The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-08-12
THE DRAGOMAN's TALE.
(From Hon 8. s. Cox's Constantinople Letter In New
York Sun.l

well versed IN the Koran and familiar with
the courts here, broke the reserve he had
INDUCED and after 8 few whiffs of his cigar
cite, and twinkle in his Levantine eye,
gravely remarked that not only was the
administration of justice conducted with
a curious aud humorous turn in the east,
but the detection Of criminals often dis.
played cunning that Inspector Bucket
might envy or Gaboriau enjoy. I'm H.
lustration," he said, "let me give, not a
romantic incident, but a veritable narra-
tive-as it was given me some years ago
when | was trying a case at Kharpoot"
As the court was not to convene for an
hour, the patience of the Ottoman was
called to the front, and the dragoman be-
gan his recital:
CA few years ago." said he, "on the
occasion Of the anniversary of Queen Vic
toria's accession to the throne, Mr.. J. H.
Skene, English Consul at Aleppo, gave q
dinner; He held an evening reception,
was gathered. A large number Of guests
were invited to the Consul's table Great
pains were taken to make the dinner as
pleasant as possible. In Aleppo nothing
speaks as eloquently as display. Flow
ers in profusion decorated the table and
the apartments. Every piece of silver
ware had been brought out to add to the
splendor of the festivity. The table SER
vice was solid silver. The canvasses of
the consulate wore their gorgeous gold
trimmed clothes and their inlaid pis-
tolls and yataghans. After dinner the
party left the dining-room. They went
into the salons, where large number of
guests were assembled. The party was
success. The servants of the house had
been occupying themselves with serving
the guests-passing coffee to one, tea to
another, narghile to third, and a Chi
bouk to fourth, and 30 on, so that every
thing in the dining-room was apparently
trusted to the care of the canvasses. But
what was the surprise of the Consul when
on the day after the fete he found the
silverware had disappeared. Search was
made in every part of the house. Not a
single piece could be discovered There
was general CONSERVATION, not 80 much
on the part of the Consul himself as on
the part of those in his service. After
mature reflection upon the mishap, the
Consul called the most intelligent of his
canvassers. He questioned him. The
canvass insisted that he did not steal the
silver, and that he did not know who did.
But the Consul was very good detec-
tive, and ready in his knowledge of men
and things. He was also a cool-tempered
man. He said to his canvass There is
no use to swear. | am not going to change
my opinion. l have good reason to sus-
pect you to be the thief, and mean that
you shall bring my silver to me within
twenty-four hours, else you will be put in
the hands of the authorities, and you will
not get away until find my property
There is no other alternative
NOVEL PLAN OF DETECTION.
"'Mr. Consul said the canvass, l have
already told you that did not steal your
silver, but still you suspect me- l will,
however, do all in my power to detect
the robber. only beg of you to do for
me passively all l will ask of you to do
"The Consul replied: Il will do so,
provided you bring back the property
"The canvass asked for two or three
hours time and left. In an hour he came
back, bringing with him by the bride a
little donkey. This he presented to the
Consul, stating that the donkey would
find the thief if he would allow the dom
key to be placed in one of the rooms and
the window shutters to be closed, so as to
darken the room
"Do So said the Consul, who became
curious to nee what would result.
"After the donkey was placed in the
dark room the canvass asked the Consul
to call everybody in the house, masters,
employees, canvasses, and servants.
They came, and were placed in front of
the door of the room where the donkey
was. When all were present the canvass
said: Now We are to enter this room
one by one, and as soon as we get in we
are to take a pull at the donkey's tail.
The donkey will make no sign, say moth
ing unless the robber is among us. Then
you may depend upon it he will bray, and
indicate who has stolen yoar goods. Oh,
do not laugh. l have had occasion to
make use of that remedy. 1t never fails.
Now said he to the Consul, you go in
first and pull the tail We will all follow
you, one by one'
"The singular procession began, the
Consul in the lead. Every one entered
the room and pulled at the donkey's tail,
but the donkey never brayed After the
performance was over and all came out he
asked if all of them had really pulled at
the tail. All responded emphatically,
'Yesr
How strange it is" said he, "that the
donkey did not bray. 1t seems that the
thief is not to be found among us. can
not explain it otherwise"
"He then formed them in circle around
him. Now, ladies and gentlemen he
said, hands up, please
Every one obeyed.
"' Here is your man, Mr.. Consul said
he, all at once, pointing at one of the party
a servant. You see, every one who
entered the room pulled at the tail, and
thus got his or her hands blackened, while
this man did not pull on the tail, as he
was sure the donkey would bray. Conse-
quently his hands are clean"
"The fact is" said our dragoman in
conclusion, there il 80 much superstition
among the common people of the east
that such devices are sure to make an al
most supernatural impression. However,
the man confessed and the silver was re-
turned" a s..t
We generally concurred in the opinion
that such modes of detection would not
operate successfully in London, Paris,
New York or Constantinople, where no
such childish ruses wonld produce the re-
quired result but the simple Arab of the
interior shrank from the experimentum
crucis as if it were not donkey's tail
Al II