Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1879-11-30

Yesterday afternoon Halsey L. Morten WAS
tried in Justice Cary's court on the charge OF
petty larceny He was arrested at the Ormsby
House about noon for stealing an umbrella
which was the property of Henry Meyers,
man who arrived day before yesterday from
Bodie.
MEYERS STORY.
Meyers said that he was stranger III the
city, being a resident of Bodie. He arrived
on Friday, and yesterday morning, there be-
ing something of a rain, he went down to the
auction at Moores theater and purchased
silk umbrella, after bidding four times OH 1T.
It cost him So 90, and was III his opinion
worth double the money. lie left 1t IN the
hall at the Ormshy House and went IL to take
lunch When he came out it was gone, much
20 his establishment, and a few minutes later
ne met Morton on the street with 1t. he
charged him with the theft and Morton said
that he had brought it FROM San Francisco.
Some words passed snds6nally Meyers, deter
mined not to be beaten by an umbrella thief,
swore out 4 warrant TOR his arrest. He knew
the umbrella from the fac; that he had carved
his initials Oh it az soon as he purchased it,
because he expected that some one would steal
it.
By the Coart-Did you ever lose any sIn-
brellas before
Witness-Hardly-
The Court (sternly]-Hold on. now none
of your funny business here.
Witness--I meant to say that have in the
past few years lost over twenty, and that Is
what made me put my initials on IT.
Attorney for the defense-Did yeo never
steal an umbrela7
(Objected TO by counsel for prosecution and
objection sustained
The Court-What is your full name
Witness Henry L. Meyers.
The Court-Then of courss your initials
are H. L. M
Enthusiastically.
The Court-The defendants name is Halsey
L. Morton. and his initials appear to be the
same as yours. (Sensation all ever the room.)
The witness admitted that such " as the fact
The Court-The Constable will see that the
umbrella is brought into court.
A Constable was Immediately sent down to
the Jail to get the property.
THE DEFENDANTS EXPLAIN ATOM.
Morton, the defendant, admitted taking the
umbrella, but did SO under the Impression
Il. tha Iylitio ole II |
on the handle confirmed his opinion.
Attorney for prosecution-Dia you recollect
having carved them there
Witness-Can't say did ; but concluded
that some friend of mine must have done SO
as personal favor.
Attorney-Are you in the habit Of stealing
umbrellas
Witness-On a rainy day if | see an UNI
brella with my initials on it l muz2ls it every
time.
(rhere was a considerable merriment at
this, but tie hilarity was promptly checked
by Justice Cary.)
1t was then proposed to put the jury on
the stand and cross examine them in regard to
their umbrella record. The foreman objected
and asked the court to protect them from
such an outrage. The court ruled that no
Juror could be compelled under oath to admit |
that he had stolen umbrellas. If 1t comes !
to that" continued the court, guess every |
man in the room has nipped an umbrella or |
rwo in his time" The case then went to the |
Jury without argument. and they found |
verdict of "not guilty" without leaving their |
seats. Here the Constable returned and was
directed to turn the umbrella over to the de- |
PENDANT He stated to the court that he had |
left it behind the door in the Sheriff. office |
and that some thief or another had Jagged it |
off A general laugh went up and the court
was Immediately adjourned. A few minutes
ater six Of the jurymen who had left their
Il Umbrellas in the corner while the case was |
being tried. were disappearing about the place
because their rain tenders were missing. 1t
appears that as soon as the crowd aseertained
that the jury by their verdict had decided
that umbrella stealing was no crime, they had
quickly appropriated the umbrellas of the
Jury Up to the hour of going to press
Meyers umbrella had not been found and
none of the jury's.