The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-08-22

give up a tartking toeithsr until all three
returned together tn receive the whole,
adding that il he did he would be held
respopsib.a The london merchant
knowing the landlord of the inn to be o
man of undoubted respectability, at
once assented to the proposal, and each
in his hands, under the circumstances
stated, $3.50, making $3.50 in all t
e"Weli," said Sergeant Vaughan. swell !
you certainly do interest me in your
singular story. And what was the re-
"Why, this-that. scarcely had the
three parties left the inn a minute, when
one Of the two strangers came running
back, and said that on o second thought
they mad all come to the conclusion that
it would be better to make their purchases
as early in the day as possible, and that
consequently the other two had desired
him to return and get. the money"
"And the landlord gave him the whole
sum at once?" interposed Mr.. Vaughan.
"He did, indeed, unfortunately for
himself and me-" answered the other.
"And what followed?" inquired the
learned gentleman, eagerly.
"Why, the. other stranger and the
London merchant returned in about an
hour, and demanded their money"
when the landlord, of course, told
them he had given it to the other?"
"He didr'
"On which, suppose. they bring an
action against the landlord?"
Precisely 80; and seeing that defence
was useless, inasmuch as he delivered
up the money to one, when his instruc-
To- or 10 n Ia1,
until all three. were fpresent,t. my friend
is to allow the action to 60 .undefended.
The money must be paid to the sharper
for both strangers, as the event proved,
werei sharpers-and also the London
merchant.
| And. you really have made up your
mind to pay it?'
oh! certainly, because there is no
help for it.
I am barrister; I am Mr.. Sergeant
Vaughan, and will defend the case gra-
tuitously.'
The other rendered him thousand
thanks, for the apprehensions were that
all efforts at defence would be perfectly
useless.
we shall see, said the Sergeant, sig
niicantly; we shall see. You and your
friend, the landlord, will call on me this
evening, at O'Clock, to arrange for the
defence to- morrow
Tomorrow came, and the case was
duly called up. The poor inn-keeper,
acting upon the advice of Mr.. Vaughan,
but not perceiving in what way he
could be benefited by it, defended the
case.
Everything proceeded SO favorably for
the prosecution that, though every per-
son in the court deeply sympathized
with the unfortunate landlord, they saw
no possibility of any other result than q
decision against him. Mr.. Sergeant
Vaughan, when the case for the proseou-
ton was closed, rose and said:
Now, gentlemen of the jury, you
have heard the evidence adduced. You
tional witnesses that the defendant re-
ceived the most positive Instructions
from all three not to deliver the money,
or any part of it, to either of the parties
except in the presence of all. Gentle
men, my client has got the money in his
possession, and is ready to give it up
aohen all three parties come to demand 1t.
Let the absent party be brought to his
house, in company with the other two,
and every one will have. his money re-
turned to him."
The defence was equally ingenious and
complete. The jury looked as amazed
at each other as if some world had burst
on their astonished gaze; so did all the
spectators in court. The verdict was, OF
course, for the defendant.
It is unnecessary to add, that the two
parties who had absconded with the
money never returned, and consequently
the poor landlord never Lad to pay a
farthing of the amount.