Year: 1875

Many years ago gentleman. followed
by servant in livery, rode into an inn in
the west of England. one evening little
he should be detained by business in that
wished to know if there were any amuse-
ments going on in town to fill up the in
terval of time. The landlord replied that
it was their assize week, and that he
would therefore be at no loss to pass
away his leisure hours, On the gentle
man making answer that this was FORUM
ate, for ne was fond of hearing trials, the
other said that very interesting case of
robbery would come on the next day on
which peoples opinons were much divided,
the evidence being very strong against the
prisoner, but the man persisted resOlutely
IN declaring that he was in another part
OF the kingdom at the time the robbery
was committed.


The guest manifested considerable anx.s
iety to hear the trial, but as the court
would be crowded expressed some doubt
that there could be no difficulty in gem
tleman of his appearance getting seat.
but that to prevent any accident he would


o
the beadles. According they went into
court the next morning. and, through the
landlord S interest with the officers of the
court, the gentleman was shown seat on
the bench. Presently the trial began. fa
While the evidence was proceeding
against him, the prisoner had remained
with his eyes fixed on the floor. seeming
ly very much depressed, till, being called
m for Hofo ho Hod
ing the stranger suddenly tainted. This
first like a trick to gain time. As soon as
he came to himself, being asked by the
judge the cause of of this behavior, he
said;


"Oh, my lord, l see person who can
save my life. This gentleman" pointing to
the stranger, ''can prove lam innocent;
might | only have leave to put few ques-
tions to him?"


The eyes of the whole court were now
turned upon the gentleman, who said he
felt in very awkward position to be CALI
ed upon, as he did not remember to have
ever seen the man before, but that he
would answer any questions that were
asked him.


''Well, then, said the man, ''dOn't you
remember landing at Dover at such
time?n ut fsss, ass


To this the gentleman answered that he
had landed at Dover, not long before, but
that he could not tell whether it was on
the day he mentioned or not. 7sis's
"Well," said he, "but don't you recol-
lect that person in blue Jacket and trow-
sers carried your trunk to the imp"


To this he answered that OF course some
hod frr,n for hv,k
that he did not know what dress he wore.


"But," said the prisoner, "don't you re-
member that the person who went with
you from the boat told you story of being
in the service, that he showed you scar
he had on one side of his foreheadp"


During this last question the face of the
stranger underwent considerable change.


He said he = tain,y didrsSollect such q
his hair aside and showing the scar, he
became quite sure that he was the same
person. A buzz of satisfaction now ran
through the court re ON for the day on
which, according to the prisoners account
was the same on which he was charged
with robbery in a distant part of the coun-
try. The stranger, however, could not
OC CCttdlA IA tuC tiiucs Uut NO oOu4SeAAAVSt
made memorandum OF dates in his pock-
etbook, and might possibly have done SO
on this occasion. On turning to his pock.s
etbook he found memorandum Of the
time he landed which correspondent with
the prisoners assertion. This being the
only circumstance necessary to prove the
alibi. the prisoner was Immediately ac-
quilted, amidst the applause and congrat
ulations Of the whole court.


Within less than month after this the
gentleman who came to the inn attended
by the servant in livery, the servant who
followed him and the prisoner who
had been acquitted, were all three brought
back together to the same Jail for robbing
the mail. is


1t turned out that this clever defence
at the trial wasa scheme skilfully arrang-
ed by the thiet's confederates to obtain
the release of their accOmplice