New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-14

the bounds of Imagination. But" he SAYS,
''if you really cay you amt the man, III
90 and see Mr.. Gauger, and ask if he's
quite convinced he's got the right end OF
the stick"
Well, it was no manner of use, the excise
man was sure he was right as if he'd been
omniscious. I've got him." says he, hes
Civ me deal Of trouble; they're bad lot,
these railroad chaps, and I'll make an ex-
ample OF him AS for lis not being the
man, why that's what they all say; they We
as many aliases as thieves" says he, but
we've got this man tight, anyhow, and We'll
keep him" There was nothing more to be
done, and they took me right to the Bian-
argin Castle aud locked me up in prison.
And Mr.. David stuck to me like brick,
and drove ali the way after US in hired
car and stopped the night at Blamaygin to
be ready tor the court next day.
For YOU see they was obliged to bring me
before the magistrates through the warrant
for the assault, else they'd have NE in limbo
up 20 now, dar say.
Well, I sneut bad night, can tell We.
You see was right IN the middle of my
work, everything hanging on 10 ne, all my
money IL the mud as you may say, and
only me as could pick it out. And Mr..
Tracy depending on my work being finished
too, and would have no mercy or me now,
he'd saw. 1t was almost as bad night as
I'd had under the rock; for though knowed
l was innocent, l knowed too as nobody
would believe l was.
Next morning, at eleven, was walked
up to the courthouse. and there was the
magistrates sitting all OF a row, little
man with a big nose being the principal OF
them, and a white-haired gent with pleas
ant rosy face coming next. And alongside
the ma gistrates who should be sitting but
!! c,,A 49,, ,i,a, a ~
myself, as he should see me like this, and
could hardly hold up my head.
There was fashy young lawyer jumped
I'D. and he said he represented TIE Crown,
and Mr.. David sa: at the other end of the
table, represented me. He was fat faced
little chap, with a merry, twlnkling eye,
and round pauuch, in gray. tweed suit
as he'd slept in the night afSre. But he
was all there, every bit Of him, sharp as a
needle. First they put up young cnap
who it seems was training tor the business
and he gave his evidence. and told the
gents all about it. How he had informa-
called Peg-leg had set up, within the last
few days. a kind Of sly grog shop; how
he'd gone there with spirit level IN his
hand. pretending to be one Of 1lr. Tra3ey's
men, and got served with glass Of whisky,
for which he paid fourpence. How he'd
been served by a ore-legged man, who he
intensified as the prisoner at the bar, and
who seemed to be the master OF the honse.
And what particular reason have you
says the lawyer for their side, ca sting sort
of sweeping glance around the court, as
them;" what particular reason have yol
for intensiyirg him" WE'LL" says the
young man, when I first went into the
shop the man had taken of his wooden leg.
and was sitting without shoe or stocking
on. AMI smoking pipe. And tOo.s Up the
leg, he says, and observed, says he, as it
had the initials upon it P. L. B., and made
a note OF that, and told the supervisor about
it afterwards, and he tells me that this mans
leg is marked in the same way Stop"
said Mr.. David jumping up. ''Gentlemen,
Magistrate with the big nose, that's no evil
dence, and We shall dismiss it from our
minds" Well! shall call the supervisor
to prove that" then said the other lawyer.
'Now, as TO the assault. After you had
drank your whisky-you did drink it, eh!'
YES sir" said the young man. 1t didn't
choke you going down. eh.' said the lawye".
looking around the 'semblage, as much "a
70 say, "YoU see. I'm not one Of these
chaps. although I'm bound to work for
en-"
sharp and told him not to waste time; ana
then the. lawyer pulled up his shirt collar
and looked as If he could say good deal
if ha chose, but wouldn't. And he went on.
'Weli, after you'd drunk your whisky you
told him who you really were?' Eyes, did,
SIR" And what happened them "He
called ne bad name, sir, and jumped up
and said he'd kick me out of the place.
What, on one leg! did he jump up on one
.eg" cried the little magistrate. No he'd
got mis- leg strapped on by that time, sir"'
Screwed On by that time; ah; well, what
went on Mr.. Lawyer. Il dared
aim to do it. and he made at me and l ran
out" 'And did he actually kick you"
He did. SIR Your quite sure that a kick
was actually delivered" ''pve proof POSI-
i've, sir. I've got in my hand, SIR here
the young man hastily undid a brown
paper parcel and drew cut a BLACK coat.
The floor of the shop was fine white clay,
;ir, and rather damp, and you Il perceive
that the mans foot left a clear impression
upon the skirt OF my coat. I've kept it
carefully ever SINCE" The Young man held
Up the coat for the magistrate to see, and
naked foot and then the marks Of the FIVE
,oes, all in row.
l was quite bewildered-like fo- few
minutes. knowing as no such thing had
,ver happened; and then all of sudden it
struck NE what the truth of it was. They'd
ook me for Sam-but how was to prove
he difference! Stop bit! and with that |
makes signals to Mr.. David and he jumps |
Up and comes over to the dock and l wins
,ers something in his ear. He mods several |
lines and his eyes twinkle ike dimonds |
md he goes back TO his seat.
Well" says the other lawyer, stroking !
lis mouth with the palm of his hand, as if |
le was trying to get creases out of 1t. 'Ha, !
lum. l don't want to ask you anything |
nOre.' SO he sits down, and up jumps my |
nan, tull Of fight. "Allow me-" says he, ito |
lave look at that coat you hold in your |
land, witnessw Certainly says the young |
nan, politely, and hands it over. .Har'
avs my Ettie lawyer, holding up the coat |
IS if he was an old clotLesman. That's a |
'retty plain footprint. You're quite sure |
'ou didn't make them marks yourselt!'
I've sworn otherwise" says the young !
nan, quite Gignifed. Hum! Sworn other. |
wise; you swear in fact that this footprint |
vas indenteh by this man who assaulted |
'ou,""I do most solemnly!"" observe |
ents," said Mr.. David. holding up the coat |
'etore the eyes OF the magistrates, that is |
he impression of the right foot" "Eh, ah. |
es, says the hook -nosed gent, looking |
trough his gold eye-glass. CLEARLY we can |
ee that for ourselves" II think cuts in |
he other lawyer, with grin on his face,
my friend will find it is the wrong foot for
he client" The excise seemed to relish |
his joke amazingly, and likewise the police,
ut little David looked at them quite scorn-
I'll. Says he in soft, oily voice, Robert
efendant, will you have the kindness to
how the magistrates your right FOOT"
Vhereupon whisks my pegleg on the top
all of the prisoners dock.
You never saw people look as blank as |
hem as was against me. The young chap
3 went and proved too much got it hot, 1
xpect, from his gauger, and that was
othing, reckon. to what the super got
rom his headquarters Their lawyer Gid
is best for them, must say. First, he
the count altogether; it wasn't