Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-05-16

/ The opinion of Miss Christie, deduccd from
these facts, seemed plausible TO her listeners
Square II was old and feeble, and lived almost
alone Nothing would be easier than to rob the old
man. After some further discussion, it was resol.
we'd the that stranger intended to break into & rob
the Squares house, if he had not already done so
From the tealable the goossips went forth with
their intelligence, which early the next morning
travelled through the village About nine O.
clock, and when the news was still fresh, the in
habitants were thrown into commolon by the in
formation that Square II. had missed bis watch,
and he did not know but other articles of value.
Search was instantly made for the stranger, who
was discovered in his chamber, was arrested and
dragged before the neighboring magistrate the
inhabitants not allowing him until then a word
Of exculpaion.
May ask SAID the prisoner, when order had
been in some measure restored in the Jealous
crowd, and he found himself confronted with the
magistrate, what am here for2 Seized rudely
in my room, and dragged hither by vocferous
mob, have had no opportunity to learn clearly of
what am accused, much less 10 defend myself
Let me hear the charge.
The pompous functionary, who never before
having had case before him, now fairly swelled
with importance, stated the charge against him.
The starts of the prisoner on hearing the charge,
sive evidence of his guilt However, witnesses
were called. The help Of Miss Christie's family
appeared and told her story.
The person Of the prisoner was searched, and
an officer was despatched to search his room, who
found a small leather bag, which he supposed to
be, the one alluded TO in the milk maids testimony,
and a hammer, with sundry papers, all OF which
he produced before the magistrate The contents
OF the bag were examined, when it was found that
it contained nothing but rough fragments of rock,
of various descriptions. The papers were opened
and the m agstrate read from one ofthem as fol.
lows:
'Quartz-amorphous- three varieties.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. etc.
This being an unintelligible jargon to the mag
istrate and his auditors, they were Of opinion that
it was merely specimen Of the vocabulary used
by robbers for the purpose of secret communication
with one another. 1t was deemed advisable, how
ever, to send for the village physician, a man o
les
Meantime, :he Squares son, who had been te
the city that morning, had returned and hearing
of this affair." he FASTENED before the Justice 10 ex
plain the mystery. He stated that his father
watch had needed repairing for some time, ant
that he had promised the old gentleman to cary
10 the city the first time that he went, and have thu
repairs made; that he had done so without hi;
fathers knowledge and that it was now in thu
hands of the matchmaker, and perfectly safe, a
he had every reason to believe.
The intelligence struck the magistrate and tn
crowd of spectators all aback. Their mort ilicu
ton was extreme, to think that the whole commo
ton had originated from so small beginning
This modification was still further increased whe
the physician arrived, and after examining tn
strangers papers, pronounced them merly men
oranda containing the names of the minerals whic
the stranger had been collecting. The professo
of mineralogy was forthwith discharged, and suf
cred to pursue his investigations among the rock
without further interruption