Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-05-24
NJ | S C d L l. A N Y
FROM THE NEW YORK DESPATCH.
Clergyman taken in and done for by Cabman.

ltlUIllIl,
The boat from Albany landed on the pier, last
Tuesday morning, an innocent, unsophiscated
clergyman from the Western part of the State, who
had never been in this city before, and of course
knew nothing Of the vicious habits of the elephant
The clergyman stood on the pier, with his carpet
bag in his hand, and n wondrous expression on his
mild countenance, when he was esped by Jehu.
who was on the lookout for a fare
coach. sir ~ says Jehu, touching his hat re-
specially, and looking demurely
eyes, my FRIEND" the clergyman replied. wax
ing suddenly from his rcverie, 81 do want coach''
"All right sir, come this way" and Jehu seized
tho carpet bag to which its owner chung, and was
dragged through the crowd to rckety old ma
chine, which the driver called coach.
'WheTe to, sir?' says Jehu
ger here"
''l'll carry you to the best one in town-the no.
tel where rooms have been taken for the King of
France"
''Bless me!' said the clergyman, sis the Elk
King OF France coming over!-I didn't hear of
that"
Expected next steamer. sir-he would have
been here before. only he waited to see if the Queen
OF England wouldn't want to come along, too.''
"Ah." said the clergyman, ''we live in exciting
times"
owe don't do anything else SIR" responded
ocHu, DIS He jumped on the DOX and applied the
whip to his miserable naos
To what den of thieves the rascally coachman
carried our country friend cannot say since the
victim was unable TO describe the place or its local
lty TO the police But it was opposite dirty look
ing building, that he was put down by the driver.
who then demanded three dollars fare
'ihree dollars" exclaimed the good clergyman,
"why a neghbor of mine said that the rates were
fixed by law, and that would have TO paw only
IN rIda iIo in III o;t,
"Oh, that was before the news of the French
Revolution came; wages have rz since then, and
the law is tor every man To get as much as he can
and keep all he gets, and we 90 in for that law
we do"
''But, my friend, if | had known that you would
have demanded so much, should have walked"
""Tain't safe for strangers to walk in the CITY,
ten to one they'll meet the elephant"
'Meet the elephant-I don't understand you."
BY this time, according to the clergyman's ac-
count, the knave must have tired of foolinr with
his victim, for he answered sauclly-
81 can't stop to talk with you--pay me my three
dollars and let me CO."
The country gentleman. unsuspicous an hour
before of such tricks, yHt felt that he was beino
cheated, and mildly declined to pay the money.
'Then you must come before magistrate" cried
Jehu. in rage.
''Willingiy-and if the magistrate says that your
charge is right, will pay it."
''Better pay it now, and save the costs of court"
'The costs of court will justice of the peace
charge anything for answering a single question ?'
GA single question! if you 90 to law with me.
well have a regular trial according TO the new con-
sttution-I'll have jury of twelve men, if they
can be got, or six, anyhow" answered the hack
man.
The clergyman endeavored to compromise with
the Jehu. but new idea had entered into the ras
calls head, and he now not only demanded three
dollars fare, but extra pay for the delay The vic
tim concluded to see the magistrate, and he re-en-
tered the hack and was driven off-where. he could
not tell but his description of the scene which fol-
lowed was ludicrous enough
81 was introduced 10 the magistrate, who shook
hands with me, asked the hackman what was the
nature OF the CHARGE and shook his head when told
that would not pay three dollars for riding from
the steamboat to the hotel. asked him fthe cbarre
was just2 He said that the new law was not clear
to his apprehension, and that jury must decide the
matter and thanked God that under the new con-
stituton the jury were Judges Of the law and the
fact, and didn't care d-n for all the benches in
the Supreme Court--thcn he walked awav with
the driver. and told me that must consider myself
prisoner until the case was adjudicated asked
him for my carpet bag. He said that the new law
did not allow prisoner to have carpet bao or
trunk, until the chief Of police had examined into
the contents-and he asked me for the KEY to send
with the bag to the chiefs Office which rave 70
him. ] waited for more than an hour before jurv
could be empannelled when the trial began. the
magistrate asked me if had counsel? / replied
no; upon which he said that the Court would as
sign me counsel, and a red faced man who stood in
the door way was told to take charge Of rny case.
The hackman was examined, and told his story
very briefly. Then was pnt upon the stand and
questioned and cross -qesiioned for two hours
was obliged to state Of my wfcs health--how ma
ny children had--if my congregation was large
wha: salary had, and whether it was paid month
ly or neutrality-suspicious. there had been revival
IN the neighborhood during the year--what my o.
piuion of the ship fever was-whether there had