NOVEL COURT SCENE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 18, 13 September 1912, Page 3

NOVEL COURT SCENE.

A trial in court at Tilsit, East Prussia, hung on the testimony of a young peasant girl of 17. Therese Stobbcrt. Everything depended on whether sin had danced .'it a village ball or noi Therese denied taking part, or evei being there, for the good reasoi ] that she could not dance. Ti.is as- < tounded Tilsit, where everyone liw: J Id waltz time. "Not dance!" ex | claimed the Judge. "The girl is uti 1 truthful." Therese persisted tlm' 1 sho could not dance, "Fetch all tin | partners from her village," ordered if.u <| judge, angry at her contradict ion. Tin » male dancers tiled into court—callov vouth and sophisticated men. The; . grinned at Therese and bobbi d tin i • heads as to an old friend ,but all h:.<

to confess (hat they had never danced with her. "Have you a wooden leg?" demanded the Judge. Theresa stolidly pulled up her skirt and exhibited a pair of sturdy* ankles. "I do not believe you cannot dance," persisted the Judge. "Fetch musicians." The musicians came and struck up one of those waltzes that would almost make the dead dance. "Clerk of the Court," suddenly cried the Judge, "dance with the witness!" It was a very uncomfortable looking clerk who grasped Therese around the waist, wfliile everyone giggled. He turned to start, but might as well have hoped to dance with a sack of potatoes. Exhausted, he retired.

Then the Judge ordered one after another, from counsel to policemen, to dance with Therese. She hung on their arms, she trod on their toes, but did not dance, though the musicians throbbed out faster and faster the most inspiring strains. When all the partners were exhausted, the Judge, in a rage, cried, "I don't believe t'liris girl cannot dance," and he left the Bench for the floor. He is an excellent dancer, and the awkward movements of the girl so distressed him that in a twinkling ho was giving her a dancing lesson. He showed her how to place her feet, how to glide, and (how to turn, while everyone in Court looked on in amusement. Someone, noticing that the Judge was getting very warm, sent for beer. Other couples began to revolve. Counsel for tho Defence was whirling with the Public Prosecutor. More beer came in, and the Court had become an impromptu ballroom. Suddenly the Judge came to himself. He flung Therese aside, picked up (his robes, and rushed back to the Bench. But it was no use bo continue the trial—all discipline was at an end, music and dance were in the air. Therese was smiling sweetly at having learned to dance. The accused were hoping to get oil' under the present merry conditions, tho court officials were delighted at such a break in a monotonous calling. and the public were enchanted at the gratuitous performance. Everyone was acquitted and the court was closed for tho day. I