The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-12-28
The Tyrant Man
Kicks Back
BY EDWARD 7. STEWART

A crowd was emerging from a hall
where votes for women meeting had
been held. Suddenly lady plunged
forward, pushing aside those In front
of her, and caught man by the sleeve.
"Give me my pocketbook! she cried.
"Your pocketbook! What do you
mean2"
you were sitting by me in the meet
ing. have lost my pocketbook. What
can be palmer than that you have TAX
en- it, See the slit In my reticule.
made by some sharp instrument"
If stole your pocketbook. madam.
must have passed it to pal. for ]
haven't got It."
II say you have!'
The man, who was well dressed in q
check suit, looked over the heads Of
the crowd and, seeing a policeman.
| called to him.
"One moment, please. Madam, you
have accused me Of stealing your peck
| etbook. your accusation being based
on your own deductions. If you prove
me guilty you will have done duty;
If not. you will have to pay well for
all the inconvenience and injury you
may cause me-"
The woman declared that she was
ready to take the consequences of her
act. The policeman led the man away.
At the station the culprit insisted on
being searched. Nothing except his
own belongings was found on him.
TON Nolan said the man at the
desk, we've been looking for you ever
since you made your escape from the
penitentiary six months ago. Up to
your old tricks, l see. You look more
prosperous than when you were sent
up. What's become Of that beautiful
mustache you used to sportT'
I'm not Tom Nolan"
You'd better send to your pal for
the lady's valuables; you'll get a lighter
sentence
If you think I'm Tom Nolan or any
one else than myself, prove it,
Dead easy. Your photograph was
taken and graces the rogues gallery"
The photograph was produced, and if
1t was not a likeness of the prisoner it
was the very image Of him.
"All right" said the prisoner, u
want messenger"
He sent for lawyer and for bail.
Then he was suffered to 60, being or
dered to appear the next morning.
The lady was in court, supported by
half hundred of her sister workers
in the cause Of justice for women.
She made her charge, told her story,
showed the cut in her reticule and
stated the amount of her loss. The
identity Of the prisoner was proved by
the photograph Of Nolan, who had rob-
bed many women in much the same
way that the accusing angel had
been robbed. The prisoner was per-
mitted to make his statement. It was
this:
your honor and gentlemen of the
jury, this affair occurred at meeting
Of women with sprinkling Of men
which I attended last evening from
curiosity. I listened to accusations Of
men Cor their barbaric treat ment Of
women from Adam and Eve down to
| the present day. I contend that men
have received as much unjust treat
ment from women as women have
| from men. / am now suffering from
such treatment. My accuser has made
circumstantial evidence a basis for
| bringing upon me what will be a great
| injury. | propose to punish her for
doing so. She should have given me
| an opportunity to explain. could
have convinced her that I am above
| stealing ladies' pocketbooks, for 1 am
in receipt Of $500 week salary. AS to
my being mistaken for this man No
Ian, that Is another matter for which
the lady Is not to blame. But l shall
make her pay for what she is to
| blame"
The accused's lawyer then put the
manager Of Aim company on the
stand, who swore that the prisoner
was Alonzo Devereaux, a prominent
movie actor, and that he-the manager
was paying him $500 week for his
services as an actor. The next move
of the defense was to hang q screen.
darken the courtroom and show the
photograph Of Nolan greatly enlarged
The prisoners picture was then shown
"a "closeup"-snd considerable differ
ence appeared in the two pictures
That Of the prisoner showed minute
globule on the lower lid of the eye
The jury we're called on to examine
the real gl0bule with magnifying
glass, and they found it to be IN place
as shown in his photograph.
The prisoner was discharged and at
once brought suit for $4,000 against
the lady who had accused him for in
! jury done him In his profession by the
accusation and it's consequent public
ity. Since he had all the money he
required to press the suit and the lady
had none, even though he should lose
his case in the end, be could appeal
| and appeal till she was tired out and
at loss to pay lawyers fees. Though
advised to make the best terms she
| could she decided to fight the suit and
did so till 1t had been twice appealed.