The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1913-01-09
THE TABLES
TURNED
By F. C. STIEGER

owners of his family. was as good
a lnan as ever lived. He had gravi-
tated north late in life and was en-
TREY uaeaucatea IL his southern
home he w;;S known to be above re-
proach: in l..s northern home. When
accused he must take Ills chances like
other suspects. \ diamond had been
lost which s;ii&s was accused OF steal
iD-. Indeed. TIE owner declared that
tle stone WAS lying in a room into
which Si!aS had gone 70 replace some
RUGS he had been cleaning. The gem
was missed as sooC rs he came out
OF tie room. and be was searched.
1t was not found, and the owner be-
ieved that Si!;:s had swallowed it.
Caser. the owner Of the missing
property. determined to frishten the
Old man into confessing the theft.
Getting a few friends together in his
house. he appointed one to play the
part CT 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 q court than three-year-oid
child
''Si!as VenaHie," said the judge SOL
emnlr. YOU ore accused Of stealing
valuable diamond. Are you guilty
or nos guilty
silas rolled lis eyes about wildly
and said:
"l'o de I.awd, jcdge. | don't know
ncthln about any di'mon'.
My client pleads not guilty said
Jones. the prisoners counsel.
Your honor said Casey, Il propose
to prove on behalf OF the state that the
prisoner stole the property and, being
SUSPECTED and accused before he could
Get rid CT it. swallowed it. intend to
look into the stomach Of the accused
and find out whether the lost gem is
there
How 70 ewine to look into my
stomach" asked Silas. much fright
enetl. "Yo' hain't gwine to put pipe
down my froat w;d candle in it, air
yo':"
viii your honor explain the X ray
process to the prisoner" asked the
prosecutor
Does it hurt. .jedse:" asked Silas.
'Not at all. You won't feel it bit "
"All right. Go ahead" said the pris-
oner confidently.
His ready assent somewhat surprised
the court, who had supposed that there
was no doubt but that he had done the
theft. But Casey. taking the darky's
confidence for bluff. proceeded with
his plan. Producing q pair Of binocu-
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-
ach. Silas did not seem at all trou-
bled
What do ycu see, Mr.. Cascy:" asked
the Judge solemnly, 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 Ee looked badly fright
ened.
Il thought we would get at the
truth" remarked the judge, diving
into Il lawhac:i bcfor" him to preserve
his gravity.
go dc Iawd. jedge." pleaded silas,
81 didn't steal dat chicken 1 bought
it,
Bought CHICKEN tit so cents a
pound" exclaimed Casey.
NO, saIl Job W-ison he got chick
en roost. and he sold me dat chicken
cause give hin some table garbage
was taliil' from 4 gen'leman's house
for de chickens Tis didn't charge me
nothin 70 it
What efse 90 you see Mr Casey"
asked the judge.
y see little blac.: spot about the
sic Of my diamond
DO you see the t;il;nonditself?'
Casey considered tl.at to say lie saw
the diamond would ;.ot be rue or fair,
SO he claimed only that he saw
dark spot that might be Il diamond.
"Fo' de Lawd, jedge.' said the pris-
oner. dat spot ai.:'t no Gi'mon'. done
didn't steal IT.
There was so much honesty in the
old nngro's face that his accuSerS gave
up this third degree" game. and
When his counsel demanded his dis
charge Casey assented.
Would one Oh de gentlemen object
to Iookin' into Mr. Casey's stomick"
asked Silas
CaSey looked bit annoyed. His
friends. anticipating more fun, demand
ed that the negros request be granted.
Jones seized the binoculars and brought
them 10 bear on the new subject.
What do you expect to find in Mr..
Jones stomach. Silas?" he asked.
Oysters"
"Yes, I see oysters. What else?"
Lobster salad"
why, certainly. I cannot only see
the meat, but there's claw in his
stomach"
when and where" asked the judge
Of Silas, did Mr. Casey eat the oysters
and the lobster"
We'll, jedge," Siias replied, Il war
swine past chophouse Yesterday, and
[ saw de gentleman havfl' supper
With yo' We. y
There WIS CONSERVATION in the court,
and at the same time Mrs. Casey, who
had been listening ut a keyhole. came
in to say that she had found the miss
ing diamond in her jewel box.
The court adjourned amid much en-
barras$ment and some suppressed
snickering.