Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-06-15
#IisfeIIanepas.
Proving an Alibi--A Shrewed
Trick.

|
Many years ago, gentleman, fol
lowed by servant in livery, rode intt
an inn IN the West of England, one
evening little before dark. He told
the landlord that he should be detained
by business IN that part of the country
for few days, and wished to know i
there were any amusements going on
in the town to fill up the intervals oi
time. The landlord replied that it was
their race and aSsiZe week, and that he
would, therefore, be at no loss to pass
away the time. On the gentleman's Is
making answer that this was lucky fol-
that he was fond of seeing trials, the
| other said that a very interesting trial
fer robbery would come on the next
day, son which peoples opinions were
much divided, the evidence being very
strong against the prisoner; but he HIM
| self persisted fesOlutely in declaring
that he was in distant part of the
country at the time the robbery was
committed. His guest manifested con-
siderable anxiety to hear the trial; but,
as the court would probably be crowded,
expressed some doubt of getting a
place, but that, to prevent any accident,
he would himself go with him and
speak to the sheriff. 7l5a g. 1...s -. 49,
Accordingly, they went into court the
next morning, and the gentleman was
shown to seat on the bench. Presently
after, the trial commenced. While the
evidence was giving against him, the
prisoner remained with his eyes fixed
on the ground, seemingly very much
depressed, till being called on for his
defense, he looked up, and seeing the
stranger, he suddenly tainted away.
This excited some surprise, and it
seemed, at first, like a trick to gain
time. AS soon as he came to himself,
on being asked by the judge the cause
of his behaviour, he said: = ~ ~.
hHOh, my lord, I see person who can
save I, my lifei That gentleman"
(pointing to the strangely "can prove
am innocent, might I only have leave
to puta few questions to him."
The eyes of the court were now turn
ed on the gentleman, who said he felt
in a very awkward situation to be call
ed upon, as he did not remember ever
to have seen the man before, but that
he would answer any question that was
asked hin.ti stlt sa75 ~ a7a5s : s-es1
'Well, then, " said the man, "don't
you remember landing at Dover at
such a time ?''eiz4i i.'a - = @s6.e1
To this the gentleman answered.
s'That he had landed at Dover not long
before, but that he could not tell
whether it was on the day he mention
ed, or not" lo 80 % 7d
"Well," said the prisoner, "but don't
you recollect a. person in blue jacket
and trowsers carried your trunk to the
inn ?'' 'i9 -'1
To this he. answered that, of course,
some person had carried his trunk for
him, but that he did not know what
dress he wore. s7oa- .ssd r.a,i5apl
a"But," said the prisoner, s'don't you
that the person who went
with YOU from the packet, told you a
story of his being in the service, thathe
thought himself an ill-used man, and
that he showed you scar, he had on
oneside of his foreheadW .@6.o.i .sa...e
During this last question, the counte-
nance of the stranger underwent con- |
change. He said he certainly
did recollect such circumstance; and
on the mans putting mis- hair aside,
and showing the scar, he became sure |
that he was the same person. ds .s-
"A buzz OF satisfaction now ran through |
the court, for the day on which, accord
ing to the prisoners account, this gen
tleman had met him at Dover, was the |
same on which he was charged with
the robbery in the remote county. The
stranger, however, could not be certain |
Of the time, ,but that he sometimes
made q memorandum of dates in his |
and might possibly have |
done soon this occasion. On turning |
to his pocket-beok, he found memo
randum of the time he landed from
Calais, which corresponded with the
prisoners assertion. This being the |
only circumstance necessary to prove
the dli6i,5 the prisoner was immed diately
amidst applause and con-
gratulations.
Within less than month after this,
the gentleman who came to the inn at
tended bya servant in livery, the ser
want who followed him, and the pris-
oner who had been acquitted, We're all
three brought back together, to the
same jail, for robbing the mail.
rsf.fW Eel