NATCHEZ — The liquor made him do it.

It’s probably not the first time such an excuse has been used after a long night at the Under-the-Hill Saloon.

But this time, the excuse could bring criminal charges against a patron who allegedly became a mischievous jokester after tying on a few too many.

Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said Monday the historic wrought-iron bench and bell that were stolen from Under-the-Hill Saloon last week have been recovered.

Prior to their theft, the items had sat in the saloon’s courtyard for more than 20 years, and last week an apparent thief took the items along with the timber attached to the bell, damaging the courtyard in the process.

Mayfield said Monday the missing items were turned over to the sheriff’s office, having been found at the house of a relative of the person who took them.

“He said he was a patron at the saloon, and according to him he had a little too much to drink and thought it would a cute trick (to take the items),” Mayfield said.

The sheriff declined to name the identity of the person who took the items because the person has not yet been charged. Under-the-Hill Saloon owner André Farish said he is undecided if he will press charges.

“(The bench and bell) are not in the shape they were in when they were taken, but they will be,” Farish said. “The bell was bent a little bit, and the post that it was attached was broken and then sawed up with a chainsaw.”

Farish said the items eventually would be repaired and returned to their places at the saloon.