The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-01-22
He Was There Too.


Some three years ago young Briggs
and his father got into quarrel because
the old gentleman thought that fifty
cents week was enough for his son to
keep ont of his earnings for spending
money. when Briggs. Jr.. like many
exnsperated and ran away from home.
so that he could reap the entire profits
of his labor. When he arrived mt his
majority he thought it safe for him to
return to Wherewelive, and locating in
different part of the city from where
his father resided. was pursuing his vo-
cation with both credit and profit to
himself, when one day an officer called
and arrested him on a charge of perjury.
When Briggs went to deposit his ballot
in November for State officers his eve
detected the name of his runaway son
on the list. Here was the opportunity
for which he had long been PRAYING.
Has that fellow voted 2" Briggs
asked of the man seated behind the
ballot box with quill pen over his ear
Yes, responded the liGnitarv. after
looking and finding the name checked:
Why
Why. thunder and OK hides: why.
that's my son what run away more'n
three years ago. he's not eligible to east
vote yet, he's under age. I'll have
him arrested for perjury, and he rushed
ont of the ward room i'll high glec. and
had Il warrant made ont for his arrest
How do you know that your son is
not twentv-one 2" asked his honor. when
the case was brought into court. Is
his name registered in the bible"
"Yes, sir; it is | wrote it there my
self in good black ink. I've got the
book right here; see, there it is, con
tinued he. handing the sacred volume
to his lorlship.
Wrote it there the very day that he
was born, did you?" questioned the
judge, squirting at tine entry. 1t
looks rather new to have been written
twenty years
"No; ] didn't say l wrote it the day
he WAS born. | was too busy for that
morning for the nurse and the like.
"Oh, you didn't. How long after his
birth was it written p asked the judge.
looking at the record again.
well, let me see, replied Briggs.
acrewing mp his mouth. - bout six or
eight wears as near as | can remember.
You see couldn't write anyhow when
Bob was born, n So | had to let the
thing go till | could
Your evidence doesn't seem to be
very conclusive. Have YOU no other
way of proving to the jury that the
prisoner is not of age: didn't You cut
yourself anywhere about the face or feet
that day chopping wood. and so rcmem-
Der the event by that fall into the well
or anything of that kind -
"Sprained my finger few days after
ward piling logs"
Eyes. let me look at ihc finger. lis
thrown ont of place a little but there is
no date anywhere on 1t. Nou see. Mr.
Briggs, we have nothing TO work ON.
Have You no other means of remember
ing the exact dny?" We want to he
precise. Pay your corn doctor Il bill
and get IL receipt that day?'
"No; don't have none of them fellows
round. l cut my own corns.
Didn't join the Odd Fellows. Ma
sons OF Sons of Temperance. or become
Il member of any historical or literary
society. did yon, and have your name
put ON their books"
"Nevcr joined any of en-" was the
reply. Don't believe in secret socio-
ties nohow. but I tell You Bob Briggs
was born Just twenty years ago the 18th
day of October. that | know
"Wcll, Nou say you do. but how do
You know il =
Bc-bc-bccause WAS there. he re
spondcd. somewhat hesitatingly.
After some further talk that had
about as mnch to do with the case as
Noah had to do with invcnting steam
tugs. the Judge told Briggs that he
might step down. Briggs had several
witnesses there to substantiatc what he
had said. but their evidence WAS very
dislointcd and unsatisfactory. and after
they had been examined the case was
given to the jury. The men in whose
hands the fate of poor Briggs. ,)r.. was
hanging. had been out about four hours
and a-half when the foreman rc-cntcrcd
the court room. and proceeding to where
Bob was seated. softly whispered some
thing in his ear. and then returned to
the ante room. and after an absence of
some twenty minutes more re-appeared,
holding III his htnu II SIect Oh Iools'tp
paper from which he read, amid the
breathless silence of the assembly as
follows:
"After duly considering the evidence
in the case, the jury find nothing what
ever to convict the prisoner of the crime
of perjury except the statement of his
father (at this point the plaintiff was
seen to rub his hands and smile with u
sort of diabolical delight). that when
Bob was born he was there, and this
the jury considers insufficient There
was no smile on old Briggs face now