The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-09-29
..s.s..nsaHnas.....:..sss....a....s:...s::
LEARNED A LESSON
BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE.
st..:s:3.:.;.n.st,:,s.t;.;...:.;..tutt:t,.;s.,..

plils around with him again. He has
learned his lesson. one that he will
never forget On the day In question
he had drawn the bills from the bank
on the afternoon before pay day, for a
special reason-he wanted to get on
early on the next day, and 1t took
considerable amount of time to go to
the bank. His idea was to take the
bills home. count and arrange them
for the men and save himself pile
OF work the lext morning. It was
dusk when he started from his Office.
He failed to notice the burly indi-
vidual who logged his footsteps on
the way home. but that burly indi-
vidual had not failed to notice him.
At particularly dark spot in the
street, something suddenly doomed up
before Mr.. Bogg's vision-that some
thing was the burly Individual He
didn't waste words. No sooner was
he aware that Mr.. Boggs had seen
him than he hit Mr.. Boggs first on
one side of the head and then on the
other.
i guess you won't remember much
after this, me buck" he muttered to
himself. as he helped himself to the
roll of bills. He did so hurriedly, for
Mr.. Bcggs uttered a stifled cry for
help. The cry was heard, and unfor-
tunately for the robber, two police
men doomed into view. They saw the
thief just as he was rising from a
STOPPING posture above the PROSTATE
man. They leveled their reyolvers.
Haiti" they cried in unison. The
robber laughed as he started of at an
easy gait. that became faster as he
ran. One Of the policemen followed
the other pulled Mr.. Boggs over to a
place Of safety and then Joined In the
chase. The thief led them on, first
up one street, then down another,
constantly doubling on his tracks,
Occasionally citizen would Join in
the pursuit. Suddenly, when the fore
most officer had almost grabbed HIM
both had long since emptied their
revolvers-he darted hastily around a
corner and disappeared. But the po-
lice were close on his heels and as
they turned the corner they heard
door suddenly slam. They located the
sound, and crossing to the house, at
tempted to force their way in. They
did not try long. A man appeared
at the door and opened 1t with such
Willingness that an officer, whose
shoulder had been pushing 1t too hard,
fell fiat within the passageway.
Gentlemen" said the man who had
opened the door, what can l do for
your" AS he spoke, he appeared to
be slightly out of breath. The officers
grabbed him. I'VE want you'll" they
exclaimed.
The man gasped with surprise.
What. for?" he asked. You're the
fellow that robbed man In Quimby
street." they said. He gasped again.
Robbed man." he went on, Sim
possible. Why, have just come
home from work" You've been run
Ming" said one officer. Exactly" re-
sponded the man. for was late. In
fact l reached the house just before
49, SfO. hAo SOl1f Cl odIlOA OCCQ-
pied several minutes. There was a
clock on the mantel 1t was just eight
O'Clock. An officer took out his watch
and verified the time. The other one
had taken note of the time of the
robbery. 1t had occurred at % min
utes after seven.
They searched the house, but they
did not find the bills. The man Of
the house, Higgins, as he gave his
name. was quite amused at the little
episode, but he was not SO much
amused when they took him around
to the station house and locked him
up. He was held for trial. The trial
came on. The police went on the
stand and proved their case. They
had chased man to the corner in
question, and they had heard this
door slam, they went in, the man ad-
mitted that he had been running-the
case was clear to their minds.
The prisoner was nonplussed. He
took the stand and protested that he
was innocent. Dear mel" he ex-
claimed. IF the law would only allow
me to call Mr. Humbert, the clock
maker. Why, your honor, was in his
place for one whole hour, from 6:55 to
1853, and l was due at my home at
eight o'clock, SO / ran. If the law
would but let me call him, could
prove what / say" The Judge looked
over his glasses. 1.-THE law allows you
to call him. sir" he said why don't
you call him?" The prisoner hest
tated. Il have no counsel, your hon.
or" he explained, "and l could not
get Mr. Humbert here How can l get
him?" The court called an officer and
told him to take the address Of this
man Humbert and get him here at
once. The officer went around to a
dingy little store that he had never
seen before. In front of it there was
man with bare head, taking a sun
bath. He was a good-sized man.
Mr. Humbert?" asked the officer The
other nodded You're wanted down
at court" he went on Get your
hat" "Me?" said Humbert, pulling
skullcap from his pocket. Indeed!
What for?" Prisoner In that Boggs
robbery case says he was In your store
that night Was he?" The man who
called himself Humbert scratched his
head "Ridiculous!" he said "Of
course he wasn't" Neither the off
Ger nor the man called Humbert had
ventured inside the store. They i'm
mediately went to court Tho Judge
nodded to the man called Humbert.
"Mr. Humbert?" he inquired. Hum
bert nodded
INF. Humbert," went on the Judge,
this man says he was at your shop
on the 18th of last month in the even
ing for an hour. beginning 6:55. Is
that true?"
Humbert put on a large pair of
spectacles Ridiculous he ex-
claimed, 81 never saw the man be-
fore" The Judge breathed a sigh Of
satisfaction, the police grinned with
an air of Il told you So" May +"
began the prisoner. May / ask
question:" Certainly. sir" respond
ed the Judge. "Mr.-Mr. Humbert,"
continued Higgins, the accused. don't
you remember a man who called at
your place that night to get a clock
that had been left for repair-and
who talked about tattoo marks?"
Humbert started and rubbed his head.
"Of course" he returned. II dol do
remember him. / showed him tat
too mark OF a clock upon my arm,
and he showed me on his wait
a minute" went on the prisoner.
what day was that?" why" an