Shift Justice.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 276, 15 May 1873, Page 7

Shift Justice.

A merchant left St. Petersburg to travel across Europe. In the course of his journey he arrived at Warsaw. Being furnished with a letter of introduction, he repaired to the house of one of the chief citizens there, and was most courteously received. He stayed at Warsaw for a week, and his host spared no pains to make the visit agreeable, and showed everything worth seeing in the town. Indeed, the visitor was quite overwhelmed by an amount of kindness rarely shown to any but a friend of long standing. At length the pleasant visit drew to its close, and after breakfast the guest expressed his wish to see some poor parts of the town, of which he had heard. " But," said he, "I have with me a small box of great value that I do not like to risk in such places. If it were my own I should not be so particular ; but it was entrusted to me by a friend, who requested me to deliver it i to a person in another town. It contains diamonds and other valuables. Would you do me the great favor of taking charge of it for the day ? " The host, with his usual urbanity, willingly agreed to the proposal, and the merchant departed with a light heart on the tour of his inspection, I forgot the name, but let us say in the

« Seven Dials," or " Five Points," of Warsaw. Next morning after breakfast he cordially thanked his kind entertainers for their zealous hospitality, and added that, as he was about to depart, he would now resume his charge of the box, which had never before quitted his person since he had received it from I its owner. The host and hostess stared at him in well-acted amazement. « What box 1 " asked the host. " I remember no box — do you, my dear % " turning to Ms wife. "No " she said, " I have no recollection of any box whatever." " What was it like V asked the host; "perhaps you left it in your room." But on the merchant persisting that it was with the host himself it had been left, on his turning to his hostess and trying to make her recollect the circumstance, both (after appealing to each other several times, and fortifying each other in their denial) became cold and distant, and began hinting that something must have happened to the merchant to induce him to persist in so strange adelusion. As the host touched his forehead with a significant glance, the poor man remembered he was in a strange city ; the ground seemed to be slipping from under his feet ; danger to himself loomed in the distance, and he hastened from the place in alarm. Straight to the police he went, and stated his case. The official listened imperturbably to the whole story, and then asked : " You gave up this valuable box to an acquaintance of a week's standing without any witness or any written acknowledgement ! " " He had been so very kind, a man in his position " " Bah ! you a man of business ! But have no proof that the box belongs to you ? " "None whatever except the key. It is locked, and I have the key ; here it is," and he produced a small key from an inner pocket. The official remained lost in thought for some time, and then said : " Well, I will do the only thing I can for you. The Archduke Constantine (the Governor of Poland) is a stern, harsh man, but he is known for his rigorous justice, and if he believes your story, he will do his best for you. I will take you to him at once." No time was lost, and the merchant soon found himself in the Archduke's presence, and was desired to relate his story. When it was concluded, the I Archduke, after a few moments' reflection, rang a bell. An official appeared. "Send for M ," naming the treacherous host. It was quickly done, and the Archduke, without preamble or question, said to the guilty man : " Sit down at that writing table, and write as I shall dictate to you." The man took his seat, and took up the pen ; |the Archduke began dictating: "My Dear Wife: All is found out—" " No," said the man, springing from his seat, " I won't write that." "Then you are guilty," was the prompt answer. Puzzled and foiled, he resumed his seat and wrote as he was desired : "My dear Wife : All is found out. Send the box by the bearer." Then he signed it with his own name, by the Archduke's order, and a messenger was dispatched with it. The messenger found the lady at her toilet; when she read the missive she turned ashly pale, trembling violently. Then leaning forward, she drew the box from the recess in her toilet table, and handed it to the bearer, who swiitly returning, placed it in the hands of the Archduke. He immediately handed it to the merchant, desiring him to unlock it ; chat being done, he asked whether the diamonds were all there. Yes, the box had not been opened; they were exactly as the merchant had left them. Again the Archduke rang the bell, and to the attendant who entered, he said, designating the guilt} man, "Take him to Siberia; he is not to go to his own home again."

An extraordinary case of religious mania is reported from Leicestershire. A few days ago it seems the Rev. W. March, late curate of Melton Mowbray, arrived at Melton from an excursion in Ireland, and took up his abode at the house of a friend, Mr. Anderson. Early the next morning Mr. Anderson was aroused by the rev. gentleman calling upon him to take out his right eye. On Mr. Anderson going to him he found Mr. March had cut off his right hand, and was in the act of gouging out his right eye with a penknife and a razor,' but was unable to complete the latter act through weakness from loss of blood. Assistance being obtained, his arm was tightly bandaged to prevent further loss of blood. Drs. Powell and Eoberts, who were speedily on the spot, performed a proper amputation of the arm, and as an evidence of the state of mind of the rev. gentleman it may be stated that during the operation he was remarkably calm, and complimented the medical men on their skill. Near to him on a table was found a Prayer Book and Bible, the latter being open at the passage where it fiays. "If thy right hand offend thee cut it off," &c. Mr. March, it is satisfactory to know, is making favorable progress.