The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-01-25

WHAT 4 EEL1OW CAUGHT 1if NOSlNG
/ AROUND. just after Cinthy Knrtz had
conducted three prisoners TO Jail Monday
morning. he came back to the police court
and whispered I've are going to have
saveet case now,'' at the same time making
divers mods at u good looking young man
who smiiligly entered the room and took
position in the extreme northeast corner. 1t
was evidently to be a case of unusual inter-
est, and the aforesaid Mr.. Kurtz began to
clear his throat preparatory to giving utter
! ancc to that ''Sience - which. rs far back as
memory travels, has been recognized AS
dead shot to any undue hilarity In the
presence of the majesty OF the law.
Presently the crowd was ordered to taii
back, and as it did so. two ladies were dis
covered occupying chairs near the stove.
Before them the prisoner, who answered TO
tile name of John Cox, was told TO stand
forth and be recognized. He did so, but
veritable Identification did not take place
until he had withdrawn for moment. and
attired himself in ovcrcoat and comforter.
He was then carefully inspected, pronounced
genuine and the trial was proceeded with.
The first charge against him was preferred
by Mr.. VIM. B. Hyde, proprietor of the Au-
gusta, who testified that about the 9TH OF
January Cox came to his house and, repre-
senting himself as a railroad employee, ask
ed IL he could obtain board Mr.. II. told him
that he could, and Cox passed into the sup
per table, and after partaking, passed out
again without PASSING the change. few
DAYS subsequently he returned and told
Mr.. Hyde that he haG been on duty up
the road He then wanted to make bar
gain for board by the week, and Mr.. IL.
told him tina. his terms were 81. payable in
advance. 70 this he readily agreed, saying
that he was fully equal to such all expendi-
ture and the down payment was as light as
could be expected. He again went to the
supper table and Mr.. Hyde, to prevent his
(C's) a second time forgetting to deposit the
through which is the only proper exit from
the dining room. After eating. one by one the
boarders filed past. but Cox came not. Mr.
H. waited and waited but still his guest lin
gered Finally he entered the dining room
to find the empty plates staring him boldly
in the face, but of Johnny Cox "not hair nor
hide could be found He had retired
through the back door, scaled high fence
and departed.
So ended the first charge, and the court
had hardly time to take a breathing spell.
before Mrs. Yeager, matronly looking lady,
took the stand and told how, on Wedn esday
night last, she had been imposed upon by the
same young man.
She is the proprietress OF bakery on the
corner of Main ard Green streets, and on
the evening mentioned, Cox came into her
store and asked how she sold bread. She
told him the price, and lie then told her to
give him ten cents worth OF ginger cakes, at
the same time observing that his those was
bleeding,'' and asked her if she knew any
thing that would stop it. When the ginger
cakes were wrapped UP, lie put the bundle
in his pocket and told her to get him two
loaves of bread When she went for the
bread, he stepped out Of the door with the
remark that his those was bleeding and
that was the last seen Of him.
When charge No. had been heard, Mrs.
Moran, who keeps a grocery on the wes-
tern end of Main street, came forward and
said that the same young man had called at
her store nd asked her to put him up 90 cts.
worth Of candy. She did so. and he then
asked her to give him two pounds of bacon.
In the meantime he had been holding his
hand to his ''nose,'' and complaining of its
''bleedng,' and when she we mt to the back
part OF the store to get the bacon, he picked
up the candy, and Just stepped outside of
the door to let the thing bleed" and lost
the way back.
He played exactly the same game at Mr..
Ayres', and at Mr.. Hamrick's, and when the
testimony of these two gentlemen had been
heard, Uncle Johnny Sherer said that some
time ago he had gotten drink at his bar
and went off without paying for it.
Just here Mr.. Kurtz remarked 'returDs all
in,' and his Honor proceeded with the
chain gang for eacn offense, making in all
$50 days.
In justice to an innocent man we state
that Mr.. Whitlock, an employee OF the c.
& O. r. r., who was charged with the same
offence of which Cox was convicted, cleared
himself by arresting and bringing to justice
the guilty party.