ASTRONOMICAL POLICE REPORT.
"An ill-looking kind of a body, who declined to give any name, was brought before the Academy of Sciences, charged with having assaulted a gentleman of the name of Uranus in the public highway. The prosecutor was a youngish looking person, wrapped up in two or three great coats; and looked chillier than anything imaginable, except the prisoner,—whose teeth absolutely shook, all the time.
Policeman Le Verrier[[804]] stated that he saw the prosecutor walking along the pavement,—and sometimes turning sideways, and sometimes running up to the railings and jerking about in a strange way. Calculated that somebody must be pulling his coat, or otherwise assaulting him. It was so dark that he could not see; but thought, if he watched the direction in which the next odd move was made, he might find out something. When the time came, he set Brünnow, a constable in another division of the same force, to watch where he told him; and Brünnow caught the prisoner lurking about in the very spot,—trying to look as if he was minding his own business. Had suspected for a long time that somebody was lurking about in the neighborhood. Brünnow was then called, and deposed to his catching the prisoner as described.
M. Arago.—Was the prosecutor sober?
Le Verrier.—Lord, yes, your worship; no man who had a drop in him ever looks so cold as he did.
M. Arago.—Did you see the assault?
Le Verrier.—I can't say I did; but I told Brünnow exactly how he'd be crouched down;—just as he was.
M. Arago (to Brünnow).—Did you see the assault?
Brünnow.—No, your worship; but I caught the prisoner.