NOVEL COURT SCENE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1523, 20 August 1912, Page 8

NOVEL COURT SCENE.

, _. JUDGE DANCES WITH WITNESS. A trial in court at Tilsit, East Prussia, hung on tho testimony of a young peasant girl of seventeen, Therese Stobbert (says the "New York World"). ' Everything depended on whether she had danced at a village ball or not. Therese denied taking part ot even being there, for.tho good reason that she could not dance. This astounded Tilsit, where everyone lives to walta time. "Not dance!" exclaimed the Judge. "The girl is untruthful:" Theroso persisted that sho could not dance. "Fetch all the partners from her village," ordered tho Judge, angry at her contradiction. The male dancers filed into court, callow youths and sophisticated men. They grinned at Therese and bobbed their heads as to an old friend, but all had to confess they had nover danced with her. "Have you a wooden leg?" demanded the Judge. Therese stolidly pulled up her skirt and exhibited a pair of sturdy ankles. "I do not believe you cannot dance," persisted tho Judge. "Fetch musicians." Tho musicians came and struck up one of those waltzes that would almost make tho dead dance. "Clerk of the court," suddenly cried tho Judge, "dance with the witness!" It was a very uncomfortable looking clerk Who grasped Therese around the waist, while everyone giggled. Ho tried to start, but might as well have hoped to danco with a sack of potatoes. Exhausted, he retired. Then the Judgo ordered one after another, from counsel to policemen, to dance with Therese. Sho hung on their arms, she trod on their tees, but did not dance, though tho musicians throbbed out faster and faster the most inspirin" strains. When all the partners were exhausted the Judge in a rage cried: "I don't believe this girl cannot dance," and he left the bench for the floor. He is an excellent dancer, and the awkward movements of tho girl so distressed him that in a twinkling ho was giving her a dancing lesson. Ho showed her how to place her feet, how to glide, and hoiv to turn, while everyone in court looked on in amusement. Someone, noticing that the Judge was getting very warm, sent for beer. Other couples began to revolve. Counsel for the defence was twirling with the Public Prosecutor. More beer came in, and the court had become an impromptu ballroom. Suddenly the Judge came to himself. He flung Thcreso aside, picked up his robes, and rushed back to the bench i Jut , it was of no use to continue the trial, all discipline was at an end, music and dance were in tho air. Thereso was smiling sweetly at having learned to dance. The accused were hoping to get eff under the present merry conditions, the court officials were delighted at such a break in a monotonous calling, and tho public was enchanted at tho gratuitous pcrformaaiee. Everyom was acquitted and tho court was closed for the day.