Massachusetts Spy And Worcester Advertiser

SINGULAR DETECTION OF A THIEF.

A few days ago a thief was detected in the following singular and ludicrous manner; Mr. Thomas ---, a respectable cow-keeper and dairyman, residing at Islington, had a sow pig which produced a large litter of young ones, which for some time she appeared to bring up with all maternal affection: but suddenly one of the swinish family disappeared, and was no where to be found; and as it is known to naturalists that sows sometimes, notwithstanding their maternal affection, devour their young, Mr. --- took it for granted that his sow had thus regaled herself, and yet he thought it rather odd that like the story of the two cats, not even a tail remained, or any trace whatever of the departed suckling. The next night came, and with it disappeared another pig-the next night another, "and another, still," until the litter was minus four of its members. Mr. --- now began to think his sow of too ravenous a disposition to keep by longer; and to save the remainder of the young from a premature death, he sold the sow, litter and all.

The pig sty being now unoccupied, Mr. --- thought he had best convert it to some profitable use, and accordingly hired it out to the itinerant exhibitor of a bear, and on the very night that the sow and her young quitted it, Bruin entered into possession. About two o'clock the next morning, Mr. --- was disturbed by the loud lamentations and moaning of a man in distress, and getting out of bed, he proceeded in the direction of the pig sty, from whence the complaints seemed to come, and listening for a moment at the door, he was astonished to hear a man, evidently in great agony, exclaim, "Oh, for God's sake let me go, and I will tell you where the pigs are." Mr. --- was no longer in any doubt as to what became of his lost pigs, and convinced that Bruin had got hold of the thief, he thought it a good opportunity of discovering where his property was deposited, knowing that as the bear was muzzled, he could not devour the man in haste. His interest therefore getting the better of his humanity, he let the thief remain in the clutches of the bear during the following dialogue :-

"Well," said Mr. --- "and where are the pigs?" "Oh I have them at home!" replied the captive. " And who are you? what is your name?" "My name is James ---, I live at No. 5, street, and the four pigs are there safe." Knowing the person whose name was thus mentioned, who happened to be a neighbour, Mr. --- was now satisfied, and proceeded to call up the keeper of the bear, who lodged close by himself, not daring to venture at liberating the man. The keeper being arrived, a light was procured, and on entering the sty, there they saw Bruin seated on his hinder part, with the man firmly clasped round the middle, face to face, and squeezing him in a most affectionate manner. The moment the keeper spoke to him the bear dropped the man, who by this time was as much dead as alive. He however, soon recovered, and received no further injury than a good squeezing and a few hard brushes of the bear's muzzle on the face. Mr. --- considering that the man, whose character had previously been very good, had received sufficient punishment, he got back his pigs and declined any prosecution.