The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-11
FALSE TEETH BEFORE THE LAW.
A Suit That May Determine How They
Are Ia He Chased as Property.
From the Bangor Daily

From the Bangor Daily News.
A queer case is now pending in the Ca
lais municipal court. Some months ago
a man named Smith, well known in the
county, who has boarded at different
places on both sides of the river, selected
hotel in Calais as a residence. and for
some weeks kept his name good by pay
ing his bills Saturday nights The land
lord, believing in the good faith of the
man, was not anxious when informed
one night that he had no money to pay
with. So he told Smith to take his time,
which he did with great ease. Four, five,
six, seven weeks went by, and no money
came from the jolly guest, who was
from all appearances enjoying life in the
highest degree; but the hotel man now APP
peared at times nervous, even sometimes
murmuring at Smiths remarkable appe-
tite and mode of mastication.
At about the end of the eighth week the
hotel man met Smith on the hall steps,
and with his own peculiar expression of
determination said How do suppose I'm
going to feed you without pay for it?''
With a soothing smile, showing his teeth,
Smith promised to settle things satisfac-
torily that very night and left the house
whistling. So things went along again all
right Night came and so did Smith hap
Ply as lark, but no money did he give.
Now this Smith, who was slightly delin-
quent in paying his board, was not only
queer about this, but quite odd in other
respects. He was a free smoker, treated
the boys occasionally, displayed a bill
now and then, and had two sets of false
teeth, a thing uncommon to most men.
One set was kept in a trunk while the
other was in use, but at night he usually
removed them. And here is where the
law points begin.
The landlord knew all this, and con-
sidering self-preservation natures first
law, decided on a plan. So, watching
Smith repair to his room, he listened at
the keyhole for the flutter of his lips in
the usual midnight sonata to conform
the fact that the snorer was in the land
of nod. Here at the dead hour of night
the bedroom door was forced open, as
well as the lid of the trunk, and the
dreaming slumberer robbed of both sets
of store teeth.
The landlord was about to leave the
dreamer to his fate when the trunk lid
fell with a loud crash. Smith woke. yelled
Murder, help" and various things Isl
lence," said the intruder. I've got you
now. I own this house, and I've been
a friend to you. I've boarded you eight
weeks. You promised me money tonight,
but you didn't give it, and now I've got
your false teeth, both sets, and, by gosh
you've got to go and gum it now for a
while You can't use two sets of teeth
on my grub no more, nor nobody's else
till you pay your board. Get out of the
house"
Poor Smith, turned loose in the cold
streets of Calais, friendless, tooth1ess and
penniless, courage all gone, walked about
till daylight. from Ferry Point bridge to
Midtown, up one side of the river, down
the other. till the sun rose from behind the
New Brunswick hills. Twas in the morn
ing when a friend was told Of the night s
horror. Teeth gone, Smith lost control
of his tongue, and attempted to repeat
the wrahty words OF the landlord. After
giving the outcast a breakfast of Cruel
his friend advised him to see a magistrate
and have a writ Of replevin served to
recover the teeth.
This plan was duly acted upon. Smith
is an unfortunate man. but says he has a
rich uncle in Brattleboro. VT, who intends
10 push the case for points. This ques-
ton involves the principle OF right OF
attachment OF artificial portions OF the
human body, such as cork legs. glass
eyes, rubber noses, etc.