An Officer and a Thug

A CHIEF of Police who had seen an Officer beating a Thug was very
indignant, and said he must not do so any more on pain of
dismissal.

  "Don't be too hard on me," said the Officer, smiling; "I was
beating him with a stuffed club."

  "Nevertheless," persisted the Chief of Police, "it was a liberty
that must have been very disagreeable, though it may not have hurt. 
Please do not repeat it."

  "But," said the Officer, still smiling, "it was a stuffed Thug."

  In attempting to express his gratification, the Chief of Police
thrust out his right hand with such violence that his skin was
ruptured¹ at the arm-pit and a stream of sawdust poured from the
wound.  He was a stuffed Chief of Police.