The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-12-15
cha! Mr.. Gonzal, is it you? What II


But you are not in earnest?"
Never more So
But l don't understand it
"Come to the magistrates Office and
have it explained
will you not tell me with what
crime I AM charged?'
For having in your possession an
other mans property, whether stolen
or otherwise"
"I-Herman Langdon-accGaed Of a
crime like this. Why Mr.. Gonzal,
what can have led you into such a
mistaken"
If it be a mistake Mr.. Langdon,
why all the better for you returned
the detective. meantime, | must do
my duty and l hope you will SO far
aid me as to give me no unnecessary
trouble?'
"Oh, certainly, sir, certainly; but I
am all amazement"
Gonzal blew a whistle, the carriage
came up, and we were soon at mag
istrates court
l at once made the charge that
| udu Ueeu IOUUtU VI IL WHY
heirloom watch, which | had seen in
| the prisoners possession. ~.
Langdon laughed derisively.
WELL he said, IF that is the
charge on which l have been arrested.
ali | need to say is that | have only
one watch, a present from my father
which have carried for twenty years.
Here he drew my watch from his
pocket and handed it to the judge.
SIS this the watch you claim as
your, Mr. Bedford?" queried the lat
ter.
1t is, please, your Honor
Can you prove it is your property
and not Mr. Langdon's?"
This question gave me a start akin
to shock, which almost unnerved
me. How was l to prove it, indeed?
I could swear to it; but then my oath
would be no better than LandOn's, who
could, by perjury, swear directly the
other way. / saw a CLEAN OF triumph
in the villains eye. and it nettled.
confused and embarrassed me. There
was no one who knew me as the own
er of the watch, and unfortunately.
my name was not engraved on the
case, and 1t would be folly to think Of
bringing in such testimony as Fan
wis.
For a few mOmentS-mOSt painful
moments-I felt as if all was lost: and
then sudden idea came to my relief.
please, your Honor" l said. "as we
both claim to be owners of this watch,
is it not reasonable to suppose that
both should be familiar with what is
especially as l declare the prize to be
an heirloom in my family, and Mr..
Langdon that it was present from his
father 20 years ago."
That appears to be a reasonable
supposition?" replied the court.
Then please, your Honor, pro-
pose that each of us write down the
inner inscription, and hand the same
70 your Honor, for a decision as to
whether Mr.. Langdon or myself is
most familiar with the one article both
claim to own. and this enable your
Honor to correctly judge who is the !.
real owner of the watch?'
well, will not agree to any such 3.
proposition!' snapped out Langdon,
with a redeemed face.
Here the detective whispered in his '
ear.
Better give up this watch before
am compelled to arrest your female ,
accOmplice. who stole it, !.
This appeared to astonish and startle :,
the villain, who had the good sense to ;
act upon the threat in the best way !,
to get himself clear of his present J
trouble.
May it please your Honor" he said
turning at Cnce to the magistrate, Il :;
now propose to state the real facts Of :,
his case. 1 found the watch in CUES. ,,
ton only short time since, lying or =
the pavement; and, seeing its great =
value. | was on my way to advertise ,
it, when this man-Mr Bedford, as !
hear him called-had me arrested and :
brought before you. Thinking he
might have seen me find the watch -
and that this arrest might be a ruse
to get possession of i, resolved tc >
fail him by claiming to be the owner.
Now. if he is really the owner, shall '
only be too happy to restore his prop. :,
arty. All ask is that he prove him. =
9elf to be what he claims: and if he =
will say say what is engraved on TIT
inner case of the watch, ana yom
Honor find it as he states, will con- - -
,ider that sufficient proof of owner y
ship, and relinqush all right to it al :, :,
)nce." =
Then, please, your Honor, here is
nv proof" | gladly responded. as ]