Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 16.pdf/668

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Editorial Department.

poor animal. This man, a simple sort of country fellow, was no match for the lawyer on the other side, who browbeat and bullied him mercilessly. Then the Judge made things worse by directing him to answer the questions properly and hold his head up. "Hold up your head, witness. You hear hat his lordship says. Look up; can't you look as I do?" "Noa, sir, I can't, for you squint;" which was true, though the barrister could not help that At last Sergeant Cockle, the counsel on his master's side, came to his help. "Just tell the Court how the thing hap pened; where the wagon was, where, the don key was; just tell us in your own way." After a little hesitation the man said: "It was just loike this, my laard judge: First of all, you"—turning to Sergeant Cockle— "are the wall." "Yes, yes," said counsel, "I am the wall. Changing his place, the witness next said: "And I am the wagon. "Very good," quoth the judge; go on. "Yes," proceeded the man, "lawyer's the wall; I am the wagon; and your hardship's the ass." This illustration, given quite seriously, so convulsed the Court, that the witness was now allowed to leave the box.—London Tit Hits. THE police authorities in Belgium have found a new use for the dog (says The Law Times). They have trained him to the duties of a -policeman. There is no more sagacious creature than the best type of shepherd dog, «nd a course of three months serves to trans form him into a first-rate thief-tracker and guardian of the peace. The dogs learn to distinguish the honest citizen from the tramp, and the night prowler from the simple diner-out. In a street fight they part the combatants by springing between them. They find lost children and lead them to the police-station. They fetch constables into noisome alleys and assist them to put things right. They stop runaway horses by dash

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ing at the reins. Apparently, there are few duties of a policeman which they are not equal to. The dogs go on duty at ю p.m., and are on the beat until 6 a.m. The Ameri can town of Philadelphia makes similar use of the St. Bernard. These dogs, after very careful selection, are examined by the veter inary surgeon, who tests their lungs, sight, hearing and sense of smell; and the animals that are passed as absolutely sound are then sent to the kennels to be trained. Such guardians would probably give a good ac count of themselves among our own hooli gans. THE Paris detective has a great reputation for tracking down the criminal. He has achieved that distinction, first, by his native wit and resource; secondly, by the extended use he makes of the informer, who may be of the criminal class himself. Numerous are his disguises. One day he has the clothes as well as the speech and manners of a voyou; the next he is on the race-course, his accent changed as well as his outward appearance— a chic Monsieur—engaged in watching the doings of a turf syndicate. As an instance of the modern methods of the Paris Sûreté, one may mention the half-dozen motor-cars which it possesses, and which are always at the disposition of the force to proceed at once, to the scene of a tragedy or robbery. The other day the automobile was used with effect in a case of burglarv of a chateau at Versailles. The police had news that the burglars themselves were mounted in an au tomobile. They gave chase, proceeding by side roads, until they came up with the of fenders, who were promptly arrested and their motor-car run off td La Fourrière, the police pound of Paris, where is gathered to gether the lost, stolen or strayed of the do mestic animal world, as well as the oddest assortment of police trophies.— The World's Work. PRISONER at the bar—Your worship, would you mind getting my case done quick? If I've got to go to jail I'd like to get there in time for dinner.—Scraps.