Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1872 — A Practical Joke. [ARTICLE]

A Practical Joke.

The followingstory, which is going the 'round of the French papers, ought to serve as a useful lesson to practical jokers. Two diners, who were unknown to each other, were sitting at tbe same table in a restaurant in the Place de Chateau d’Eau. One of them, joking with the mistress of the establisment, said, “I must have some fresh lobsters, otherwise I shall kill you." His neighbor, a young man about twen-ty-five years of age, then drew from bis pocket a small revolver, which he handed to him, saying in fun, “Hereis something which will enable you to accomplish your crime.” The revolver was examined, and returned to its owner, who had scarcely time to remark that it was loaded, when, owing to some defect in its construction, one of its chambers exploded, fortunately without injuring any one. A crowd, however, collected outode the restaurant, as though some tragedy had just occurred, the agent of the police came up, and the unfortunate delinquent was earned off to the Commissary ot Police to give some explanation of the affair. In the meantime, an individual present, who had, up to this moment, kept in the background, but had a perfect knowledge of the hero of the adventure, ran to the lodgings of the latter, declared to tTe landlord that a murder bad been committed by his tenant, and that he himself was an agent of the police come to make a thorough search of his rooms. The doors were accordingly thrown open to him without hesitation, and after he had completed his Investigations be retired with an air of much dignity. A abort time afterward, theowner of the revolver, whe had been set at liberty by the Commissary of Police, returned home, and, to his astonishment mid disgust, found every drawer and cupboard open and empty, and all his money gone. The so called agent of police had managed to get clear off with the money and goods to the extent of about 8,000 francs in vdue.