The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-09-23
my knees, head in my hands, and
thought over matters.

No doubt took a somewhat gloomy
view of things. My impressions We're
Appearance as criminal in the police
court-shame of the thing-heavy fine
perhaps psimprisonment-commission
lost-report in the regiment that was
a coward, backing out when the time
for active service had arrived-charac-
ter gone. What could I do? Two
o'clock, three, four, five; the we'll
dressed drunkard opposite awoke from
his intoxicated slumber. He was
clothed in grey suit-in dark brown
he had a greatcoat-I had none; he
had hat-mine had doubtless been
picked up long ago near Bletchley, and
was laid by as the gala head-dress Of
some navy.
Halo" said 1 to the man opposite;
" who are you? What are you doing
here w sa
"I'll be hung if / can tell," said he,
on the spur of the moment. "But wait
a moment-let me collect my scattered
thoughts. Yesterday was medical
student of - hospital, as no doubt
still am. Last evening / attended a
supper party of a friend who was just
passed his examination. L do not rec
Ollect getting into any row, but no
doubt was picked up.by the police,
drunk and insensible. I shall most
likely be fined five or ten bob by the
beak, and get a lecture from him.
About one o'clock my stomach will re-
cover its tone, and Richard will be
himself again. There is my case; now
why are you here@' he said. J
~ hardly know" I replied. "But
wait bit; let me Think" I asked
him if the police knew him, and what
name he gave.
I" 1 have no more idea than you," he
replied, whether the Boobies have the
honor of being acquainted with me; /
can't tell whether gave any name
If Ifwas able to utter any articu,ate
sound, am pretty sure to have in
formed them that my name was Mr..
John Smith," A'
1 thought.
"Mr. John Smith," said I, tive shall
never meet again. I neither mean nor
wish to insult you.s have done moth
ing criminal, and yet am in bigger
mess than can probably be atoned for
by few shillings fine. Pardon me, if
l insult you by my proposal. If you
will exchange clothes with me, and
names and crimes, neither of us giving
our real names, will give you twenty
pounds down, and run my chance of
being first placed at the bar" ~
"All very WE'LL" said he; "but sup
posing your offence is one likely to be
punished heavily, and am called upon
tirst-I should be in a mess"
Lii no epHeu Sou .ho
i-an's Iieu IN Lm'., = ioosT niy sane' anu & SEt
Movp .ne in2ny 1n SiNe you, anu ...ine
own Gieroe ahu yout oMn pun
isnen.. Ii am Galieu up h[sl, l
give your iiale, anu pay your line
anu you, WEI yoI are calleu, Whl
nave Nv SteaI oliiGui.y lh proVIis .llat
yuu @ .a ane a,oI - anu were h'. "iieie !
"'a yEs.eluay -. ~. -. ;,
Al fignt .uone' aloiig WIN you,
Lle saH pu' nope you are hoo Ill Ior
inuruei
We changed clothes while our COM
panions were snoring. We We're duly
in the prison-van about half
past nine, to the police-court. L man
aged to get hold OF an official, to give
him pound, and to get him to use his
influence to have the case of John
Smith, the drunken medical student,
called first, OF very early. My bribe
For the first, and last time,
L tTust, ~ my me l sIoou ~ lne uock.
Nv Iotne, n"u t.toI eth piaoeu a, .nsie, {.
rIoad ,;,t a; ttioe .Sot .a'Iu aa. Wie,uu Isle. "
pIat pi,iat SIn INA .na' was neIy soliy loi
WI La. 49, iuu - % uone, ,aIhS irTai monueI
toh"n I T., d,;1' .na fant;uo nu oeen aaa; ~
."n oH u ~ utI, u,inM r,an Nn ,e;.no oooeion, .'t
ohout rhu 81 ~ ro,en iho maSia.e E,a GUY Lne
sliono 81 ~ cay inS t ue was gay W pee lue
fo,ao U % r,,,,st La ,nn;ShaT. tit :, 80 u
for W prnntian,on na' nf ~, ~ m
S;.;on ~ Ia t fn,nj " d,,,nI- "nd - ;,naGIo 10y H.
=, AZ ~ stoot o to.Iu ut ~ I'm nu f
-, liz siee' : uu'. y. paJ Hme enr VI .en
dars VI ~ ~ pii'oii ioi seven
ooa ,,.rd, 51 ,ho.Ino;d A., f
~ 80 Jnet az ao',,t M &c, 81 pow f'a. .u mn
S 49,, ,..o o,'iI ,S @ ., Gnu h-S 90 :o' ~. CO q
tha so,ti, Iuot oatou u ;ar t, muii'eI I om "
a. oI ~ ,n,;oo oarrt 'rr .,nnt iuIe Le
~ .n pm" SHu.. inuo., tine", ue
.oVn ."t u,eio' Su, anu 'lousL :neic Wa9
nol .lucn i,cnauce Vi my peine Iouiu
a. anu roat .ahen ~, was .,ad ANGUS ~ pu.
~ SoIe onS AZ &c r.I ai Uou.I u." Ill
'e,, s,,,ana;r "na .ne WHY S as.i".I anu
n,o su,untat rs Dy soiiie cie.el
nn'rs,s'nnrl TIC Case Nep' o''' vi 'he
newspapers
! remember anXiously scanned the
police reports, to see what had become
OF ray prison acquaintance, Mr. John
Smith, who dressed in my clothes, was