The Forrest City times., 1891-04-10
THE TALKING DOG.
A raris Saloon Keeper Taken In-Tos
 Much Faith and Cupidity.

A queer case came before a Paris police court the other day, in which saloon keeper named Latrouche ap- peared as complaining against travel ing snowman called Pivot, whom he charged with swindliug him out of 400 | francs under somewhat strange circum- stances. In the first portion of his long statement to the presiding judge, Latrouche insisted that the prisoners dog could talk. But the story is best told in the following stenographio report of the proceedings:
 The President (to the complainant) Well. l must say that you have a robust faith.
 The Complainant Latrouche-But. Mir. President. the people who were in my place at the time also believed that the prisoners dog talked just like a human being.
 Well, what did he say?"
 'The accused. Mir. Pivot came into my establishment with his dog. little brindle. We'll. he sat down at a table and the dog jumped up on a stool and squattei himself beside his master l | lle man tuu iiShcd hlAl what he wished to have. He replied, a bock;' and right then a queer voice added. and piece of veal for mel l was astolnded. and locked about to find out where that voice came from. Pivot said. Don't be frightened. it is only my dog. 'Whatn said l; your dog can talk? Yes replied Pivot, I taught him 10 talkn Well you can imagine my astonishment, and think ing that the fellow was fooliug me, l said: Make him speak again Then Pivot said. Ask him what he wants. ' Then l, not believing the thing possible, but just to see, said to the dog. Well, old fellow, what will you have?'
 Il told you 1 wanted piece of vealn said the dog. My wife, my children, my waiter, and all the customers ex- claimed in wonder: Gracious, he talksn As for me. l remained nailed to the floor. motionless as an ecce homo, until the accused remarked: Well well, why don't you serve usY l got the book and the piece of veal. gave the beer to the individual and the meat to the dog.
 Then my wife brought me into a corner; my young ones came and my waiter also came Ton must buy that dog, said she, and put up sign. Au chlen qui parle! Crowds will come. and VIC will make heap of money. My youngsters also said: Oh, yes. papa buy himN And my wait--. re- marked; That is going to put an awful amount of work upon me, with all the people that will come
 Well, finally you bought him'
 "1es, sir, 400 francs; but immedi- ately after paying down my money the dog said to his master: So that is what you arc doing. Selling me- eh, Very well. l won't speak another word
 And he didn't speak after his mas ter wont away"
 Not word, not syllable, noth- ing; and in the evening everybody was laughing at me. They toi,. me that the dogs master must have been ventriloquist. Then l became furious at being swindled. 1 went to the commissary of police and told the whole story. He nearly split his sides laughing. Eight days afterward l found the thief at the Montmartre fair, where he was performing as jug gler."
 The President (to the prisoner)- You arc q ventriloquist2
 The Prisoner-Ycs sir.
 And you swindled the plaintiff by making him believe that your dog could talk?"
 'It was he who tsrmented me to sell the dog l didn't want to sell him, because l made my living with him. Then the plaintiff said to me- I'll give you POO francs l refused. Three hundre0N said he, Then be- gan to say to myself that might get another dog. The plaintiff said finally: Come, I'll give you 400 francs, with the book and the piece of meat thrown in Well, then l accepted.
 And what became of the dog?"
 'Oh, he found me out again: but the gentleman can have him If he wishes"
 Latrouche-Thank you. don't want your dog that can't talkl
 Tho President (to plaintiH) )-So 1t turns out that 1t was you that pressed the prisoner to take your msney.
 Latrouche-Because my wife told mo that with the sign Tho Talking Dog would make heap of gold as big as myself.
 The prisoner was discharged.
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