The Washburn leader., 1912-11-15
THE TABLES
TURNED
By F.. C. sTlEGER

q man as ever lived. He had Sravi
tated north late in life and was eD.
tirely uneducated. In his southern
home he was known to be above IT,
proach; in his northern home. w'''',
accused, he must take his chances iiEr
other suspects. diamond had been
lost which Silas was accused OF steal
Ing. Indeed. the owner declared t:iat
the stone was lying in a rW0 at"
which Silas had gone to replace some
rugs he had been cleaning TIE gem
was missed as soon as he came out
Of the room, and he was searched.
1t was not found. and the owner he
ucved that Silas had swallowed It,
Casey. the owner of the missing
property, determined to frigbten the
old man into confessing the theft.
Getting few friends together IN his
house, he appointed one to play the
part of judge. another to defend the
prisoner. while he set himself the part
Of prosecuting attorney. Silas had
never been charged with crime In his
life and. having never been in court
room. knew no more of the Organiza-
ton of court than a three-yearOld
child
'Silas Venable." said the judge SOL
EMMY. You are accused of stealing
a valuable diamond. Are you guilty
or not guilty?"
Silas rolled his eyes about wildly
and said:
go de Lawd. jedge. | don't know
nothin' about any di'mon'."
NY cli"at pleads not guilty" said
Jones. the prisoners counsel
Your honor" said Casey. II propose
to prove on behalf of the state that the
rr:sarpr si;,ir the property and. being
s;.~."c:r:l HHl accused before he could
gn: ria of il. swallowed it. intend to
lur; i..o t,c s.'s".ach of the accused
sd li..tl sm!: ~nc.llpr the lost gem is
..e:r
Low yn ","a.inc is !"ok into my
s:.a::,;;rIi:" "'.:ci Silus. much fright
e..,! "I5'u i!i;.:l t .w.inr to put pipe
do": ~ :.r'%. "id Il candle in it, air
., -
''i,':,. =. v,i"r hoNo" explain the X ray
Is,:."S.; ~ the nrisoner:" asked the
pl''> cea..
. 4T'acs: II 'rrt. ird.c?" asked Si'as
-, d. =. t"u Won't feel il IL bit"
al: ii. Ia. Go ahead" said t!!r ;rls
oner confidently.
His ready assent somewhat SURPRISED
the court. who had supposed that there
was no doubt but that lie had done the
theft. But Casey, taking the darky'S
confidence for bluff. proceeded With
his plan. Producing a pair of binorn-
lars with scale for distance attached.
he affected to adjust the latter careful!
ly. then. putting them to his eyes. pre-
tended to look into the prisoners stom
acll SiaS Gid not seem at all trou
bled.
"What do you see. Mr.. Casey?" asked
the judge solrmnly. while some OF
those present put their handkerchiefs
to their faces to conceal their laughter
II see first small bits of chicken"
The expression on Silas' face chang
ed at once. He looked badly fright
ened
81 thought we would get at the
truth remarked the Judge. diving
into Iawbook before him to preserve
his gravity.
"Fo' de Lawd. jedge." pleaded Silas.
II didn't steal dat chicken bought
It,"
Bought chicken at 30 cents a
pound" exclaimed Casey.
mo. sab. lob Wilson he got chick
en- roost. and he sold me dat chicken
cause l give him some table garbage
/ was takin' from gen'leman's house
for de chickens He didn't charge me
nothin' TO- it,
what else do you see. Mr.. Casey?"
asked the judge.
II see a little black spot about the
size Of my diamond"
''Do you see the diamond itself?"
Casey considered that to say he saw
the diamond would not be true or fair.
20 he claimed only that he saw a
dark spot that might be diamond
'Fo' de Lawd. jedge." said the pris.
ener. "dat spot amt no di'mon'. done
didn't steal IT.
There was so much honesty In the
old negro's face that his accusers gave
up this third degree game. and
when his counsel demanded his dis
charge Casey assented.
would one OBJ de gentlemen object
!. to lookin' into Mr. Casey's stomick?"
asked Silas.
b Casey looked a bit annoyed. His
friends. anticipating more fun. demand.
ed that the negro's request be granted.
Jones seized the binoculars and brought
them to bear on the new subject.
what do you expect to 6nd in Mr..
Jones' stomach. SilasY' he asked
Oysters
.Yes, / see oysters. What else?''
Lobster salad"
why, certainly. cannot only see
ne meat. but there's claw in his
stomach"
..sWhen and where" asked the Judge
~ silas. ''did Mr.. Casey eat the oysters
md the lobster?'
ssWell, jedge," silas replied. II war
ywins past a chophouse Yesterday. and
II ~ De gentleman havin' a supper
survlf1, W. wife" IA!