The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-10-05

cukcu my cnalF quietly up ocstuc
that Of the District Attorney, and while
the man was testifying managed to
whisper into the officers ear without
attracting the attention Of the witness.
The latter testified that he was dealer
in ready-made clothing at Norcott, and
one of the firm of Wye 4 Peasants.
That on the day of the robbery, both he
and his partner were at their store at
Norcott, and there was an unusual call
for goods. Joe Slifer was then in town;
they knew him well, and had often EN-.
pIoysd him to work in the store. On
this particular day they sent for him !;
he came Immediately and remained at
the store, waiting on customers, from
two O'Clock to eight, without once leav-
ing it. Mr.. Peasants was in court, and
could testify to the same facts.
The first question of the District At
torney made the fellow start and shiv-
or.
"Are you in disguise, sir?
"Wh-what P" stammered the man.
"Have you silver gray wig over your
dark hair?"
The man looked amazed and then
frightened, but said nothing; and be-
fore he could recover his self-posses
the District Attorney had stepped for
ward and removed the wig, revealing .
smoothly brushed head of dark brown
hair.
"What does this mean?" be asked
sternly.
"Only fancy!" was the sulky an
swer. II have worn that same wig for
years"
"Have you, indeed! Did you wear it
all day yesterday ?"
Yes, sir,' was the confidential re-.
sponss.
"Where ?"
"At Norcott, to be sure.'
"AlI day?'
"Certainly. was there the whole
day."
"When did you arrive here at Car.
Isle ?n
"At 7.2O this morning"
The District Attorney gave me tri-
umphant wink and when he stated to
the court that he desired that witness to
be detained till the close of the trial, the
Sheriff was directed to take charge of
him. Mr.. Caleb Wye came down from
the stand with his wig in his hand, and
took sea. by the Sheriff, looking pre-
cisely more bilious than had yet seen
him appear.
Mr.. Peasants was now loudly called
for by the defense; but no one came
forward. The unexpected reception
which the last witness had met proba-
bly, chilled the ardor of his confederate,
| and he wisely chose to keep himself in
the background. This then was all of
the defense; and my evidence at once
blew it TO the winds. looked directly
at Mr. Wye $50 called) while 7 was tell
ing the jury when, where, and under
what circumstances l had seen him the
previous day, and I saw him trcmble
like an aspen leaf. The jury convicted
the prisoner without leaving their seats,
and the witness was locked up for furth
er consideration.
| left Carlisle the next morning, and
heard nothing more of this affair for
several weeks. Then letter from the
District Attorney. thanking me for the
assistance had rendered him, convey
ed more details.
"The witness Wye" he wrote, "whose
real name is Nicholas Bray, was indict
ed for perjury. A very slight investi-
CATION showed me that we could prove
he had no right to the name of Wye
that neither he nor any man by the
name of Peasants ever kept a store in
Norcott, and that neither of them was
known there Mt all. This, with your
evidence, would have been sufficient to
convict him, and understanding it as
well as anybody, he concluded to save
trouble and plead guilty. So he and
S!ifer are both in the penitentiary, and
will stay there for a term of years."