The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-15

/
pccted and caused the arrest OF the ser
| want girl. The remainder OF them were
held as witnesses. The time OF the trial
was set and on the suspicious morning
| the courtroom was packed. Inc old
! Squire was in his glory. running nither
| and thither, coughing. clearing ma
| throat. giving orders. and Keeping the
whole room in a general uproar- We
copy from the record:
THE court will come TO order, hats of.
get out o. them windows. you Dogs. we
| have before us-them-this morning the
| celebrated case which has kept the neigh
borhood stirring for several days-a
| charge against Euphemia Kdggles Tor
stealing spoons from Mrs Minky Jen-
kns Euphema Ruggles. are you here!'
Voice from the crowd YES, sir.
Say yes. your Honor
Eyes, your Honor" feobly.
The Squire. sternly. Prepare TO hear
the evidence against you"
Yes. your Honor
Constable call the first witness
The constable. with oceans OF ceremo-
ny-"Benjamin Draw" (the step-fatheD.
Benjamin Draw coming forward with
great pomp, stumbling over chairs, pull
ing savagely at his Burnsides as he APP
proachcs. My rheumatic is bothering me
to-day, and / didn't want 10 come. deed
didn't"
The Justice. pompously. what is your
nance"
Eyes, yes, tolerable. thank you, only
toerable"
Voice from rear of ROOM Hes deaf.
speak louder"
The Justice, in a voice of thunder.
what is your Nance
"Oh. yes, yes, Benjamin Draw, Braw
Draw. OF the Draws Of Middlesex,
come over in the Sunhower."
Never mind about that. low old are
your"
cold. yes, rather cold for this time
O. year"
(Justice, growing very red, and strain
ing his voice-"What is your age?'
'Fifty-nine-hfty-nine last June, year"
year.
where 10 you Eye?'
"Home, home. yes. home"
Where is your home?'
with my second wifes daughter-poor
Becky-she died of Group"
That has no gearing upon the case-er
were YOU familiar with these spoons?'
Now moon? Think we have II on the
1eventh"
"Dd you know the spoons?"dn his.
loud,st tOnes),
What spoons?" (bewldereD.
w ny your SA'I-Na HbHt'l = 'f''''''
those silver spoons"
ooh. YES. yes. what about 'em?"
'NVhere were you when they were stcl-
on?"
CHI"
n say where were you when -
spoons were stolen?'
What spoons?'
Justice. angrily. "Your step-daughter's
spoors. Of course-the Aforesaid spoons
Surprised Have they BEEN stolen?'
Certainly they have-what did you
suppose we were here for2'
ooh. l don't know. I'm getting old and
fcrgetful"
The Justice: Il don't think the witness
will be of any use to u In this case.
lie don't seem 10 be wei! enough ac-
quaintcd with what is going on around
him-er-you may stand aside
did / rice? on. yes. rode over, amt
walk, You know. on account OF M
rheumatic"
Il said you might stand dovn-consta-
bic remove the witness from the stand.
CThe constable performs his duty, he
witness mutteung all the while Il
wou'6n't a conceded l wouldn't. just
for this little bit o. foolishness-dtedl
fLldn't."
Justice-"Cam the next witness"
the stand
In comes the widow jenkins. shipper
ing and smiling as she advances she IS
sworn and seats herself 10 give her tes-
timony.
(The Justice blandly). "Will YOU state
the circumstances under which you lost
the spooEs. madam
Certainly. your Honor. 1t was last
Sunday evening | had the spoons out
at dinner / always take them out every
forenoon. and put them back after the
dishes are washed. about o'clock. Inc
sooons. by the way, used 10 belong 10 my
Observation-Disclosures on my mother
side. a mighty good old lady, who was
a splendid housekeeper and cat TINS
uncture tho court decides that this pOr-
lion of the testimony is irrelevant 20 the
easel The widow is advised 10 come on
the switch and take the main track
again. She did so. "WeH as | was say
ing. we had finished dinner and / had
told Euphemia 20 wash ana run lHe
spoons as usual. and put them away
and when / went in the kitchen ~ the
evening 10 get them and carry them up
TO nv bedroom. where l keep them in
the bureau drawer. they were gone.
asked Euphemia about them, and she
said that she had washed them and put
them on the table for me 10 get when
came in and she had not seen them
since. She thought / had taken them
away. There was nobody there but her
when / missed them. Oh. my spoons
my spoons. would l had died before they
were stolen"
(The Justice compassiOnately). Don't
take on so. my dear madam-don't-l as
sure you on my honor that the court VIII
do its utmost TO find your spoons.
lxpovr Won Will' lWefulug put tNeN