Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-03-12
The Old Bailey, Lcndcn.
EY THEODORE HOOK.

Apickpocket had just been acquitted.
"Thats regular rascal said the sheriff tt
me in whisper; ''nevcr was such case hearC
o., 10 be sure-seventeen watches, thirty-twc
poke h2ndkerchiefs, four pairs of spectaccs
and five snuff boxes, all found upon his per.
SON.
yet" said I, 'the evidence could not have
been very strong against hm-he jury acquit-
ted him after a minutes consultation"
'Eyidence, Mr.. Gurney." said the sheriff.
'how lie do you know of the Old Bailey.
Why if these London jures were to wait to
| consider evidence, we never should get through
| The buslness-the way we do here is to make
| Il zig-zaG of it,
did not exactly comprehend the term as it
was now applied, although DAILY had often used
it in my society with reference to pin and
card universally employed at the Interesting
game OF 'rouge ct noir," and therefore made
no serup|e Of expressing my ignorance.
"Dont you understand, sir!" said the sheriff
-"why the next prisoner Will be found guilty,
The last was acquitted-the one after the next
will be acquitted too-it comes alternate like
save half, convict half-that's what we call zig
zag; and taking the aggregate, it comes to the
same point, and think justice is done as fair
here as in any court in Chrstendom."
This explanation rendered the next prisoner
who made his appearance, an object Of consider
able interest to me. He was 4 little dirty boy
who stood charged with having stole a pound
Of bacon and 4 peg-top from boy somewhat
his Junior. The young prosecutor produced y
witness, who, as far as appearance went, mig bit
without any great injustice, have taken the place
of the prisoner, and who gave his evidence with
considerable flueney and fiippancy. His man.
ner attracted the notice Of one of the leading
barristers Of the court, Mr. Flappertfap, who,
in cross.examining him, inquired whether he
knew the nature of an oath.
eyes, does," said the boy.
"Eyplain it," said Flappertrap.
'You may be id" replied the lad, @that's
a hoath, arn't it?''
"What does he say?' said the judge, who, as
about this period discovered, was as deaf as a
post.
"He says, you may be DID, my lord"
said Flappertrap, who appeared particularly
glad of an opportunity to borrow phrase
which he might use for the occasion.
"What does he mean by that said the
ndge.
"That is the way, my lord, he exhibits his
of the nature of an OATH"
"Pah! pah'' said the judge. "Boy, dye hear
ne?"
EYES," said the boy, q hears"
slave you ever been to SCHOOL,"
"Yes," said the boy, "in st. Giles parish for
hree years."
"Do you know your catcchism?"
The boy muttered something which was not
udible to the court generally, and was utterly
ost upon the judge personally.
"What does he say?" said his lordship.
"Speak up, sir" said F'lappertrap.
The boy muttered again, looking down and
eeming embarrassed.
"Speak louder, sir" said another barrister,
whose name did not know, but who was re-
1arkable for most uDequivocal obliquity of
ision-aspeak to his lordship, look at him, look
S do, SIR"
81 can't" said the boy, ayou squintsr'
A laugh followed this bit of naiyette, which
realty abashed the counsellor, and somewhat
uzzled the Judge I
"What does he say" said his lordship.
ale says he knows his catechsm, my lord"
sOh, does not know his catechism; why then
-hat--
"Docs know, my lord" whispered the lord
layor, who was in the chair.
sOb, ah, does know know, here boy" said
is lordship; 'syou know your catechsm do
ou?" +:
"Yes," replied he sullenly.
"We'll see, then; what is your name?" said
is lordship.
'sMy name" said the intelligent 1ad-%what,
the eatechism!" -...-
ayes, what is your name?' l.
an or N ;, as the case may be-" said the boy.