Show sticklers klers for positive testimony read the following 0 and then say if circumstantial testimony is not sometimes as good THE ROBBERS STRATAGEM A freebooter taking an evening walk oil on a highway in scotland overtook and robbed a wealthy merchant traveller his purpose was not achieved without a severe struggle ill in which the thief lost his bonnet and was obliged to cst est escape ampe leaving leavin 21 it on the road A respectable farmer happening to b be e the next passer and seeing the bonnet alighted took it up and rather imprudently put it on his own head hend at this instant the merchant cime up with some assistance si stance and recognizing tile the bonnet charged the farmer with having baving robbed him dimand and took him into ZD custody there being some like ness between the two parties par ties lies the merchant persisted in the charge and though the respectability of the farmer was vas admitted lie he was indicted and placed at the bar of a superior court for trial the arile government witness the merchant positively as to the identity of his bonnet and deposed likewise to the identity of the farmer tile the case was made out by this a and nd other evidence apparently against the prisoner there was a man in court who well knew both who did and who did not commit the crime this was the real robber who advanced from the crowd and seizing tile the fatal bonnet which laid on the table before the witness placed it on his own head and looking him full in the tile face said to him in a voice of thunder look at me sir and tell me mo on tile the oath you ilare sworn am not I 1 the man who robbed you on the highway the tile mercil merell merchant arit atit replied with great astonishment by heavens you are the very mani mant man 1 you seep see said the robber what sort of a memory that gentleman has he swears to the bonnet whatever features are under it if the hon lion judge were to put jt on his own head I 1 dare say that he would testify that he robbed him the innocent prisoner was on this evidence at once acquitted because no reliance could be placed on stich such testimony and yet it was positive evi evl evidelle delie deile scotch Scot cli oil paper |