The evening times., 1896-11-26
FUN AT A TURKEY TRIAL
Burrows. a Detective, Mistaken for
a Smoke ShOyeller.
Romance, Perjury, SpOoks and
stuffed Clubs All Have Speaking
Parts in Police Court Drama.

There was fun and perjury committed il
Judge Miller's police court today during The
trial of Il Thanksgiving turkey-steaiing
case.
george Ferry, the prisoner, short "ol
,, ored man, WIS charged with stealing and
taking away, with felonious intent afUre
thought. one turkey, valued ut ST. tbs
property of James Stevens, who resides al
No. 1904 VI street, Georgetown.
1t was in evidence that Perry captured
the bird. broke its neck, placed the car
clsS in a bag and concealed it in the gas.
house until he culld pluck and dress it for
the feast today. Detective Frank Burrows
found the bag and contents and arrested the
thief.
1nere Were several witnesses and Il new
colUred lawyer and they told varied and
conflicting stories about the matter.
A ripple Oflaughter was caused while the
detective was Onthe stand The new lawyer
did not know he was an officer and after
Burrows had told him about finding the tur-
key concealed i'll the gas works the young
barrister said:
so you work in the gaShOuse, do you?''
Who? Me- quericd the Georgetown
sleuth
YES, sir; you"
Not L. replied Burrows. II have not
yet been reduced to the position OF smoke
shove,ier;. [ am detective"
ALI MI tAtIdiillt'l lllt yer. En-
''cuse me-
Perry denied that he stole the turkey,
and tried to establish an alibi by stating
that lie WAS at the big fire when the bird
disappeared.
Where was the fire." asked his honor
Il don't know" replied the prisoner; Il
didn't go all the way to it,
No; l suppose not
Perry also tried to clear himself by
stating That lie had not intended to have
turkey for dinner today, but had arranged
for n mess OF hog an hominy."
Walter Washington, demure looking
colcred youth, tried to clear his friend
Perry by telling Il remarkable story.
II had been to the meeting of my drum
corps" he SAID, land from there went TO
the fire. When L reached home after mid
night saw something on Mr.. Stevens back
fence and thought { was ghost. Being
afraid, thought | would lay the sIook,
and So / picked up club to hit it,
"Where did you get the 'club?'
"Under my front porch. l had placed it
there to protect myself when l came home
late o nights. / hit the turkey on the
neck and it lay down and commenced 10
flutter on the ground. Says l to myself
That amt ghost, but Il turkey then
went to bed and when came out the next
morning to find the turkey it was gone"
This statement astouished his honor and
ilt dSNtu
Boy, do you know what perjury is?r
NO. SIR
"Do YOU know what the word truth
means?"
Yes, SIR
NO, you do not IF 1 thought you did
I would send you to the penitentiary for
committing perjury. Who told you to re-
late such q fool story about this turkey,
anyhow?''---''
Nobody"
with such witnesses before me-" con-
hnued his honor, lit would be impossi-
BILE to tell whether a man was dead or
not without the evidence of a physician.
This turkey got on the fence to roost that
night, believing it was safe from harm,
when Perry came along with his bag and
captured the bird. The prisoner can go to
Jail for ninety days"
Detective Burrows said later that he was
going to work up case Of perjury against
Walter Washington.