Robbery in Mexico.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1997, 25 April 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Robbery in Mexico.

Rori.lry in Mr\ico ia of the most ingenious kind. On one occasion a traveller was talking with a gentleman of the country, and boasting that he could always take care of himself wherever he was. " Nonsense," said the gentleman. " Why, nonsense ? Do you suppose anybody could rob me if I was on my guard ? I would shoot—l would kill." "My dear sir," roplied the gentleman, "you could be robbed most easily ; why, that diamond, for instance , which you wear in your shirtfront, that could bp taken from you in the next twenty-four hourg without your even knowing that it was gone." " AbBurd 1" " I will wager a hundred />m>i that it can be done, and inside of twenty-four hours." The wager was immediately accepted, and that evening the traveller retired and slept undisturbed until the next morning. About noon-time, when he was about to walk out in the air, a man came running down the corridor ohased by another and holding in his hand a drawn sword. " Save me, save me," oried the poor berated wretch. The intended victim rushed by and placed the traveller between him and his assailant, at the same time hanging on to him in his terror. Then he darted into tho street —man with the sword following. The traveller listened to the shrieks as they grew fainter and fainter, and then he felt his shirtfront. The Diamond was gone !

A writer in the Critic says that an Englishman was stopping with him in the country, not long ago, and a^ they were sitting together on the piazza one day he noticed]*n agonised expression on hia visitor's face which had suddenly becomp extremely pale. At last the poor fellow jumped up and cried : " Excuse me; I have often heard of your terrible American mosquitoes, and thought I should be able to stand them; but really I shall faint if I stay here." He was taken in-doors, and it was then found that he had been sitting over a wasp's nest, and that eight or ten of the insects were inside of hia clothes and had been stinging him for some time before he gave in to them. He was sick in bed for three days 1

Tijere ia a story told of an eminent judge, still living, though retired from the benoh, which illustrates the importance of a voluntary confession better than the most elaborate argument. A prisoner tried before him for larceny had admitted his guilt when apprehended, but at the trial was defended with great persistency by able counsel. " Gentleman," said the judge to the jury, " the prisoner sayß he isjguilty. His counsel says he ia not. You must decide between them." Then, after a pause, he added: " There is just one thing to remember, gentlemen. The prisoner was there, and hia counsel wasn't."