St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-03-26
HIGGINS
ATHE WRONG MANI
Copyright. 1895. BY Daily Story Pub. Co,
By
WILLIAM II. OSBORNE
~ > 6 -

1T is unlikely that young Mr.. ]. @.
l A. Boggs will ever carry big wad
OF bills around with him again He
has learned his lesson, one that he will
never forget On the day in question
he had drawn the bills from the bank
on the afternoon before pay day, for a
specific reason-he wanted to get OF
early on the next day, and it took a
considerable amount of time to go to
the bank. His idea was to take the
bills home, count and arrange them
for the men and save himself a pile
OF work the next morning. 1t was
dusk when he started from his office.
He failed to notice the burly indi-
vidual who logged his footsteps on
the way home, but that burly indi-
vidual had not failed to notice him.
At particularly dark spot in the
street, something suddenly doomed up
before Mr.. Boggs vision-that some
thing was the burly individual He
didn't waste words. No sooner was
he aware that Mr. Boggs had seen
him than he hit Mr.. Boggs first on
one side of the head and then on the
other.
Il guess you won't remember much
after this, me buck" he muttered to
himself. as he helped himself to the
roll of bills. He did so hurriedly, for
Mr.. Boggs uttered a stifed cry for
help The cry was heard. and unfor-
tunately for the robber, two police
men loomed into view. They saw the
thief just as he was rising from
STOPPING posture above the PROSTATE
man. They levelled their revolvers.
Halt" they cried in unison The
robber laughed and started of at an
easy gait, that became faster as he
ran. One Of the policemen followed
the other pulled Mr.. Boggs over to a
place Of safety and then joined in the
chase. The thief led them on, first
up one street, then down another,
constantly doubling on his tracks.
Occasionally citizen would join in
the pursuit. Suddenly when the fore
most officer had almost grabbed him
both had long since emptied their
revolvers-he darted hastily around
corner and disappeared. But the po-
lice were close on Is heels and IS
they turned the corner they heard a
door suddenly slam. They located the
sound, and crossing to the house, at
tempted, to force their way In. They
did not try long. A man appeared
at the door and opened it with such
willingness that an officer, whose
shoulder had been pushing 1t too hard,
fell fiat within the passageway.
Gentlemen" said the man who had
opened the door what can I do for
you?" As he spoke, he appeared to
be slightly out OF breath The officers
grabbed him. I'VE want you!" they
exclaimed.
The man gasped with surprise.
what for?' he asked. You're the
fellow that robbed man in Quimby |
street." they said. He gasped again.
Robbed man." he went on. "im-
possible Why. have Just come |
home from work" You've been run
ming" said one ohlcer. Exactly" re-
sponded the man, "for was late. In |
fact reached the house just before
you came" This conversation occu-
pied several minutes. There was a
clock on the mantel. It was just eight |
O'Clock. An officer took out his watch
and verified the time. The other one
had taken a note Of the time Of the
robbery. 1t had occurred at Is min
utes after seven.
They searched the house, but they
did not find thu bills. The man of
the house, Higgins as he gave his
name, was quite amused at the little
episode, but he was not SO much
amused when they took him around
to the station house and locked him
up. He was held for trial The trial
came on. The police went ON the
stand and proved their case. They
had chased a man to the corner in
question, and they had heard this
door slam, they went in, the man ad-
mitted that he had been running-the
case was clear to their minds.
The prisoner was nonplussed. He
took the stand and protested that he
was innocent. Dear mel" he ex-
claimed, III the law would only allow
me to call MIR. Humbert, the clock
maker. Why. your honor, was in his
place for one whole hour, from s: SIS to
1855, and I was due ut my home at
eight o'clock, so l ran. II the law
would but let me call him, could
prove what say" The Judge looked
over his glasses. 1.-THE law allows you
to call him, sir" he said. why don't
YOU call him." The prisoner hest
tated. IT have no counsel, your hon
or" he explained, land 1 could not
get Mr.. Humbert here. How can get
him?" The court called an officer and
told him to take the address of this
man Humbert and get him here at :
once. The officer went around to a
tlingy little store that he had never
seen before. In front of it there was
a man with a bare head, taking a sun
bath. He was a goodsized man.
.Mr. Humbert," asked the officer The
other nodded. you're wanted down
at court" he went on. Get your
hat" "Me?" said Humbert, pulling
. skullcap from his pocket. Indeed!
What for?" Prisoner in that Boggs
robbery case says he was in your store
hat night. Was he?" The man who
allied himself Humbert scratched his :.
head. "Ridicuous!" he said "Of !.
course he wasn't" Neither the ON =
.er nor the man called Humbert had
yentured inside the store. They i'm =
nediatey went to court. The judge :
nodded to the man called Humbert. >
Mr.. Humbert?" he inquired. Hum