Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-09-05
A SPECIAL CODE.

profound thinker took occasion to re- mark. like the rcd light at the rear end of railway train-it Eliminates only the path gone over. This may not be the exact wording, the fine shading of the profound thinker, but care not so much for his wording as for his idea, not so much for his shading as for his truth. Swinging behind a train which at times rIlShcs wild through my fancy there is rcd light. and its dull rays fall upon path gOnc over, one leading out from q newspaper. One morning it came out, broad in assertion, boastful i'll big type, declaring that it had come to stay, but ere the afternoon had come a man whose political pull had put him into the sheriff's office as n deputy stood at the entrance of the counting room where nothing had been counted-tack- ing q card on the door driving shingle nails into the sore breast of q once buoyant hope. Well, that was all there was to the paper. and it wasn't much, surcly-an idle lesson learned at lazy noon-but what followed was an ex- perience. I set out upon stroll down through the cypress districts of west Tennessee. The weather was charming, a pink June, and the sun set that even- ing with q glow that promised romantic adventure. Rain was pouring down a week later. and romance was nowhere i'll sight. I went to barn and lay in the fodder to wait for it Lightning struck the barn, and 1 tumbled out, stunned, scared half to death, and took to my heels across a meadow.
 Some one cried stop, and then a gun went oil l stopped. and a man ran up and arrested me. Lightning had set the barn on fire. and of course was accused of it. went with the man and stood near while he SNTorc out a warrant for my arrest and then acknowledged that 1 was aware that l was in custody. By this time number of furious citizens had arrived, and 1 began to fear lest they might not wait for the slow proc cSses of the law. My experience with the daily newspaper had taught me sonrthing of legal procedure, and l asked the justice if I might have a change of venue.
 Whats that:' he asked.
 Thank you for a change of vcnue," said L
 This Srt them all a-laughing. had never asked for such thing before and did not know the exact wording. felt sure that l couldn't miss it if I were only polite. But did miss it and they pukcd mcrciless jests at my ignorance. After awhile court was called to order, mirth was put aside, and 1 was told that the charge against me was exceed ingly serious: that I must defend my self or spend much of my future time i'll prison. Il have but very short de fcn>,. said I. The truth Is that 1 didn't st fire tn the barn. I had no matches about ulc. and 1 was too wet when l went i'll there tu set fire to any thing. The things Were set on fire by lightning.
 We grant all that, you honor. " re- piled the man who had taken tho prose cution of the case, but what right had he i'll the barn? And besides let him prove that the lightning would have struck the barn if he hadn't been in there. To my certain knowledge, this barn has been standing for tho last % years. and can prove that it was never struck before. It is well known in science that certain people attract light ming, and tine law plainly says that dur ing showers these people should keop out uf barns.
 ''N,S, sir" answered q lank man at the rear end of the room.
 You studied science for a number of year>. didn't you:'
 Twas professor of it for long time, sir.
 Well, can you tell by examination whether or not a man k an attractor of lightning
 II ought to. sir. for l was examiner for this part of tine state -"
 Will you please step up and examine this man.
 With pleasure. sir.
 He examined my hair. rubbed my ] head and then shook his own II should say. sir. that this would Se mighty dangerous man To bc near while light l ming k flashing around = Then. sir, in view of the fact that | this barn was never before struck by ! lightning. would you be willing to give i il as yunr opinion that the prisoner was | the C.lu-G of tht-wCll. we'll say acci ,I,nt:'
 l II c, rtIinly give that opinion, sir.
 Well, then. your honor" continued the prosecutor, there is but little more | to G0. Of course this man cannot helI his unfortunate attraction for lightning; but, then, neither can mad dog hell being mad. I will now leave him tC you
 The justice sat gravely thinking ''l am very sOrry, " said he, that such ( case has been brought before me I diC not make the laws. I am simply a serv ant placed hero to execute them. Tor appear to be young man of promise and this arraignment Is exceedingly un fortunate. Have you anything to say?
 had a great deal to say. I told hin that had never heard of such law that had been brought up almost un der tho shadow of tho state house; tha
 I had written up many a police court
 and that I didn't believe had more O
 an attraction for lightning than any on,
 else.
 He gravely shook his head. "Yol
 perhaps did not know" said ha ''tha
 what is law ill this part of the stat
 may not be law in other parts This di
 vision of the state has a peculiar locn
 right, ceded to it at the time of th
 Louisiana purchase. He had me there
 and I could say nothing. ''We get man
 of our ideas from the French, and Yhil they may appear ridiculous to the nor "Anglo- Saxon parts of the great common
 wealth we-but there is no use arguin with you may explain, however that persons convicted under the scier
 tific code are not sent to the regula state penitentiary, but to prison dow
 on Bayou Long. It is rough place
 and I regret to see you go there, bu
 there is no need to express sympathy. "
 Before direct sentence is passed.
 spoke up an old man who had hithert