A Smart Evasion of the Law.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 2 May 1890, Page 3

A Smart Evasion of the Law.

Soke years ago a notorious highway. man arrested for robbery; aud while he was thinking what a small chance there was for him to escape, a cunning friend (also in trouble) . .offered to help him for a reward. •' I have two hundred p6tinds," said the robber ; "One hnndred of which, if you save me, shall be yours," . • {f Agreed," said the other.' (i And • now all youhave to do is : to tell me every particular i^ord, etc.. tliat passed at the tir^ you committed tha robbery ; and when . you are brought to tVjo har plead not gui ty, and leave be rc9t to me." . Then the highwayman related every v /or< j an^ circumstiuce that heco- a lcl than recollect as having P aF _aed between the gentle nan h« •T/obbed and himse'f. At thetria', when the robber was brought to the, bar, he pleaded riot guilty. Just at this time there ; was .beard a great bustle among the prisoners, which being loud enough to disturb the curt, the usher was called upon to explain the ds. turbance, and reported that one of the prisoners said he had something of the utmost importance to say to the judge, who immediately ordered him to the bar, and asked him why lie disturbed the court. He then, as>umiug a piteous ex pression. told the judg3 that, though he had been a wicked fellow, his conscience wonld not permit him to let aii innocent man suffer for a crime that he himself had committed. Upon which the gentleman who was the prosecutor seemed greatly -disconcerted, Tbe fellow then addressed hinr self to that gentleman, and repeated every word that had passed between them at the time he had robbed him, and had the impudence to exhort him to take care, for the future, how he awore away an innocent man's life. Tho gentleman stood reproved. The real culprit was how acquited, and the otlier remanded back to prison,' til -a bill of indictment was found againat him. The real criminal was faithful to his promise to his preserver, and then made off afc full speed. When the supposed culprit's trial came on, and he was at the bar, to the astonishment of the whole court he pleaded not guilty, fbr which he waa severely rej roved by tae judge who asked him how he dare have the •f&ontery to deny a fact to which he had pleaded guilty at the bar ? To which he, with great composure, replied that he not bnly de. nied the faot. but could immediately prove his innocence, not only to the satisfaction ofthe judge, but of the whole court ; adding that he could prove an alibi tit the time of the robbery. " How will you prove this ?" said the judge. " The jailfr shall prove it for me. If you will be pleased to order hin to look over his list of prisoners, he will find that I was in prison at the time the robbery was committed." ! On the jailer examining his books, he found, to his small satisfac' ion, that this felow was brought into prison the day before the robbery was committed. For his negleot in not examining his bo-ks, .'he was very near losing hia position, for both fellows escaped. — Exchange. •