The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-12-24
From The Bosion Commercial Gazette.
AN AFFECTING CAUSE.
MuyrcIpAL CoURr, DEC. TERM, 1920
BosTON.

tentionally omitted on the account OF Der-
self and frends-the reason will appear
more fully in the developement ofthe facts,
wherein an amiabe, educated and vrtu-
Gus girl has been subjected 10 punish
ment too severe to be read without tears
viz. the punishment Of Imprisonment un.
til the trial day arrived in the snail like
chronometer Of law. A Mr.. Emery,
clerk in the English Goods store of Messrs
Mellen g. Sanger Of this city,was address
ed by the defendant in a late hour of the
afternoon of November 10th with the ques
ton whether he would exchange pair OF
kid mitS for gloves, TO which he assented,
and forthwith he exhibited to her bundle
Of gloves the price of which was As per
marked 3s 9d which she said she purchas-
ed of her friend for2s 3D.. After his shew
ing his own or rather the gloyes of fMcllen
q Sanger, to the lady, he stepped (as he
swore) to another part Of the counter, and
while he wns at q distance from her,he saw
her deliberately select a pair of gloves from
his assortment Il place them in her hand
kcrchef or bundle-then, by his own sto-
ry he returned and observed to her that
pair Of gloves had dropped, and looked O.
YER where she stood, as if he expected to
find them she denied that any had drop
ped on that side-he then pretended 10
look on his own side, and found none there
he next took up her bundle and produc-
ed the gloves from it, which he said she
denied having in her possession, and used
language of apprehension towards him for
accusing her of stealing, by calling him an
impertlncnt puppy for the accusation-an
alteration ensued, which ended in HE re-
tanning possession of the gloves and nlitS
in question, the one, as the property Of
Messrs Melen 81 Sanger, and the other
as suspected to be stolen, inasmuch as that
the mits were marked IS Cd, when she said
she only gave IS Sd for them. This was
the substance of Mr. Emery's testimony.
The indictment which was framed upon
The testimony aforesaid, alleged that the
defendant stole the gloves aforesaid yalu
ed at sixty six cents from the store of said
Melen 81 Sanger. 1t appeared in cvi
dence in the Municipal Court, that after the
transaction as above sworn to by said En-
cry, the defendant, leaving said store, was
pursued by some one with constable, and
while Oh her way to the packet in which
she was to take passage to another State,
on board Of which were her things, bag
gage, &c. and which packet was immcdi
ately to sail, the defendant was arrested,
carried about dark to the Police Court, at
which she gave name, but not her true
one, as was afterwards shewn, and sent to
jail to take her trial for the alleged offence
on the lst Monday Of Dec. next. The
packet sailed without her, after waiting
sometime, ignorant Of the cause of her de
lay, and none Of her friends knowing Of
her situation in respect to the charge
brought against her, she was committed
for trial for want Of surety. Before the
Grand Jury this Mr.. Emery n lad Of about
10 appeared, the bill was found, and the
day of arraignment came, when she was
10 listen to the complaint for the offence
above set forth. Immediately after her COM
mitmcnt to the walls Of the prison she was,
from the agitation of the scene through
which she had passed, thrown into danger
Gus fits of the most appalling nature, and
from thcn:e she was removed to the Hos
pital Of the House Of Correction Depart
ment under the charge Of the humane and
skilful care and science of DR.. Flint, its at
tendont physician-she still continued from
day to day to suffer under these dangerous
attacks, being thrown into them by the
slightest excitement, such as naming her
parents or alluding to the degrading charge
with which she was accused. Under these
circumstances, the sympathy Of Mr.. Ed
mund Parsons, one of the overseers CT the
House of Correction, was excited, and with
parental watchfulness, tenderness and care,
he drew forth from her in the hours of her
calmness, the true situation sud circum-
stances in which she unfortunately was in
volvcd. He employed counsel, saw her
Affections and made preparations for her
defence.-At length it was considered to
be safe to allow her companions Of youth
to visit her-the meeting, notwithstanding
she had mustered all her fortitude, and
had notice Of their approach, was too much
"A relapse instantly occurred-the lax
strings Of broken heart gave way. aud
scene OF convulsions forbade for awhile the
visits Of any one. BY degrees she became
able to see one after another of these who
felt a deep interest in her cause She PROM
ised and believed she could fulfil that prom
Use, 90 be still and firm, when she was ar
raigucd at the bar for trial.--Tho day came
and female (the deiendent) was seen
conducted by her protector and her friends,
with slow and tottcring steps TO the tribu,
nal Of fjusticce --she was young, but the
mere shadow of that joyous girl which she
was but scarce one month since. Yet she
was cheerful and was confident that she
could submit to the ordeal, even Of farraign.
meut for crime. She tottcred into the bar,
and with apparent comparative composure
took her seat,and the gaze Of all was fixed
upon her. The clerk began 10 read his
indictment with his customary impressive.
ness and solemnity, while she remained
standing to listente the charges it contain.