Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-11-06
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 II be was at
home and Mrs. Bentley If he was not
at home. Mrs. Bentley went down into
the hall where the man was waiting.
Pm a constable. Tna'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 a
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 10 discover
If 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 ex-partner ras-
cal She gave no thought TO the gen.
uineness of the warrant She concen-
trated her mind upon the problem Of
circumveniing the search Her hus-
band had told her 20 Keep the papers
I'm question where they would not be
readily found. since Ii 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 moment" she said
and turned to go into the library. when
the man stopped her.
II can't let you so md hide the pa
Ders." he said.
Every well. / merely wish to coz
suit my BROTHER Then. calling
"Willr a young man Of serious and
intellectual MEN, appeared. Mrs.
Bentley told him of the search war
rant He examined 1t, pronounced II
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 II she did-per-
haps Imprisonment.
81 don't believe he's an officer of the
court at ALL" said Mrs. Bentley,
why not?" asked her brother.
Wen. don't know His nose is
crooked and there is 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-"
- 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.
1t was locked. The man demanded
the key Mrs. Bentley produced it.
The man opened the door aud went
inside. Mrs Bentley closed 1t and
turned the key, Then she went down
stairs are 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. 'J@ aa
Il thought he was q fraud" said
Mrs. Bentley TO her husband over the
phone. iAl
why so?'' '''A@
Il don't know. didn't like the looks
Of his nose, and he squlnts."
She heard laughter through the re-
ceiver.
We'll" said Mr. Bentley, keep him
where he is. and I'll come right up.
I'll bring a policeman"
MIR. Bentley soon appeared with a
genuine cop, They al 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"
II told you so. said Mrs. Bentley.
Look at his pOckets,T said the cop.
They were bullying with the jewelry
Mr.. Green had picked upswhile In the
bedrooms. You didn't know him for
what he is. did you. ma'amT'
mo. but ] didn't believe be was
what he pretended TO be-"
why not?"
Don't you see" Mr. Bentley put in,
shat his nose isn't straight and he's
cross eyed. That's how she spotted
him. She's no good for logic, but she
hits right ccH"lusions."
Mr. Green was removed TO the sta
ton house, where he explained that he
had seen in the morning paper that
there was a dispute about certain doc
uments in the case Of Perkins versus
Bentley. and it had occurred to him
that the circumstance furnished a
chance for a stroke OF genius. Hav-
ing had a great deal to do with courts
Though they were the criminal courts,
he knew enough to perpetrate the
fraud Possessing himself of a blank
search warrant. be filed 1t up himself.
and. borrowing a freman's badge,
he considered himself well equipped
to play the part Of constable. II was
only Mrs. Bentley's peculiar method Of
determining the difference between q
thief and a constable that spoiled bis
game
MIR. Bentley's brother. who had pro
nounced the search warrant genuine,
became a lawyer. Mr. Bentley always
insisted that Mrs Bentley could tell
UlJre about law by The twist In
Eians aose and a cast in his eye than
her brother couId tell by legal docu.
ment-