Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-02-21
Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana, FEBRUARY u, la49.

their Joys and hopes in perfect order, and
everybody said sit didn't look like a
widows house" But within four years
of the death of Mr. Henshaw, Brown re-
turned. He had been detained by broken
limbs and business. he said What was
the afpazament Of the widow 10 have him
set I'D a claim for Elm Glen. as his pro-
perty, He had loaned Mr.. Henshaw
money. he said-he had been with hum IN
sickness and in death: and the hieh-mind-
ed Hens,aw had made his viii on his
death bed, and bequeathed E@m Glen TO
Brown, as a payment for debts !he VIII
was duly drawn, signed with Nc. lien
shaw's own signature, and also ty two
competent witnesses. Every one was
astonished at the claim-at the sill-ai
everything pertaining TO it. 1t was con
tested in court. but the evidence was clear.
and the will was set up and established
/ Poor Mr. IIenshaw was stripped .. every
thing. With sad heart size packed up
her simple wardrobe, ard taking her child.
left the village and went to distant State
TO teach school. For SIX years sac Rad
been absent. and for six years had brown
enioved Film Glen. No, not enjoyed 1t.
for he enjoyed nothing He lived IN II;
but the haggarl look-tle frequent appeal
to the bottle-the jealoIs feelings which
were ever uppermost-and his coarse,
profane. conversation. showed that he was
wretched. People talked. too. Of his lone
lv hours, his starting up in his sleep, lis
clench;np his fist in his dreams, and defy
inc ..all hell'' TO prove it, and the like.
Suddenly and privately. Mrs. Henshaw
returned to her once loved village. She
had obtained some information by which
she hoped to bring truth to ligh.. for she
!, had never believed that her husband ever
made such will in favor Of Brown. 10
; prove that this will was forgery was what
> London was now to attempt An action
was commenced. and Brown soon had
notice of the warfare now to be carried on
against him lie ravcd and swore. but he
also laid aside his cups. and went 10 work
, to meet the storm like man IN the 'ull
consciousness OF the Justice of his cause.
There was writing and riding. posing ana
sending wrts-tor both sides had much
at stake 1t was the last hope for the WI
y dow. 1t was the first case for young Lon
E don. 1t was victory or state S prison ioi
, Brown. The community, orc anti p! :oob
! sides with Mrs !,ers,law. If bias conia
. reach jury. it must have been in hcl
:, favor. Mr.. Snapali was engaged io
g Brown. and was delighted to find that ht
had only that whitehead boy. to content
= with: aud the good public felt sorry tia
4 the widow had not selected man %: some
n age and experiences; 5.t then they said
: "women will have their own way.
The day Of trial came on. Great wa
:. the exciten4en. to hear the great Xvii
d case" anG every hose in tie region wa
J.. hitched somewhere near the court house
In rising to open the case, young Lou
n don was embarrassed: but mode stv Away
Il meets with encouragement. The cour
+. gave him patient attention, end soon lei
# that it was deserved. In Gear. concise
;. and masterlv manner. he laid open tn
:. case lust IS il stood in his own mind. an
% proceeded with tie evidence to prove III
+ vii! to be Q forgery. 1t was easy to sho'
= the character Of Grown 70 be one Of gres
=. iniquity. and that for him 10 do this wa
IS only in keeping with that general charat
in te. Ne attempted to prove thar the WI
N could not be genuine. because one of hi
~ witnesses on his death-bed had confcsse
Il that it was a forgery. and that he and hi
! friend had been hired by Brown to testif
and swear 10 its being genuine. Here n
- adduced the affidavit Of a deceased Wi
Il -
w Esq. Justice Of the Peace. and acknov
10 lodged ov him. So far all was clear. an
70 when the testimony closed it seemed Gle;
- that the case was won. Bat when it cam
u Mr. Snapall's turn. he demolished all tt
al hopes by proving that though James JOIN
=. son. Esq. had signed himself Justice
the Peace. yet he was no magistrate. ina
=. much as his commission had expired II
n. very day before he signed the paper. ar
r. although he had been re-appointed. yet
had not been legally qualified to act as
ns mag strate-that he might or might n
or have supposed himself to he qualified
, take an affidavit; and that the law, for ve
=. wise reasons, demanded that an atlida,
re should be taken only by sworn nragi
et. trate. He was most happy. he said,
acknowledge the cool assurance Of h
!, young brother in the law: and the on
=" difficulty was that he had proved nothin
70 except that his tender conscience perm
~ ted him to offer Is an affidavit paper tn
'o was in law not worth straw, if any bett
than forgery itself.
Ell There was much sympathy felt 'or 20
&c Loudon. but he took it very coolly al
so seemed no way cast down. MIR. Snaps
Die then brought forward his other survivil
de wi,ness-a saIlows looking fellow, but /
lat testimony was clear. decided and co
ms sistent If he was committing perjury.
1t was plain that he had been well drilled
Snapall. Loudon kept his eye upon h
m with the keenness of the lynx And VIII
nd Snapall was commenting upon the ca
ad with great power. and while Mrs. Iensh;
err and Mary gave up all for lost. it was pla
.se that Loudon, as he tarned over the W
ay. and looked at 1t again ana again. "
an thinking OF something else besides wi
IN. Snapall was saying. lie acted somethi
ed as dog does when he feels sure he
M near the right track of the game. thou
re- he dare not yet bark.
Ten When Snapall was through. Loudon
cir quested that the witness might again
Div called to the stand But he was so mi