The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-29
TIE WEATHER YESTERDAY was clear and
Tricks or tEc Memory.

SOME RECENT INTERESTING INSTANCES.
tFrom the ST. Louis Republican. May 19.]
Several cases tried in the Circuit Courts
in this city have developed either some Gu
llouS tricks OF memory on the part OF wit
ncSses or something worse. In one case i
witness bad made deposition giving mi
mute detail OF certain important ;rans2c-
ton. but on the witncSS.staEd be could not
remember anything about it, although it
occurred but 4 few months before. In an
ether case, in which a deposition had also
been taken, the witness who made It. when
put on the stand, gave an entirely different
account OF the matter. In neither instance did
the witness have any personal interest in the
suit, and Il rigid cross examination and out
side scrutiny failed 10 detect anything be-
yond 4 trick OF the memory. i gentleman
who knew of,one OF these cases, in COM
mentn% on il, said IN experience OF his own
led him TO be very cautious in forming Il Sc
we're Judgment OF u witness so situated. 4
few days ago. he said, lie was in the Office OF
= friend where he was sufficiently intimate
to take freedoms, and seeing there 4 book
which he wanted to read he wrapped it up,
intending to take it away with him. Just
rs he had finished bis friend came in, and
after they had chatted 4 few minutes the
visitor left and went to restaurant 10 get
be suddenly recollcc.cd that lie had left the
book on the table beside his plate, where lie
had laid it when he sat down 10 eat. His
first impulse was TO go immediately after 1t,
but. rs he was pressed for time, he con"
Guided he would wait until he went for
supper. rejecting that il the book had not
already been stolen it would be safe i'll the
hands OF the reStauratcur, who knew him
well, and at whose place he was III tue
habit Of getting his meals. AT Sunp2r-tlme
he spoke about the book, and was Il little
surprised when he was assured that he had
taken it away with him, the host having
seen him bring il in and lay it on the table,
and also take it out when he lcft the restau-
rant. He ransackcd his memory then to
try and trace it UP, but utterly failed. He
remembered distinctly wrapping M the
book in his friends Office, taking it with
him TO the restaurant, laying it on the table
beside bis plate, then all trace OF it was
lost to his mcmcry. The next morning
he was again in the office OF his
friend, and rs he WAS about to leave
his friend said to him, by the way,
here is 4 book saw you leave on my desk
| IS you went out yesterday morning" at the
same time handing him the identical book
in question, still wrapped up as he had fixed
| il to take away. The gentleman said he
had ncvcri in his life Il more distinct recol-
| lection about anything than he appeared 10
have about that book, and yet nothing could
be more certain than that he was mistaken.
What puzzled him. toe, was that The restau-
rant keeper was SO sure as TO having seen
him bring the book in and take it away
with him. In many cases this might be
cXplainable rs a mere subterfugc, but in
this instance the rtstaurant-keeper was 4
man Of tried honor, the friend oi his guest,
and far beyond any suspicion Of the kind.
lie had probably seen some one bring IN a
} package on that occasion and take it away
with hlm, and by a trick Of the memory had
associated the two cases with each other.