Accordingly, A.
is tried and, in spite of his asseveration that he is innocent and that the "stuff" was given him by a strange man, who paid him a dollar to transport it to a certain place, is properly convicted.* The bargain holds.

B.'s case is moved for trial and he claims never to have seen A.in his life before the night in question, and that he volunteered to help the latter carry a bundle which seemed to be too heavy for him.

He calls A., who testifies that this is so--that B., whom he did not know from Adam, tendered his services and that he availed himself of the offer.

The jury are usually prone to acquit, as the weight of evidence is clearly with the defendant.
* The defence that the accused innocently received the stolen property into his possession was a familiar one even in 1697, as appears by the following record taken from the Minutes of the Sessions.

It would seem that it was even then received with some incredulity.
CITY & COUNTY OF NEW YORK: ss: At a Meeting of the Justices of the Peace for the said City & County at the City Hall of the said City on Thursday the 10th day of June Anno Dom 1697.
PRESENT.