Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-11-06
MARK twain IN IRONS.
THE HuKoRISr TRIED BERORE An ADMIRALTY
COURT AT SEA.
Found Guiliy Of Unscisnsifc Lying aud SENTENCED
to Read for Three Hours Every Day from his
Own Works -SpOrtivs Proceedings
On an Atlantic Liner.
SpseiaI Correspondence or ths Sunday Rf0istsr.

Special Correspondence or ths Sunday Register.
NEW YORK, November Att was In
the month of July last that Mark
Twain was put In irons and brought
before an admiralty court upon serious
charges. The story of that experience
In the life of the famous humorist has
just been brought back TO this country
by some of those who witnessed the
trial and who saw Mark Twain In
chains, and nothing he has ever written
contains more humorous suggestions
than does this story.
Among Mark Twain's fellow passen-
gers upon the steamship Lain were ex-
Judge Dittenhoefer, OF New York; sgd
ney Webster, of Boston, an eminent
lawyer; James 7. Wallach, prominent
merchant OF New York city, and party
of twelve Yale students, among them
being the famous football champion OF
Yale, Mr.. McClung.
Mark Twain had made merry with the
passengers. He told some OF his most
extraordinary stories, which, while they
had the appearance Of having occurred
to him at the moment, he insisted
were veritable chronicles, and as In
credulity prevailed among the passen-
gers it was at last publicly declared
that Mark Twain was sin his capacity
as story teller an inordinate and I'M
scientific liar" The humorist resented
these accusations, insisting that II In
any OF his published variations there
appeared to be anything which justi-
fed such accusation he had written 1t
In moments of responsibility or In
sanity, and he declared that he was
willing to stand trial upon these charges.
Captain Dampfer, who has the power
of an autocrat upon his ship, authorized
court of admiralty to be organized, OF
which Mr.. Dittenhoefer was appointed
Judge. Mr.. Wallsch was chosen by the
court counsel for prosecution. and
Mark Twain selected the eminent law
yer. Mr.. Webster, counsel for the de-
Tense. The Yale students were impan-
eled as jurors, and Mr. McClung was
made foreman.
The court was held on the evening OF
July IA In the great saloon OF the steam
sEip. Judge Dittenhoefer took his seat
on RE bench, and never looked more
starn W. hen he was serving as Judge In
a New York city conrt. The jury were
seated IN a bpx TO the right OF the judge
and the connCsl were gathered at a
table, and near them were the witnesses
for the prosecution, ana the eeIens s.
After the court was openeo ouuse D,'-
tenhoefer instructed tbe snerlu 70
bring the prisoner in. The o.ankiIs ol
chains was heard, and momel' 'a ss..
Mark Twain, with disheyeled hair, WIN
shutting step, because the ships IA 2ns
hung heavy on his legs, and with hfS
wrists inclosed in handouts, was brought
in and placed In the prisoners dock.
At command from the judge the
irons were removed, and the trial began
with speech from the prosecuting OIL
Ger, in which be declared that he should
prove that Mark Twain had been guilty
of inordinate and unscientific lying.
Here the prisoner bent his head to con-
ceal his emotion apparently, and seemed
to be sobbing. Miss b. r. Dittenhoefer
was called as the first witness. She
read extracts from Mark Twain's de-
scrlption of the jumping frog. The
Jury looked very solemn when this evil
dence was introduced, and Mr.. Web
ster, the counsel for the defense, on
cross examination demanded OF the wilt
ness what there was unsclentific In this
lie, II 1t was lie, and she replied that
although 10 caused people to laugh they
smiled at the improbabability OF the
story, and added that there was moth
ing funny In the suggestion OF Milling
the stomach OF frog with shot to pre-
vent 1t making jump, and thereby
causing its owner TO lose bet.