Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-09-04
CHARGED WITH THEFT
A Queer Trial In Which Was Used
a Queer Defense.
SHIPPING A CASE OF GOLD.
The Solution of the Difference In
Weight of the Box at Cape Nome and
at San Francisco-The Clever Move
Of an Astute Young Lawyer.


One of the most interesting trials
that ever took place in any country
was that of James Stevens in the Cali
forn1a courts for theft. The circum-
stances were as follows:
There were four prospectors in the
Rondike region when the gold fever
there was at it's height, among whom
Stevens was one. They ''struck it
rich," divided up and started out for
the United States. Just before lcav
ing Stevens got into a faro game and
lost everything he had. Winter was
coming on and he bade fair to starve
unless something was done for him
So the other three decided to pay him
so much to guard their dust OH the
ship and pay his way home to Sar
francisco. They each had their share
Of dust and nuggets accuratel!
weighed and then put them into a
common pile, pending. of course, theiI
reapportionment on react hing port
This they placed in a strong box
which they nailed up and sealed care
fully. 1t was Stevens duty to watch
this by day and sleep by it by night
until the destination was reached
There was exactly 200 pounds avoir7u
pois of the gold. sworn to by regular
Weigher. 1t was worth a great dea5
Of money.
Well, everything went along smoothly
until San Francisco was reached Ste
vens seeming to appreciate what bi:
former partners were doing for hin
and guarding his trust jealousy. Vher
the ship came into port the bog was
Immediately removed, under the super
vision of Stevens, to a place OF re
weighing, SO that each could take his
share again and deduct SO mue fol-
Stevens pay.
1t was found that instead Of ha7inP
600 pounds Of gold as before there was
now only fraction over sos pounds
The partners were loath to distrus
Stevens and had 1t reweighed twice
but with the same result each tiTne.
Reassured as they were of his gull
:and having contempt for such ingrat
tude, they Immediately swore but q
warrant for his arrest. He al ths
: time protested his innocence, buk wa
mot able to account for the loss.
The poor fellow was throwll into
prison and held for trial. Not Having
ANY money or friends, he gave up all
hope Of being acquitted, as tie cir
sCumstantial evidence seemed alb solute
Ay against him. A young lawyer was
appointed by the court to defend him
This young man, Thaddeus Wayne by
name, set to work on the seemingly
hopeless Job with great enthusiasm
as he had few clients anyhow and
plenty of time.
The case was soon called and All thc
c1rcumstantial evidence set forth
Wayne did not even question a vii
ness.
When all the testimony was In
Wayne requested the judge to allow
him to qualify Samuel H. Jdhnson,
teacher Of physics in q high school. as
an expert witness. The judge, Iaot see
Ing any relation OF physics to the
theft, was about to refuse the young
man when a peculiar glimmer in the
latter's eye persuaded him to humor
the boy. johnson was placed on the
stand, and the following colloauy en-
sued:
with what does physics dea p
HWith natural phenomena, or the
changes In the state or cond .fion OF
matter
"Does the weight of person lchange
MS he changes his location lon the
earthT'
eyes"
"Just how does that hapr IN. and
how much does the weight ct anger
'@The weight Of any body is Greatest
at the poles of the earth. as Ihey are
the nearest points to the ce tier. Ii
gets less and less the farther Fe trav-
el toward the equator, for we 20 AVA!
from the center. This efet1 is en-
hanced by the rotation of tlfe earth
bodies tending to fly off moIf at The
equator than near the poles Fhe com
bination Of these two makes bod!
, weigh one two-hundred-aT f-eiehty
J ninth less at the equator thf p at The
poles and proportionate II punt fo'
{ distances between"
sAbout what fraction of ii weigh
would body lose in going fdom Cape
Nome. Alaska, to San Iranciafo!"
seI should say about one in 4ts1"
= .'sThen god weighing 600 Esounds II
Nome could not possibly weigh ove
sOS6 QOuuUS uCAC, SSNA0 -
att could not"
Mt is needless to say that Stevens wa
mruuitted on this evidence. His forme
partners were so sorry OF :tfeir recen
suspicion and SO eager to ms ke amend
that they not only paid him the salar
they had promised him, bot set hi'
ND I'm business from their ainpie funds
This fact is peculiar. but perfectly /
accord with reason. it Is recognize
by the United States government E'
cry time bullion is sent froEs Washing
ton to the New Orleans mint certal
amount OF weight Is lost iIs The mer
act OF transit. So in order TO get til
same amount of metal In each col
compensating weights or those speria
.sg calibrated have to be- used or els
special scales. If the weights are MAD
at Washington and sent fc New q
3, leans OF course they viii lose In "eisf
land will weigh true on a pair of if'
ances. But spring balances cannot !
used.-Lawrence Hodges in peny'
Times.
"Mosquito Talcum Powder kee
them OF. For Sale at HIS DR.
Store.