom up-as black, sooty, and
smoky as a chimney back The landlord
got INTO bis bar and looked on With eyes as
big as saucers.
y ou don't want any bot water or moth
ing, 10 lake off the brlstIes Of no crltter, do
yoa squire } SAID The landlord, the prepara
llous lookin little too much like hog kill
,ng-'th the old Boman's gone 10 bed, and the
wells dry.
Now 20 into the barn and bring the
biggest cockrell you've got
Whey you wont bite him, will ye--
heu's a tough Que. caa swear, squire
he didn't steal the watch. The old rooster
knows when to crow without looking at a
watch
go along, or won't detect the thief
Boniiace went to the barn, aud soon re
turned with tremendous great rooster,
cackIing all the while like mad.
Now put him under the kettle, and blow
the light out
Now gentlemen, | don't suppose the
thief Is IN the company, but # be IS, the old
rooster viii crow when the offender touches
the bottom Of the kettle with bis hands,
Walk round 10 a circle, and the cock will
make known the watch steaer. The limo
cent need not be afraid you know.
The company then, to humor him, and
carry out the joke, walked around the ket.
lie IN the dark for three or four minutes.
'Ail done geGtlenanP
All done ? was the cry where's your
Growing, We heard no cockadoodledoo ?
Bring US light
A light was brought as ordered.
Now hold up your hands good folks.
One held up his 1ands after another
They were Of course black, from coming 10
contact with the SCOT Of the kettle.
"Ail upl'
All upl' was the response.
'AIl black 7
'A-ll-don't know, here's one fellow
Who hasn't held up bis hand =
All, ha, my old boy: let's take peep
at your paws
They we're examined, and were not black
like those Of the rest Of the company.
You'll iind your watch about him-nov
search
Aud 50 il proved. This fellow not being
aware any more than the rest, Of the trap
that was set for the discovery Of the thief,
had kept aloof from the kettle lest when he
touched il, the Growing Of lac rooster should
proclaim him as the thief.
As the hands Of all the rest were black.
ened, the whIteness Of one showed Of course
that he dared not touch The old brass kettle,
and that he was the of,nder.s lie Jumped
out Of the frying pan into the fire, and was
soon lodged N as uncomfortable place as