Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-08-06
New way to Detect q Thief.

The father of MI. Webster, the great
American statesman, was q very humorous
and jacose parsonage, As he was once
journeying in Massachusetts, not far from
his native town, he stopped rather late one
night at an inn in the village ot---. In
the bar room were about twenty persons,
who called out for him to discover thief.
One of the company, it appeared had watch
taken from his pocket few minutes before
and he knew the offender must be in the
room with them.
Come, MIR. Almanac maker! you know
the signs Of the times, the hidden things OF
the seasons tell who is the thei.'
"Fasten all the doors Of the room and let
no one leave it; and here, landlord, 60 and
get your wits great brass kettle" "
"Whew! want TO know! my stars! my
wil's-whew-ew!" quoh Bonlace.
"Why, you wouIden't be more struck up
if | told you to go to pot"
Boniiace did as commaded The great
brass kettle was placed IN the middle OF the
floor, lis bottom up-as black, sooty and
smoky as chimney back.
you don't want ne hot water nor nothing
to take off the bristles of no critter, do you,
squire?" said the landlord, the preparations
looking too much like hog killing: "the old
woman's gone to bed, and the wells dry"
"Now 60 into your barn and bring Inc
the biggest cockerel you've got"
whey! You won't bile him, will you?
he's tough one. can swear he diden't
steal the watch. The old rooster knows
when it's time 10 crow, without looking al
the watch"
"Go along, or won't detect the thief"
BonIace went to the barn, and soon re-
turned with a tremendous great rooster
was thrown under the inverted kettle, and
and the lamp blowed out
Nov, gentleman, don't suppose the
thief is in here, but if he is, the old rooster
will crow when the offender touches the
bottom o the kettle with his hands. Walk
around IN circle, and the cock will make
known the watch stealer. The innocent
need net be afraid, you know!"
The company, then, to humor him, ant
carry, out the joke, walked round the kettle
in the dark for three or four-minutes.
"All done, gentleman"
"All done" was the cry; ''where's your
growing? we heard no cock a-doodle doo,"
Bring us light"
A light was brought as ordered.
"Now hold up your hands, good folks!"
One held up his hand after another
They were Of course black, from coming il
contact with the SCOT of the kettle.
"All up?" ......
GAN up!' was the response.
"All black?"
"A--ll--don't know; here's one fellow
who hasn't held ZIP his hand!"
"Ah, ha, my old boy! let's take peep a
your pawsl"
They were examined, and were not black
like those of the rest OF the company.
you'll find your watch about him
search"
And so it proved. This fellow, not being
aware, any more than the rest, of the traI
that was set for the discovery Of the thief
had kept aloof from the kettle, lest when h'
touched it, the Growing of the rooster shoult
proclaim him as the thief. As the hands o
all the others were blackened, the whienes
Of his own showed. of course, that he daret
not touch the old brass kettle and that wa
the offender. He jumped out Of the fryin!
pan into the fire, and was soon lodged in a
uncomfortable place as either, to wit, th
jail. ........