A YANKEE SOLOMON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 323, 7 May 1877, Page 4

A YANKEE SOLOMON.

" This is indeed a ditlcult ca=i9 to decide," sai l DuFty, at the Tombs Police Court. New York, twirling his iiioiist:>che i'' fh'C'ively and gazing at a huge Nt wfouiidland dog which paiifingly struggled to free itself from t..e chain held by the Court polic man. "You, John Koler," he added, " claim t !i e dog as your property, and j'ou, Paul Kanltz, say the animal is 3-ours. Now, it stands to reason that one of you is making a false statement, and under the circumstances I am at a loss what disposition to make of the animal."

'• Gi v j 'uni to me," cr'el an -'rreverent Baxter-street youth of eig ; 't yo;ii'.=, dodging muter the arm of nn officer to avoid a well-directed cnlf. Tilts Judjje looked up Eco-.vlin-iy, and the slight titter oceasion.-d by the urchin's temerity instantly subsided. The object of dispute ceased ]iis struggling, .*« if in sympathy with the gravity of the Court, and. giving a final wag to his ia"], sat quietly down to await the judicial decision.

''ln the absence of evidence further than that already adduced," Jud- r e Duffy continued, ' I can decide this case only on the intelligence of the property itself, and as the animal is capable only of indicating its fi>rui::-r proprietor by instiiic', by instinct shall I decide the cass." Tiie words were evidently well weighed, and the Ju -ge closed the law-book indicative of his determination.

" The claimants will take up positions at the further wings of the court-room, opposita e;ich other/' ordered the Judge. Tue rival owners, looking ni3'S(ified, placed in the position required, an - S3 w da e ch oMinr. 11 Now," said the Judge, " w-ipn I give the si.ji.al e:ic!i of jon wl.wh s1 j siinultai.e >usly, and the officer will release the dog, and the animal, thus free to choose for himself, will, as a matt: r of course, go direct to his lawful owner." . " Officer, avc you ready "Yes, your Honor." The audience rose to witness the denouement, and a, simple drunk, by a stupendous effort checked his liic-conghing. The Court looked around to sec that thei*e was no foul play, and then took up a crosslegged position on the magisterial chair, the better to see the result. Every eye was rivetted on the a'limal.

All being in rsadintss, the judge shouted—- '■ One, two, three—time."

Koler set up a whistler, long and loud, that sounded like a locomotive trying to emulate the Centennial fog-horn. It filled the court-room, tingling the ears of the

judge. Kmitz puffed, panted, and whistled short and shriil by jerks. Never was such music heard in a temple of justice before. The standing audience strained forward with intense interest, and even tiie Court arose spasmodically from its cross-legged position, and leaned half over-the bench. The dog, released from his chain, lifted his head and stepped briskly in front of the railing. He looked first at Koler, then at Katiitz, wagged his tail at the judge, and darted through the open front door, down the stone steps, and up Centre-street with the speed of the wind.