Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-05-29
ne woulan't conaone.

He WOMldm't COmd0Mes
He sat in a horse-car and howled for
four blocks that he had been robbed of his
watch. He was an old person and seemed
to be very much exercised about it; at one
time he stepped ont on the platform bare
headed and held up his right hand and
swore he wouldn't condone it. Several
younger persons who got on the car with
him assisted in making a great row about
the robbery; one Of them talked so learn
edly about it that the passengers couldn't
quite make out whether he was expatia-
ting on the eoutrage or describing the old
gentleman as an escaped gyaseutus; they
all agreed, however, that it was what they
called "dam-shame,' and that it never
should be cOndoned. Then policeman
came in, and the old person charged an
Ohio gentleman in the car with the theft.
The yohng fellows who had been fumblihg
round the stranger supported the charge,
and they all went off to the station-house
| together.
E'Who are these parties? and what's all
this row about?" said the magistrate.
swell, this 'ere old 'un, said the officer,
.eis Sammy the Reformer;' he used to be
bin with Tweed, Sweehy and that gang.
You may remember, some ten years ago,
we came near pulling him in with Tweed
in the Seymour-Hoffman job, but he got
off on an alibi; said he was only dunn
my in it. He's been on the Reform lay
for a year or two, and claims to be con-
nected with the Society for the Supprss-
sion of Vice, though the company he
keeps don't look much like it,
1Who are the rest of these fellows ?''
ssWell, they are all Tweed's old pals.
this 'ere h1gh-shouldered fellow with loose
chin always used to testify to Tweed's
good character when the old man got in
/ trouble. The black-whiskered fellow lives
up the river. He used to help the old
man in the Albany business. The other
fellow is kind of nevy or something of
the old party there
''And the other?'
ooh, he's stranger. Never saw him
before. He says he's an Ohio man. He's
the man those fellows charge with steal
ing sammy's watch.''
Then Sammy said: s'I don't care any
thing about the watch, but / do want to
have stealing stopped and thieves shown
| up. Don't ask me to condone it, for l
won't do it,
Upon examination the watch which
Sammy claimed to have lost was found to
have the Ohio mans name on it; and SO
Z many passengers testified to seeing the
young fellows crowding the Ohio mar
and trying to- pick his pockets; that two
of them confessed it, but said they thought
it was Sammy's watch, and they wanted
to get it and restore it to him. And the
high-shouldered man, who it appeared
> was making signs to the other fellows
said he thought it was Sammy's watch
: too; but he had no idea of getting it bael
: in that way. He only made signs to tn,
l nevy where the watch was, ,and howeare
lessly the Ohio man was carrying it, as
sort of danger signal. Nevy said he un
derstood the signal to mean ego for it,
and he went.
FeFhen it seems,' said the magistrate
Fsthat this was only an 'inchoate offence
attempted by these noisy witnesses in tn
interest of the person who claims to hay
been robbed. Was this done with you
cOnnivanCe, Samuel?'s
E'Not at all, assure you, Judge Neve
dreamed of it; never saw any signs pas
\ between these young men and when di
see them disapproved of them. l had Il
idea my nevy would do any such thin,
for I've told him did not like it, an
when he was caught once or twice befor
have shown considerable impatienc
H.
that the gentleman had my watch, whiC
is the fact.''
Z" "Well, then, as this gentleman vel
plainly has his own watch, and the a
tempt to steal it by Sammy's pals-or,
the high-shouldered man calls them, &c
parceners'-was only an inchoate offenc
n We'll dismiss the case.''
FtCouldn't you find, judge" said Sal
my, softly, that as the boys failed to ste
the watch, the Ohio man must have stol
it2 That seems to be reasonable theory
'FWe never do business here in tn
- way"
''What' NeYer?''
stWell, hardly ever.''
n "Then," said Sammy, ''I desire on Il
4s interesting occasion to assert my enti
belief, before God and my county, tt
he's got my watch.'' And he stepp
down, remarking that he would ne,
condone it.
mt A kentucky journalist met him on /
steps and whispered to him confidentia
as they walked away together: eff y
:. only keep that a-going the public iii hi
to give you q watch to get rid of yOn.''