The daily Alaskan., 1904-07-15
INGENIOUS JUSTICE
toriginalI

"Mary Easton, stand up.'
 A girl of twenty arose, and the judge asked:
 'Have you anything to say why sentence should not be passed upon your"
 "Only that l am innocent"
 Then Judge Lester proceeded to sentence her for two years to the state prison for receiving stolen goods, the articles being a few old pieces of silver of no very great value. The girl had never offended before, and witnesses testified to her good character, but she could not or would not explain how the silver came into her possession. There was nothing for her but conviction and nothing for the judge but to pass sentence. AS she stood before him there was the serene look of a martyr on her face, and the judge said mental lv, "The assurance of criminals and tue appearances they can assume are marvellous"
 The girl was led away, and the judge left his office Lighting cigar, he strolled home. On the way he stopped at Sandiver's, his jeweler, to get his watch, that had been left for repairs. and while looking over the wares remembered that the anniver- sary of his marriage would come off in about a week. He had decided on Q brooch for present on the occasion, and went over to where these articles were displayed While looking over them a young man at his side divided with him the attention of the sales man. The judge left the store without making a selection.
 The next evening while sitting in his library before dinner there was a ring at the doorbell, and a note came in from Sandlver announcing that the day before he had got in new lot Of brooches and begging that the judge would examine some that he had sent by the bearer.
 The judge read the note several times. Surely Sandiycr Was anxious to sell his goods; he had never sent samples to his house before, Compe- tition seemed to be driving the drum mers of reputable firms into peoples homes. However, he had a little time before dinner and would look at the brooches. The salesman was brought in and produced articles that the judge had seen in Sandiver's cases the day before, besides new ones. One of those he had seen and fancied was ot- fered at third of the value put on it when he had first seen it.
 You are mistaken in the price of this" said the judge Tt is worth more money"
 Perhaps l am,' replied the sales man, but it is a rule Of our house never to go back on a price once giv- en-"
 The judge took the brooch and held it under the gaslight. There were jewels in it that sparkled beautifully.
 q will take this one," he said, but, mind, if you are mistaken in the price and will notify me within few days we will call the sale off"
 ''The price Is correct said the sales man-"that is, to you-0nd the sale will stand so far as we are concerned.
 The brooch was left and the sales man departed.
 A few days later, during a recess Of tEe court, an inspector of police step ped Up to the judge and asked him if q man purporting to be from San divers had called on him with some iewelry to sell.
 ''Ycs," replied the judge, "and l bought a brooch"
 Then, yoGr honor" replied the in spcctor, smiling, you are a receiver ot stolen goods. The man was an i'm. postor"
 Impossible! He presented a note written on Sandiver's letter head and brought jewels that had seen in San divers cases"
 "plcase speak lower, judge" said the Inspector. This is very embarrass- ing case. The man has done the po- lice department, Sandiyer and you. He came to me and offered to work for nothing tlll be had proved his skill. I didn't employ him, but he stayed about headquarters long enough to steal some of our letter heads. On one of these he forged a letter introducing him to Sandiyer, stating that he was on the track of some of their stolen goods and if they would mark some brooches and permit him to take them out for sale he was quite sure. he could recover large amount of their prop erty. The singular part of it is that he returned all the articles except tile one sold you"
 Captain said the judge, "you are right in not letting the world know of thfS trick Come tO my hOuse after