IN a Southern State a disreputable citizen was on trial for murder. The evidence was circumstantial and insufficient to convict, but the jury, believing that the culprit was a vagabond and ought to be convicted of something, brought him in guilty of negro stealing. The judge enlightened them a little, and again sent them out. They came in with a verdict of horse stealing. The judge, lecturing them soundly, sent them out once more. The next verdict was perfectly satisfac tory—at least to themselves. "Guilty of manslaughter in the first de gree, but we don't think he is the man.7'— Philadelphia Public Ledger. A CORRESPONDENT of the London Times says in a letter to that paper: "Some time ago my firm had occasion to apply for letters of administration to the estate of a boy who had died at the age of 9. The papers were returned to be resworn because they did not state that he 'died without issue!'" THEY tell a good story at the expense of W. B. Rodgers, the only lawyer at the Alle gheny County Bar, or in the United States, for that matter, who holds the distinction of having been City Attorney of the three cities of one county at various times. He was counsel some time ago for a man charged with a serious offence, and on the day of the trial the defendant was in a con dition that would certainly not have im proved his chances of acquittal. Attorney Rodgers was -worried, but he is a general in addition to being a political diplomat. He locked his client in a room in a downtown hotel and then studied out the knotty prob lem before him. One of the most prominent oil operators of Pittsburg, and one of his most intimate friends, happened into his office shortly be fore he was ready to try the case. It was only a social call for a quiet chat, and Mr. Rodgers requested that his friend go into
the courtroom with him. The oil operator sat beside Mr. Rodgers at the counsel table, and, during the progress of the case, he took little note of what was going on. He was not interested. Several times witnesses pointed in his direction, as did Mr. Rodgers, but the oil operator thought nothing of it. Mr. Rod gers tried to be indifferent. None of the witnesses appeared to know the opera-tor, at least they said that they did not, and the prosecutor also stated that he did not know the man seated beside Mr. Rodgers. Thr jury naturally thought the man was Mr Rodger's client, and when the right bower of Bigelow, at the conclusion of the testi' mony, got up and said, "That is my case. This is not the man," not many minutes were wasted in bringing in a verdict of ac quittal. The oil operator accompanied Mr. Rod gers out of court, and it was not until they were a safe distance away from the seat of justice that Mr. Rodgers confided to. his friend that he had posed as the defendant in the case. The operator was mad all through when he first heard of it, but the ridiculous ness of the situation appealed to him and he took it as a huge joke and as a sample of the diplomacy of one who could pull a brand out of the burning. It is doubtful whether the brilliant city attorney would acknowl edge the story, but his friends say it is true. —Pittsburg Gazette. A COUNSEL had been cross-examining a witness for some time with very little effect, writes "Sigma" in Personalia, and had sorely taxed the patience of the judge, the jury, and every one in court. At last the judge intervened with an im perative hint to the learned gentleman to conclude his cross-examination. The counsel, who received this judicial intimation with a very bad grace, before telling the witness to stand down accosted him with the parting sarcasm: "Ah, you're a clever fellow, a very clever fellow! We can all see that!" The witness bending over from the box, quietly retorted, "I would return the compriment if I were not on oath."
