Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-08-20
CHARGED WITH THEFT
A Queer Trial In Which Was Used
a Queer Defense.
SHIPPING A CASE OF GOLD.
Tho Solution of the Difference In
Weight OF the Box at Cape Nome and
at San Franciseo-The Clever Move
Of an Astute Young lawyer.

mo SotuNou or tne Dtuerence ~
Weight OF the Box at Cape Nome and
at San Franciseo-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
fornia courts for theft. The circum-
stances were rs follows:
There We're four prospectors In the
KloDdike region when the gold fever
J there was at its height. among whom
Stevens was one. They .'strack it
rich" divided up and started out for
the United States. Just before leav-
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 on the
ship and pay his way home TO San
Francisco. They each had their share
OF dust aud nuggets accurately
weighed aud then put them Into
common pile. pending, OF course, their
reapportiOnment on reaching port.
This they placed In n strong box
which they nailed up and sealed care
fully. 1t was Stevens duty to watch
this by day and sleep by 1t by night
until the destination was reached.
There was exactly 200 pounds avolrdu-
pois OF the gold. sworn TO by regular
weigher. II was worth q great deal
OF money.
Well. everything went along smoothly
until San Francisco was reached, Ste
vens seeming TO appreciate what his
former partners were doing for him
and guarding his trust jealously. When
/ the ship came into port the box 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 much for
Stevens pay.
1t was found that instead OF having
600 pounds OF gold az before there was
now only a fraction over sos pounds
/ The partners were loath TO distrust
Stevens and had II reweighed twice.
but with the same result each time.
| Reassured as they were OF his guilt
and having contempt for such ingratI-
! tude. they immediately swore out q
warrant for his arrest. he all the
time protested his innocence. but was
not able 20 account for the loss.
The poor fellow was thrown into
prison and held for trial. Not having
any money or friends. he gave up all
hope OF being acquitted. as the cir
cumstautial evidence seemed absolute
! ly 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 nli the
circumstantial evidence set forth.
Wayne did not even question n wit
/ ness.
When all the testimony was I'm
Wayne requested the Judge TO allow
him 20 qualify Samuel l.. johnson.
teacher OF physics In n high school. as
an expert witness. The judge. not see
4, ing any relation OF physics to the
theft. was about 10 refuse the young
man when a peculiar giimmer in the
latter's eye persuaded him to humor
the boy. Johnson was placed on the
stand. and the following colloquy en-
sued:
with what does physics dealy'
with natural phenomena. or the
changes In the state or condition OF
matter"
Does the weight OF a person change
as he changes his location on the
earthy'
Eyes"
Just how does that happen. and
how much does the weight changer
The weight OF any body is greatest
at the poles OF the earth. as they are
the nearest points to the center. II
gets iess and less the farther we trav-
ell toward the equator. for we go away
from the center. This effect Is en-
HANGED by the rotation OF the earth.
bodies tending TO fy or more at the |
equator than near the poles. The COM
bination OF these two makes a body |
weigh one two hundred and eighty |
ninth less at the equator than at the |
poles and proportionate amount for |
distances between"
About what fraction of its weight |
would body lose In going from Cape |
Nome. Alaska. TO San Franciscor
81 should say about one In 300"
Then gold weighing GOO pounds In !
Nome could not possibly weigh over
sos pounds here. could it?'
1T could not"
IL Is needless to say that Stevens was
acquitted on this evidence. His former
partners were SO sorry or their recent
suspicion and so eager to make amends
that they not only paid him the salary
they had promised him. but set him
up In business from their ample funds.
This fact Is peculiar. but perfectly An
accord with reason. Ii is recognized
by the United States government. Ey-
cry time bullion is sent from Washing
ton TO the New Orleans mint a certain
amount OF weight is lost in the mere
act or transit. So In order to get the
same amount OF metal In each coin
compensating weights or those special
iy elaborated have 20 be used or else
special scales. II the weights are made
at Washington and sent to New Or
leans or course they will lose I'm weight
and Will weigh true on a pair OF bal
ances. But spring balances cannot he
nsed.-Lawrence Hodges In Denver
Times.
NOTED BY A TOURIST.