The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-05-02
A New Way to Detect a Thief.

NC iathci, VI MT. w eUSter, Tue Hrea
American statesman, was a humorou.
and jocosc parsonage. AS be was once
Journeying in massachusetts,, not fal
from his native town, he stopped la.t
one night at an inn in the village Of
In the bar-room were about twenty per
sons, who called out for him to discover
thief. One of the company, it ap-
peared, had watch taken from his
pocket few minutes before, and lie knew
the offender must be in the room with
them.
Come, Mr.. Almlnac-maker, you
know the signs of the tinles-the hidden
things of the seasons-come, tell US who
is the thief!
" Fasten all the doors of the ROOM
let no one leave it," said Mr.. Webster
and here, landlord, go and bring your
wife's great brass kettle"
Wh-ew! Want to know-my
stars my wife's whe-ew % quoth Bon
face.
Why, you wouldn't be more stuck
up If | told you to go to pot ~
Bonface did as commanded, TIE
great brass kettle was placed IN the mid
die of the floor, bottom up-as black,
and sooty and smoky as the chimney
back.
L" You don't want no hot water nor
nothing to take of the bristles off no
critter, do you, squire % said the land
lord-the preparations looking too much
like hog-killing g the Guild 'ooman s
gone to bed and the wells dry"
Now, 60 to your barn and bring me
the biggest cockerill you've got"
Whew you won't bile him, will
you 4 He's a tough one. | can swear
he didn't steal the watch. Tic old
rooster knows when it is time to crow
without looking at the watch.
Go along, or l won't detect the
thief"
Boniface went to the barn, and soon
returned with a tremendous great roos-
ter, cackling all the way like mad.
The old roos er was thrown under the
inverted kettle, and the lamp blown out.
"Now, gen lemen, l don't suppose
the thief is in here, but if he is, the
rooster will crow when the offender
touches the bottom of the kettle with
his hands. Walk around in circle,
and the cock will make known the watch
stcaler. The innocent need not be
afraid, you know"
The company then, to humor him and
10 carry out the joke, walked around the
kettle a few minutes.
cali done gentlemen 2"
All done," was the cry" where s
your crowlng-we heard no cock -adoo-
dle-doo."
" Bring us light"
A light was brought as ordered.
3" Now hold up your hands, good folks. :"
One held up his hand after anot her
they were of course black, from conf ng
in contact with the SCOT of the kettle.
All up !'
"All up was the response.
&C All black -
"A-ll-don't know here's one fell
low who hasn't held up his hands,
ella, ha, my old boy let's take a
peep at your paws. -
They were examined, and were not
black like those of the rest of the COM
pany.
" You'll find your watch concealed
about him-searcE him !"
And so it proved. This fellow, not
being aware any more than the rest, OF
The trap that was set for the discovery
of the theft, had kept aloof from the
kettle, lest when be touched it, the crow
ing of the rooster should proclaim him
as the thief. AS the hands of all the
others were blackened, the Wilderness of
his own, of course, showed that he dare
not touch the old brass kettle, and that
he was the thief.
lie was soon lodged in proper custody
preparatory to being sent to Jail.