A Cute Yankee at tiie Horns.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 897, 13 April 1877, Page 3

A Cute Yankee at tiie Horns.

» - Afr John Johnson, a respectable looking man, was charged before Mr Chance with stealing 4$ the property of Mr L>olle(;t Marcey, a Chicago gentleman, npw on a visit to England, and lodging in Clapham-road. The case was in some respects of a most ludicrous nature, although the charge was a very serious one. The prosecutor was excited when s^vorn, and bawled out " Amen," after kissing the Testament, One Mr Bird askiug him what he was (in the usual formal manner), he answered in an unmistakeably transatlantic twang— " What am I ? A mac, of course j what else do ,

you think 1 What's more, I'm an A.meri'can." (Great Laughter). His Worship— Now pray conduc ; yourself properly, and say what happened. Prosecutor — Well, you see, I was in the Horns treating a lot of fellows, and I put the money down, and that chap grabbed up a sovereign and a lot of silver. A couple of sovereigns and four shil togs in British coin. Mr Rird — But he is only charged with stealing four shillings ? Prosecutor — That's the whole thing, governor, I tell you. I gave an English bs.nk note and asked for change, and I've lost my watch. Was I sober ? Rather. (Laughter). I had two sovereigns and nineteen shillings about me, and that's all about that affair. He stole the money I think so at least. (Laughter). His Worship — But you said that he "grabbed up" a couple of British sovereigns, and now you say he stole a sovereign ? Tou are contradicting yourself, surely ? Prosecutor — It's all right, Mister. (Laughter.) I was going to Richmond. on Sunday to a dinner, and I went, and after it I met prisoner at the Horns, and we had a good drink and no mistake, and then he saw me horne — at least I believe so. I came up from Richmond — I mean tho Richmond near the Thames river— and got tight, for I had three or four drinks, and then gob a lot of gin on the top, and then my landlord at Clapham-road kicked the prisioner out. Next morning I couldn't eat my breakfast, co I went to a chemist's — (laughter) — and then had another drink. Prisoner couldn't treat me — be hadn't got any money. 1 stood the liquor, and I had £500 worth of Bank of England notes about mo. But that was overnight. Next day, after I'd been to the druggist's, prisioner said, " How do you feel ?" I said " Jolly bad." He answered, "So do I. We'd better go and have some Hollands." (Great laughter). I bought neckties for two of the barmaids and said to prisioner, " Take care of me ! We'll have a jolly good spree." By prisioner — I was offering £10 notes about the bar ; it makes me wild. (Laughter.) By his Worship — Do you know what you had about you ? Prosecutor — " Yes ; the equivalent of 2000 dollars in British money. Prisoner had not a cent, about him. Mr George Hirchcombe Skelly, of University College Hospital, and Newtonvilla, Barnet, gave evidence as to the affair, and so did Mr William Bunger, of Osborne terrace, Clapham-road, who caused much amusement by asking Mr Bird to be sure and not forget that two dots ought to bw placed over the " u'* He saw " a lady " in the bar professing grert affection for prosecutor, and after having whisky aud water at hia expense, she suddenly went off. The watch was afterwards missed. Constable Carlton, L 26, deposed to being called in by the cellarman, and to hearing prosecutor say that he had " lost four shillings." Prisoner refused his addresß, but was understood to hold a responsible situation iv a large firm neap the Horns Tavern. Mr Chance, considering all the circumstances of the case, tDought it beat to remand it, and eaid he would take a couple of good bail, Prosecutor forthwith said that he would go bail, which again created much merriment.