μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Criminal accidentally detected: "that is the first."

Chance and fate. · Lucky accidents. · Other lucky accidents. · Accidental discovery of crime. · view the constellation · filed as N611

Filed across the traditions
  • India *Thompson-Balys.
Within the index

Filed under Accidental discovery of crime.

4 finer motifs beneath it
Criminal accidentally detected: "that is the first" – sham wise man. The sham wise man employed to detect theft is feasted. As the servants enter with food he remarks to his wife, "That is the first" (course). (Or allowed to feast for three days remarks at end of first day "That is the first.") The servants, thinking they are detected, confess Criminal accidentally detected: "That is the first" – sleepy woman counting her yawns. Robber hearing her flees. (Cf. N612.) Numskull bridegroom unwittingly sings out phrases that thieves mistake to mean he has detected them Thief hears owner of house singing "Bore and throw out the earth" and thinks himself detected. Offers owner money to purchase his silence
Filed beside it
Numskull talks to himself and frightens robbers away Numskull bribed to keep silent in elephant sale when he manifests interest, though utterly ignorant Cane as evidence of robbery. A man believing that he has killed a robber forgets his cane. Later finds it in robber's house Murder revealed to thieves climbing into bank Impostor accidentally gives king talking bed which reveals his identity Officer comes accidentally to the same building where the fugitive sleeps
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Woman thinks calf's bleating has accused her of stealing from harvest. Begs that people not believe what calf said. (Cf. N611.)
Carried in tale types

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