The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-01-23
THE TABLES
TURNED
BY F. C. STlEGER

SlldS ' NendDle. an Olu udlhy WIZ |
mad taken his name from the former |
owners of his family, was as good |
a man as ever lived. He had gravi. |
tated north late i'm life and was en-
tirely uneducated. In his southern |
home he was known to be above re-
proach: in his northern home. when |
accused, he must take his chances like
other suspects. diamond had been
lost which Silas was accused of steal
ing. Indeed, the owner declared that
the stone was lying in a room into
which Silas had gone to replace some
rugs he had been cleaning. The gem
was missed as soon as he came out
of the room, and he was searched.
1t was not found and the owner be-
lieved that Silas had swallowed it.
Casey, the owner of the missing
property, determined to frighten 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. Sias had
never been charged with crime in his
J life and having never been in court
room, knew no more Of the organiza-
ton of a court than a three-year-old
child
| "Sias Venable," said the judge sol
emnly, "you are accused of stealing
valuable diamond. Are you guilty
or not guilty?"
Silas rolled his eyes about wildly
and said:
"Fo' de Lawd, jedge, don't know
nothin' about any dimon'."
"My client pleads not guilty" said
Jones, the prisoners counsel.
"Your honor" said Casey. II propose
to prove on behalf of the state that the
prisoner stole the property and. being
suspected and accused before he could
get rid of it. swallowed It, l intend to
look into the stomach of the accused
and find out whether the lost gem is
there
"How yo' gwine to look into my
stomach?" asked Silas, much fright
ened "Yo hain't gwine to put a pipe
down my froat wild candle in it, air
yo'"
"Will your honor explain the Y ray
process to the prisoner asked the
prosecutor.
Does it hurt, jedge?' asked Silas.
"Not at all. You won't feel it bit"
GAIL 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 S
confidence for bluff, proceeded with
his plan. Producing a 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 you see, Mr.. Casey" asked
the judge solemnly, while some Of
those present put their handkerchiefs
to their faces to conceal their laughter.
"I see first small bits of chicken"
The expression on Silas' face chang
ed at once. He looked badly fright
7 ened.
II thought we would get at the
truth" remarked the judge. diving
into a lawbook before him to preserve
his gravity.
"Fo de Lawd, jedge," pleaded Silas
81 didn't steal dat chicken. I bought
it."
Bought chicken at 80 cents a
poundw exclaimed Casey.
NNo ooh Ioh Wilson IN O0t q nhinly
en- roost, and he sold me dat chicken
cause / give him some table garbage
. I was takin' from a genleman's house
for de chickens. He didn't charge me
nothin' 70 it."
What else do you see, Mr.. CaseyT
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
so he claimed only that he saw q
dark spot that might be diamond
go de Lawd, jedge," said the pris
oner, dat spot amt no di'mon'. l done
y didn't steal it,
There was so much honesty in the
!, old negros 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 stomickY 2
asked Silas.
Casey looked bit annoyed. His
friends, anticipating more fun, demand
i ed that the negro's request be granted
/ Jones seized the binoculars and brought
t them to bear on the new subject
J. what do you expect to find in Mr.
Jones' stomach, SilasT' he asked
"Oysters."
"Yes, l see oysters, What else?"
Lobster salad"
3 "Why, certainly. l cannot only SCI
II the meat, but there's a claw in hi
stomach"