American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-08-24
THE PICKpOCKETS.
A CASE I'm REAL LIFE

! i'"None are all evil-quickening round his heart,
IN One manly ceiling would not yet depart"
N We have so frequently noticed cases of indi-
duals convicted of serious crimes, who never
heless were not at all guilty, but possessed re-
1 eeming gualities--that we have often felt re-
!. ret at the harsh judgment of the world, and
Elt the little effort which is made to win back
he misguided, the fallen, and the lost! How
many might be saved by the exercise of kind
Mess, sympathy and encouragement, who, ne
Elected tainted and denounced, soon abandon
Eall hope, believe themselves cut off from all So
lciety and the virtuous portion of mankind, and
Eplunge deeper and deeper into the ways of
Eerime! How many of the poor wretches who
E,re dragged before our Criminal Courts, charg-
\ Jed with petty offences, misdemeanors, thefls
Esnd other errors of poverty, despair and intem-
|iperance, are the unfortunate children of ne
Rglect, wanted and bad eXample-have never
been taught the brightness and the beauty of a
Fbetter course, have never enjoyed the benefits
/ of moral counsel and friendly advice-but have
been outcast, and abandoned since early child
hood! How few, too, of our philanthropsts
think it worth while to pay attention to these
Eerriug children of humanity, to employ coun-
Esel, or in any way 10 investigate the facts of
Ntheir respective cases. They are doomed from
follow their arrest, no voice is heard to plead
in their behalf, no eye moistens as judgment is
pronounced, and no heart softens as they are
borne away in custody efthe officers Of the law.
Let US not be misunderstood. Crime should be
punished fully and adequately. In this course
is the only safety of society. But we cherish
the belief that there are few, at least among
! the youthful offenders, who are utterly harden
ed-who have not within the bosom some germ
of virtue, who would not, if hope were held
out to them, gladly embrace it, and cheerfully
turn from the error of their ways. But if one
in twenty could only thus be saved What a
consolation and what blessing would such a
result be to the benevolent and the Christian!
How in after life would they look back with
pleasure to their conduct, and see in the re-
formed, the rescued and the upright, the happy
results of their efforts. There are cases, too,
in which even the experienced in crime, those
who have gone on from year to year, who hav-
ing wandered away early, and have never been
able to recover the lost track of recttude and
Duty are nevertheless not utterly undone-still
retain a portion of their better nature, and
cherish even amid their msdeeds, some faint
glimmering of principle, of virtue, and oftruth.
We may cite case in a neighboring city, the
facts of which have been communicated to us
by gentleman of undoubted veracity. We
give the incidents exactly as detailed to u.s. and
merely substitute assumed for real names as
matter of propriety.
A highly respectable gentleman named Hen
derson, was robbed ofhis pocket-book, contain
ing $500. lie saw the robbers, as he supposed
two men-and pursued them. In the course
OF short time they separated, and he was COM
PEELED TO direct his pursuits towards one. He
succeeded IN atresting him.. He charged him
with the robbery; but this, the accused, Law
son, denied in the most earnest manner He
was tried, convicted, and committed to prison
While there, Mr.. Henderson was waited upon
by an individual of genteel appearance, who
said that his name was Edwards, that he was a
Jersey farmer, that he had known Lawson IN
his you h, and was much attached to him. He
expressed deep anxiety that he might avoid g
sentence, and asked Mr.. Henderson if he woulc
assist in obtaining a release, provided Edwards
would insure him return of the whole Of the
money. Henderson listened with attention
reflected for a moment, thought there was some
mystery in the case, and finally agreed to NEE
Edwards at the office of an attorney. The in
terview took place accordingly, but Henderson
was much struck with the altered appearance
OF Edwards. He seemed in many respects an
other man. At first he Wort spectacles ant
whiskers, and now he was without either HI
scrutinized him with close attention, and final
ly became convinced that the pretended iarme
was one OF the Two ckpockets--the one VIII,
had escaped when he had pursued them. II
said he was not in Philadelphia al the time
Henderson nevertheless perseyered, satisfied il