Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-28

rinth led TO the sacred precincts OF
Mecca.
Our dragoman, Mr.. Garguilo, who is
well Versed in the Koran and famlliar
with the courts here, broke the reserve ne
had INDUCED, and after few whlffs OF MS
cigarette and twinkle in his big LeVah-
tine eye, graVely remarked that not only
was the administration of Justice con-
Quoted with a curious and humorous turn
in the East, but the detection of criminals
often displayed cunning that Inspector
Bucket might envy, or GabOriau enjoy.
sin illustration" he said, "let me give,
not a romantic incident, but a Veritable
narratiye-as it was given me some years
ago when l was trying case at khar-
poOt.'
AS the court was not to convene tor an
hour, the patience Of the Ottoman was
called to the front, and the dragoman be-
gan his recital:
"A few years ago. said he, ''on the oc-
casion of the anniversary of Queen Vic
tOria's accession to the throne, Mr.. j. H.
Skene, English Consul at Aleppo, gave a
dinner. He neld an evening receptions,
where the creme of the society at Aleppo
was gathered. A large number of guests
were invited TO the Cousups table. Great
pains were taken to make the dinner as
pleasant as possible. In Aleppo nothing
oPOoAe ~ CAOibCAbAN AAoWSa'
in pr0fusion decorated the table and the
apartments. Every piece OF silverware
had been brought out TO add to the spien-
dor of the festiVitv. The table service
was solid silver. The cavasses OF the
Consulate wore their gorgeous gold
trimmed clothes and their inlaid pistols
and yataghans. After dinner the party
left the diningroOm. They went into the
salons, where a large number Of guests
81,
cess. The servants OF the house had been
occupying themselves with serving the
guests-passing coffee to one, tea TO
another, narghile TO a third, and chi
bOuk to a fourth, and so on, 80 that every
thing in the diningroOm was apparently
trusted to the care of the caVasses. But
what was the surprise of the Consul
when on the day after the fete he found
that the sIlverware had disappeared.
Search was made in every part of the
house. Not single piece could be dis
covered. There was general cOnsterna-
ton, not so much on the part OF the Con-
sui himself as on the part Of those in his
service. After mature reflection upon the
mlshap, the Consul called the most intel
ligent of mis- cavasses. He questioned
him. The cavass 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 cOol-tempered
man. He said to his cavass: There is
no use to swear. l am not going to change
my opinion. have good reasons 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 L find my property.
There 10 no other alternative
"'Mr. Consul, said the caVass, i have
already told you that did not steal your
silver, but still you suspect me. | Will,
however, do all in my power to detect toe
robber. i only beg Of you to do for me
passively ali l will ask you to do"
The Consul replied:
81 will do so, provided you bring back
the property
1.-The caYass 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 il he would allow the don
/ 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 see what would result.
"After the donkey was placed IN the
dark room the CANVASS asked the Consul to
/ call everybody in the house, masters, en-
! ployes, cavasses, and servants. They
/ came. and were placed in front of the
/ door Of the room where the dOLkey was.
| When all were present the cavass SAID:
"'NOw, we are to enter this room one
/ by one, and as soon as we get in we are
to take pull at the donkey's tail. The
donkey will make no sign, say nothing
unless the Tobber is among us. Then YOU
may depend on it he will bray, and indi-
cate who has stolen your goods. Oh, do
not laugh. | have had occasion to make
use of that remedy. 1t never fails. Now
said be to the Consul, you 20 in first, and
pull the tail. We will allfOllow you, one
by One'
THE singular procession began, the
Consul in the lead. Everyone entered
the room and pulled at the dOnkey's tail,
/ but the donkey never brayed. After the
| performance was over and all came out
I he asked if all of them had really pulled
at the tail. All responded mphatically,
'Yesp
"'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 a circle
around him.
"'Now, ladies' and gentlemen he said,
hands up, please
"Every one Obeyed.
"'Here ia 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. Con-
sequently his hands are clean
"The fact u.s." said our dragoman IN
conclusion, ''there is so much superstI-
ton among the common people OF the
East that such devices are sure TO make
an almost supernatural Impression. How
ever, the man confessed, and the silver
was returned"
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 would produce the
required result; but the simple Arab OF
the interior shrank from the ''experim en-
tum crucis" as il it were not dOnkey's
tail powdered VITA charcoal, but an or
deal OF fire, under the judgment Of Al
lab.
What is the principle lying OF the foun-
datiOn Of these simple proceedings and
strange rulings OF the old Oriental officers
and Il 1dig for eOma general fhoftUht rnnot