Evening journal., 1910-09-05
WHAT SHE KNEW
ABOUT LAW
BY ANNA MARSH
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


butler went to the door. and a man
asked to see Mr.. Bentley il he was at
home and Mrs. Bentley II he was not
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
badge, then took a paper from his
pocket. which he presented as search
warrant. Mrs. Bentley knew nothing
Of the badge and was not sufficiently
versed in court procedure to discover
II the search warrant was In form. She
knew that her husband was being sued
by his ex-partner In business, and she
considered the said exapartner a 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 a moment" she said
and turned TO go into the library. when
the man stopped her.
II can't let you go and hide the pa
pers." he said.
VERY well. / merely wish to con-
suit my brother" Then. calling
'wnlP a young man of serious and
intellectual mien appeared. Mrs.
Bentley told him OF the search war
rant. He examined 1t. pronounced It
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. l 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 IL 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 a bed
room to search It he ordered her to re-
main outside in such commanding
tones that she obeyed Finally he
came to a closet wherein was kept the
family silver not in use. An iron door
had been put in to make it doubly safe.
II was 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 ana 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
"I thought he was fraud" said
Mrs. Bentley to her husband over the
phone.
why soT'
"I don't know. didn't like the looks
Of his nose, and he squints."
she heard laughter through the re
ceiver.
''well." 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 II
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
I'Mr. Green had picked up while in the
bedrooms. You didn't know him FOL
what he is, did you. ma'am?"
mo, but I didn't believe 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'i
cross eyed. That's how she spotted
him. She's no good for logic. but sh'
hits right conclusions"
Mr.. Green was removed to the sta
ton house, where he explained that h'
had seen In the morning paper tha
there was a dispute about certain doc
uments IN the case of Perkins versu
Bentley, and it had occurred to hin
that the circumstance furnished
chance for a stroke OF genius. Hav
ing had n great deal TO do with court
Though they were the criminal courts)
he knew enough 10 perpetrate tn
fraud. Possessing himself OF blanl
search warrant. be filed It up himself
and, borrowing a fireman's badge
he considered himself well equippe
70 play the part OF constable. It wa
only Mrs. Benuey's peculiar method 0
determining the difference between
thief and a constable that spoiled hi
game.
Mr.. Bentley's brother. who had pro
nounced the search warrant .genuin,
became a lawyer Mr.. BentlY alway
insisted that Mrs. Bentley could te
more about law by the twist in
/. mans nose and a cast in his eye tina
hpr brofhor could fell nv a IaoaI doe,