Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-11-10
WHAT SHE KNEW
ABOUT LAW
BY ANNA MARSH
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

/
butler went to the door. and n mar
asked TO see Mr.. Bentley If he was al
home and Mrs. Bentley if he was moi
at home. Mrs. Bentley went down into
the hall where the man was waiting.
I'm a constable. ma'am. and have
been sent by the court to make a
search for certain papers required in
the case Of Perkins versus Bentley"
Throwing back his coat. he showed q
badge, then took a paper from his
pocket, which he presented as a search
warrant. Mrs. Bentley knew nothing
Of the badge and was not sufficiently
versed in court procedure to discover
II the search warranf was in form. She
knew that her husband was being sued
by his ex-partner in business, and she
considered the said ex-partner ras-
cal She gave no thought to the gen.
uineness OF the warrant She concen-
trated' her mind upon the problem of
circumventing the search. Her hus-
band had told her to keep the papers
in question where they would not be
readily found. since 1t was important
for his own side of the suit that they
be not produced in court except upon
the choosing of his own counsel.
Please wait IL moment" she said
and turned TO so into the library. when
the man stopped, her.
Il can't let you go and hide the pa
pers." he said.
Every well. / merely wish to con-
suit my brother" Then. calling
'Willr' young man of serious and
intellectual mien appeared. Mrs.
Bentley told him of the search war
rant. He examined it, pronounced 1t
an order from the court and. taking his
sister aside. warned her not to refuse
the man permission to make the search,
since she might render herself liable
TO severe punishment if she did-per-
haps Imprisonment.
Il don't believe he's an officer of the
court at ALL" said Mrs. Bentley.
why not?" asked her brother.
"Well. don't know. His nose is
crooked. and there is a cast in his eye"
That's a pretty reason, Do as you
please, but If you get imprisoned for
contempt Of court don't blame me-"
Il won't" said Mrs Bentley.
Mrs. Bentley told the constable to
make the search. He went upstairs.
she following. When he entered bed
room to search it he ordered her to re-
main outside in such commanding |
tones that she obeyed. Finally he |
came to closet wherein was kept the |
family silver not in use. An iron door
had been put in to make it doubly safe.
Ii wns locked. The man demanded
the key. Mrs. Bentley produced it
The man opened the door and went
inside Mrs. Bentley closed 1t and
turned the key. Then she went down
stairs ara told her brother what she
had done.
He informed her that she had GER
tainly been guilty of contempt of
court Mrs Bentley, without needing
him. went to the telephone, called up |
her husband and told him what she
had done. Mr.. Bentley telephoned his
lawyer. and the lawyer telephoned the
clerk Of the court. but found no one
who knew anything about the search
warrant
81 thought he was a fraud" said
Mrs. Bentley to her husband over the
phone.
why soY'
II don't know. didn't like the looks
of his nose, and he sQuints."
She heard laughter through the re-
ceiver.
"Weli." said Mr.. Bentley. keep him
where he IS. and I'll come right up.
I'll bring a policeman"
Mr. Bentley soon appeared with a
genuine cop. They all went to the
closet and unlocked the door. and out
stepped the constable.
MY eyer exclaimed the cop. "If 1t
isn't Joe Green. alias Tom Dugan.
alias several other names"
Il told you So" said Mrs Bentley.
Look at his pockets" said the cop.
They were bulging with the jewelry
Mr.. Green had picked up while in the
bedrooms. You didn't know him for
what be is. did you. ma'amT
mo, but l didn't belieye he was
what he pretended to be-"
why not?"
Don't you see." Mr.. Bentley put in.
that his nose isn't straight and he's !
,ross eyed That's how she spotted q
him. She's no good for logic. but she c
hits right conclusions"
Mr.. Green was removed TO the sta ;
ion house. where he explained that he
lad seen in the morning paper that :
here was a dispute about certain doc
lments in the case of Perkins versus
Bentley. and it had occurred to him
hat the circumstance furnished a ?
nance for a stroke Of genius. Hav- a
ne had a great deal to do with courts II
though they were the criminal courtsl. d
10 knew enough to perpetrate the o
raud. Possessing himself OF a blank n
earch warrant. be filed 1t up himself. g
nd. borrowing a freman's badge, n
Ie considered himself well equipped Il
o play the part Of constable. It was
My Mrs. Bentley's peculiar method Of -
determining the difference between a
hief and a constable that spoiled his G
anne. n
Mr. Bentley's brother. who had pro- a