Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-02-28
WHOLE NO. 25s.
New Way to Detect a Thief.


statesman was very humorous and
jocose parsonage, and innumerable
are the anecdotes related by him.
As he was once journeying in Mas
Isachusetts not far from bis native
town, be stopped rather late one night
tat an inn in the village Of. In
the bar room were about twenty diff
ferent persons, who, as be entered
called out for him to discover a
thief One of the company, it ap-
Ipeared, had g few minutes before had
a watch taken from his pocket, and
he knew the offender must be in the
room with them.
"Come, Mr.. Almanac maker, you
know the signs of the times, the hid
den things o. the seasons, tell who
lis the thief"
"Fasteu all the doors of the room
land let no one leave there, land
lord, 60 and bring your wife's great
brass kettle"
"Whew--ew! want to know!
my starsl my wife ife's---whew-
ew?" quoth Boniface.
why, you wouldn't be more struck
up if | told you to go to potF'
Boniface did-as be was commanded:
the great brass kettle was placed in
the middle Of the floor, its bottom up
-as black, sooty, and smoky as q
chimney back. The landlord got
into his bar and looked on With eyes
as big as saucers.
"You don't want any hot water
nor nothin, to take OFF the bristIes
on a critter do you, Squire??" said
the landlord, the preparation look
ing little too much like hog kill
ing. "The old wornan's gone to bed
and the wells dry"
snow gointo your barn and bring
the biggest cockerel you've got"
"Whew! you won't bile him, will
you! he's tough one, ! can swear
Squire, be didn't steal the watch
The rooster knows when its time to
crow, without looking at a watch"
"Go along, or ! won't detect the
thief"
Boniface went to the barn and
soon returned with tremendous fat
rooster, cackling all the way like
mad ~
"Now, gentlemen, I don't suppose
he thief is in the company, but if
he is, the old rooster will crow when
he offender touches the bottom Of
he kettle with his lands. Walk
'ound in circle, and the cock will
make known the watch stealer. Tho
innocent need not be afraid, You
,now."
The Company then to humor him.
nd carry out the joke, walked
ound the kettle in the dark for three
r four minutes.
"All done, gentlemen"
"All;done," was the cry-"where's
our growing? We heard no cock
-doodle-deo."
"Bring US a light"
A light was brought as ordered.
"Hold up your hands, good folks.''
hey were of course black, from COM
lg in contact with the SCOT of the
ettfe.
GAIL upi'
"All upp' was the response.
"A-i--dont know! here's one
How who hasn't held up bis hand
"Ah, alb, my old boy, let's take a
Pep at your paws"
They we're examined and were not
aek like those of the rest Of the
you'll find your watch about him;
arch"
And so it proved. This fellow,
1t being aware any more than the
st, Of the trap that was set for the
seovery Of the thief, kept aloof
Om the kettle, lest when he touch =
il the Growing of the rooster would
'oelaim him as the thief As the
lnds Of all the others were blacken-
J, The whiteness Of his own showed
course that he had not dared to
uch the old brass kettle, and that
!, was the offender. He Jumped
IT of the frying pan into the fire,
ID was lodged in as uncomfortable
ace SIS either-to Wit the jail.
Ten Generals Of the United States
n