Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-29
Charge ed With Theft

weighing. so that each could take>nIs
share again and deduct so much for
Stevens pay.
1t was found that instead of having
600 pounds of gold as before there was
now only q fraction over EOS pounds
The partners were Ioath TO distrust
Stevens and had it 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 a
warrant for his arrest. He all the
time protested his innocence, but was
not able to 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
cumstantial evidence seemed absolute
" 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 the
circurnstantial evidence set forth.
Wayne did not even question a wit
ness.
When all the testimony was in
Wayne requested the judge to allow
him to qualify Samuel l.. Johnson.
teacher of physics in n high school. as
IN expert witness. The judge, not see
ing any relation of physics TO the
theft. was about to refuse the young
man when peculiar glimmer in the
iatter's eye persuaded him to humor
the hoy. Johnson was placed on the
stand. and the following colloquy en-
sued:
XII it'll what does physics dea1?'
with natural phenomena, or the
changeS in the state or condition of
matter"
',yoes the weight of person change
rs be changes his location on the
earth:"
YES"
Just how does that happen. and
how much does the weight changer"
Tho weight of any body is greatest
at the poles of the earth. as they are
the nearest points TO the center. 1t
gets less 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 fly of more at the
equator than near the poles. The COM
bination of these two makes a body
weigh one two hundred-aud-eighty
ninth less at the equator than at the
poles and n proportionate amount for
distances between"
about what fraction OF its weight
would Il body lose in going from Cape
Nome, Alaska. to San francisco"
81 should say about one in 300"
"'Then gold Weighing 600 pounds in
Nome could not possibly weigh over
sos pounds here, could it,"
ut could not"
1t is needless TO say that Stevens was
acquitted on this evidence. His former
partners were so sorry of 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 in
accord with reason. 1t is recognized
by the United States government. Ev-
cry time bullion is sent from Washing
ton to the New Orleans mint a certain
amount OF weight is lost in the mere
act of transit. So in order to get the
same amount of metal in each coin
compensatiuS weights or those special
ly calibrated have to be used or else
special scales. If the weights are made
at Washington and sent to New Or
leans of course they will lose in weight
and will Wpfrb tr1a IN a pafr Of ray
ances. But spring balances cannot bs
used.-Lawrence Hodges in DenYef
Times.