Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-10-11
WHOLE NO 1855
NEW WAY TO DETECT A THEE.

man was very humorsos and jocose per-
sonage, and nnnmerable are the anecdotes
relsted by him. As he was once journey =
ing in Massachusetts not far from his nsi-
tive town, he stopped rather late one night
at an inn in the village OF -. In ,hs
Aar- room were about twenty different per-
sons, who, as he entered edled out for him
70 diseOEer thief. One Of the company
it appeared, had o few minutes before had q
watch t.ken from his pocket, and no Knew
the offender must be In the room with them,
Come. Mr.. Almanac maker, you know
the sigma Of the times, the hidden things Of
the seasons, tell who is the thief"
"Fasten oil the doors Of the room and
let no one leave ~. and, Hero, landlord, 60
and bring your wife's great brass kst,ls."
Whe-ew! want to know my
stars my wife's-whew-ew y qnothi
Boniface.
"Why. you wouldn'. ba more struck up
If I told You to 60 to pot ~
Boniface did as was commanded tho
great brass kettle was placed in the middle.
Of the floor, its bottom up-as black, soOty-'
and smoky as chimney back. The land
lord got into his bar, and looked on with
eyes as big as saucers.
"You don't want any hot water nor nos
thin,' to take OF the brisiles on a critter db
you, Squire Z" said the landlordJ. the pro-
paration looking a little too much like hog-'
killing. "The old woman's gone 70 bod
and the wells dry"
/" Now 60 into yonr barn and bring HE
bgeest cockeTsl you've got"
"Whew You WON'T bile him, will yos .;
he's tough one. Lean swear; Squire. hs
didn't steal the watch. The old rooster
knows when'it is time to crow, without
looking at a,wstch.'
go aloac, or won't detect the thief"
Honifaes wSnt to. the barn and sson re-
turned with a tremendous Fat r0ssteH eack
ling all the way like mad.
Now, gentlemen, don't sappsss the.
thief j, in the company, but If he is,. the
old rooster will crow when tho offender
touches the bottom, OF the ksttle with his,
hands. Walk round in ~ o:kcle, end the
cock will make known, the wstch stesleE
The innocent need not be afraid, yoa'
know"
Tho company, then, tb humor him, and.
carry ost the joke, walked 'roandi,hs nct,ls
in the dark for three or four Ininutes.
"All done, gentlemen 2"
"All done - was the cry" where's
your orowing2 We heard no eock-a-.
dood,e-doS>a
Bring us light"
A light WAS brough, as ordered
snow hold up your hands, good folks.'
They were Of course black, from comm 3 in
contact with the 500. of the kettle.
Gan up,"
"All up" was tho response.
"A-l.--don't know here's ono fell.
low who hasn't held up his hanaf'
"Ah, ah, my old boy !. SIs take nPssBss'
your paws"
They were examined, snd' wsS no,'
black like those Of the res, Of the eomPs-
ny.
"You1l find your watch about him..
search"
And so is proved. This fellow. no, be-
ing aware, any meso than hs' rest, Of the
trsp that WIS set for the discovery Of !hs'
thief, had kept aloof from tho kettle, lett
when he touched it, the growing oi tho
rocs,sr would proclaim him rs tho 'mef.'
As the hands oi oil lbs others were black,
ened, the whteness Of his own showsd' Of
course ,ha, he had no, dared to toach tits
old brass kettle, and that he vas the ofisn-
der. He jumped out OF the frying pan into
the fire, and was lodged in as unc comforta-
BILE place as eiher---to wit--the Jail!