Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-06-18
THE POOR GIRL,
And the Rich Manufacturer.

III August 1870. an orphan girl. named Su-
sa Davis. aged ei ghieen years. and Of un-
spotted virtue. left the employment OF Mr..
William Smedley, manufacturer Of worsted
shawIs &c.. 10 Kensngton. Philadelphia
county. She left his employment to work
for a Mr.. Jones. in the same business. A
poor working girl, with nothing in the
world but her industry, innocence and un-
spoiled honor. this Susan Davis seemed to
have exercised The right Of choosing for her
self, and working where she pleased.
Itseems she did not suit Mr.. Smedley.
q few days after she left his employ he had hei
arrested on warrant, and taken before Aid.
Boi'eau ou the charge Of theft. She was Ia
ken 10 the office by the constable followed
by y crowd, and thus before the eyes ofihe
world branded as thief in the Alderman's
office, her desolate situation excited the in.
terest of Nj. Flinletter. who defended her on
that occasion. Three or four witnesses were
examined, but there being no evidence 10 im-
plica,e her with iheIt or crime Of any sort,
she was honorably discharged.
From the Aldermsn's office the poor girl.
much agiiaied. went home. Fresh from The
excitement the scene in the street, and the
disgraceful charge in the Alderman's Office,
she was too much agitated to tcsume her
work that day.
But MIR. Smedley was not yet daunted.-
While sitting in her home; the poor girl was
arrested by the same constable on another
warrant and taken before Aid. Daire. She
was literally dragged through the Streets
Her sobs attracted the attention Of the pass
ers-5 5y. Bio't To the office OF Aid. Dare
placed once mite in the position Of con-
vict fSlOD. the Alderman promptly d,scbar-
ged her without further hearing.
Here it would seem that Mr.. Smedley
would have permitted the poor girl 10 rest
that he would have had some pity upon or
phausge and innocence and cease his relent-
less pursui,--but no. He charged Miss Da-
Wis with stealing a small piece or number
Of small pieces nf yarn. And IN the office
oi Aid Dare; he declared he would spend
$500 to put her ia the penitentidry. That Il
he could poi get Kensington Alderman TO
DO this work, and bind he, over as a thief, he
would get one who would.
On the evening Of The next day, as she was
returning home from her work she was con-
! ffon,ed by Mr.. Smedley, accompanied by an
officer. and arrested on wsrrent Issaed by
Alderman Brazer. She was taken TO tbat
Alderman's office, again dragged through
the streets. Mr.. S. following in triumph
and at the office confronted with five or six
witnesses, aud by Ala. Brazicr honora0ly
! discharged. There WAS no evidence against
| her. Despite the wtnesses-the earnest en-
treaties OF M. Smedley the Aid. acted like
man, and gave the poor gi'l an honorable
| discharge.
Here we have three arrests on two success
sive days Here we have an unprotected
girl guilty Of innocence and poverty, dag
| ged three times branded with the Oame OF
thief
Had she stolen a hundred thousand dol
lars. instead OF. (as alleged) lri6ing piece
OF yarn, or commilted murder, she could
not have met with more disgrace, more re-
lentless pursuit, than she encountered from
| Mr.. Smedey. Bu, Aid. true to the oath
OF Office. sGd undismayed by the presence Of
the manufactures Of worsted shawls, gave
the accused girl an honorable discharge.
After the scene before Aid. Brazier. suit
was got up against Mr.. Smedley, by some
! friends. whom the desolate condition OF the
poor girl had called to her aid. The object
of this suit was 10 prevent further prosecu-
ton. The laws delay rut il off from time TO
time; no doubt Mr.. Smedley congratulated
himself that his piece OF yarn would not cost
him any more trouble, and that the poor girl
whom he had three times arrested, would be
forced to 60 without redress. But on Mon
day last, the case came up for trial 10 the Su-
preme Court.
What defence had Mr.. Smedley there!-
Why the ground was assumed that he bad
the right TO think that Miss Davis had sto-
len his yarn--he had a right, therefore. to
arrest her three times--dtsg her three times
through the streets with the threat that he
would spend FIVE hundred dollars to put her
into the penitentiary. Several witnesses
who appeared before AID. Boileau and Bra
zier, appeared again 10 the court aud swore
that they had seen Miss Davis take irifiiog
pieces yarn. But even this patry excuse
Of Mr.. Smedley's conduct was knocked to
pieces. for Aid. Boileau and Brsz'er, and
constable Hatfield testified before The court
that no such evidence had been given by said
witnesses, 10 the Office Of said AID.
Miss Davis proved 40 uusPottcd character
hy numerous Witnesses.
The Judge charged the Jury that II Mr..