Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-06

LDt OeSioi. - ~ASNSNs 49,
| a king to me.
Then / began to think seriously of my
situation. That had committed felony
there conld not be the least doubt though
with no felonious intention. Would the
magistrate believe my explanation Sure
ly my manner and appearance were not
those of pick. But my heart sank
within me as / remembered that the Lon
don swell-mob are known to be the clever
est actors in the world-in fact, can imi-
tate to perfection any class of society. My
only hope was in Sprucington. be would
be of material assistance in clearing up
the mystery. And yet that umbrella
could have sworn it to belong to none
other but he However, | had despatched
messengers to him, my employer, and my
friends therefore, the only thing TO be
done was to wait patiently till the morn
ing.
spare you description of that night
of horror, for such it was to one who had
never before suffered an hours deprivation
of liberty-how the monotony of the long
long hours was broken at intervals by the
appearance at the grating of stern he'll
melted visage, demanding whether "alf'
was "right"-how at four O'Clock A. M,
two fellow-prisoners, in the shape of a
drunken scavenger and deserter from
the Royal Artillery, were thrust into the
cell; or how in the morning all the cells
were emptied, and we, the occupants with
aching bones, snwashed and unkempt,
were paraded through the streets in a
melancholy string, to an adjacent police
court.
Fortunately, my case came on early, so
that had not long to wait among the
crowd of dirty, disreputable dete1luS, each
guarded by constable, who filled an
outer room.
At the cry of "Charles Blankp' q shud-
dered to hear my name in such place.
| and my attendant policeman marched
into the court. The jailer, big, burly,
bald headed, gilt buttoned person, placed
me in the dock. At the same moment the
prosecutor entered the witness box to be
sworn. He was priggish-looking man
of about forty five, and no more like Ned
Sprucington in front than [ was like the
Monument.
In few calm, we'll. chosen words, he
described the whole occurrence. When
he had finished, | was told that [ could
put any questions to him that [ thought
proper. [ declined to do so. Then, after
his evidence had been confirmed by the
constable who arrested me, the magistrate
an amiable looking old gentleman-ask-
ed me,
"Well my friend, what have you to say
to this ?"
In reply, gave the same simple and
unvarnished statement which [ had al
ready given at the police station.
THAT is all very well, so far as it goes !;
but have you any witnesses to character"
"Yes, sir Mr.. Edward Sprucington."
"Call Edward Sprucington."
Then could hear the crier shouting
the familiar name through the passages
of the court.
After a few minutes suspense the of
fetal returned, accompanied, to my
great delight. by Ned. The good fellow
looked so distressed to see me in such a
predicament, that l felt convinced that he
would have given dozen umbrellas to
have got me out of the scrape. AS soon
as he made his appearance, l noticed tn At
prosecutor changed color L also noticed
that while taking the oath, Ned kept one
hand behind his back; [ could not have
told you why, but somehow l derived en-
enlargement from both these trifing cir
To shorten matters, may say, that if
| had been a seraph, l could not have re-
celved better character than that given
me by Ned. At last came the question.
"rhen you think the prisoner incapable
of stealing this umbrelIa?'
"Well, sir" said Ned, who had recover.
ed his self-possessioned 'if, rs I under
stand, stealing means taking property
from the owner, it is impossible the
prisoner could have committed the
theft"
What a frst-rate advocate Ned was be-
coming.
"Impossiblel Why ?"
Because that umbrella was first stolen
from me"
at is an infamous falsehood " cried
the prosecutor, starting up.
as it ?" replied Ned. "That person
need not'be 50 particular about words,
for this is all he left me in exchange.
at the Cigar Divan."
With that he proiubed, amid the laugh.
ter of the court, what he had hitherto con-
cealed behind his back, namely, wood
en-handled umbrella much the worse for
wear, of silk certainly, but no more to be
COHA pAISIA Will ILC SlOLlco " lLl5 OL
handled than a costermOuger'5 wideawke
with the Archbishop of OAntorbury's best
" shovel"
An attempt at buster by the late pos
SCISSOR of his umbrella was quietly met by
Ned with d request that an officer of the
court should examine the initials upon
the handle This was conclusive. The
strangers initials were ST. W" aud he
had not had time to take notice of the
minute ''E. s." cut into the onyx stone.
OF course my Immediate release follow
ed upon this discovery, accompanied by
the assurance that [ left that court with
ont any stain upon my character, etc. My
late prosecutor was glad to stink crestfal-
len away, yet not before he had received d
severe rebuke, administered by the magis-
trate.
AS for Ned, he was overflowing with
gratitude. He declared with tears in hi.
eyes that | had been the means of re-
storing to him his lost treasure What
was more, ne insisted upon paying the
wager which | had lost, and also Of per.
forming the part Of Amphiaryon at q
capital dinner In the evening.