The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-12-17
THE HIGHWAYMAN AND HlS COUN
SEJ

SEL.
think it was at Preston Assizes, on the Nor.
thern Circuit, about the year 1914 that was
instructed to defend a notorious highwayman; ;
and as the case was expected to be one of great
difficulty, received fee of five guineas-
When the trial came OH, the Judge discovered
some flaw in the indictment which was fatal to
the whole proceedings, and the prisoner was in
consequence discharged without any yot the par
ticulars of the case having been entered into.
L sat until late after the bar.dinner in the
evening, and the clock struck twelve as enter.
ed my lodgings, which were in a lonely house
q short distance from the town. The folks had
all retired to rest and were by this time deep
anchored in the snoring depths of Lancashire
hard Sleep sat musing over the fire for an
hour, visions of future woolsacks figuring them
selves shapes in the burning Goals, when a loud
knock at the door disturbed my medtations.
NY clerk, of course, was absent and supposing
some client was in hurry, or some Sublime
rascal of an attorney was impatient went and
opened it myself
A tail, gaunt man, wrapped in loose horse
mans coat with handkerchief from which the
tips Of his ears ppeped, red like 'the rosy morn.
with u ferocty Of whisker and an obliqnity Of
vision, and a deep scar OH his cheek, in gruff
voice thus addressed me:
'Measter a'cum for that five pound
what do you mean, my good fellow, said |,
feeling rather nervous.
4 say want that FIVE pound, that my tor
ney, Mr.. Shark, gave you this morning
who are you sire inquired, by no means
reassured by this mention of Mr.. Shark name
4 am Harry Hell-fre, that was imprisoned
for highway robbery, and they've just let em
out, so thought I'd cum and have my money,
before was off to London
But my good fellow replied I, beginning to
feel extremely uncomfortable, you can't claim
the money. your case has been heard, and you
are acquitted, what more could you want|
'Ah, retorted my client the highwayman, in
voice something between a growl and grin,
mo thanks to you, measter-it was the old cod
ger above in the wig that got me off; Mr..
Shark handed you over the five pounds to make
. a speech for me, and you had no speech to
make, and you didn't make a speech, so hand
out the money measter.'
Atthis iuncturc the wndblew aside the skirts
of his coat and the moonlight falling upon the
mounting of a !.orsc- pistol my knees knocked
under me, but summoned my courage, and
screwing up bold face, replied,
But it is not professional, my good friend. to
return money, for you see if we were once to
do So
Idon't understand your trade, measter coun
selor, but you have my money and done moth
ing for it; so hand it BACKBONE, can't stop
With this he gently insinuated his left hand
and foot within the door, and tapped his fingers
persuasirely on large black thorn club in his
right hand. looked backward upon the dark
ness and loneliness of my room, forward to the
solitary house and unfrequented lane, and put
ting my hand in my waistcoat pocket, took
out the FIVE pound note, and handed it to him.
He wished me good night, with knowing
leer and heard no more fhim.
lnever was so taken in but once, when my
self and two other barristers having exerted our.
selves for a handsome fee, succeeded in getting
the two W-s off for forgery. They were
acquitted-and by the time they were hun.
dred miles at least from the assize town we
found out that each of us, counsel attorneys
and all, had been literally paid in y" s,ed notes.
Recollections of Sergeant al Lao.
FOREIGN POPULATION OF MASSACHUSETTS
The Advertiser says that by the recent Uni.
ted States census, the number of inhabitants
born in foreign countries, residing in massachu.
sets, is little more than 10000 or about eigh.
teen per cent. of tr whole population. If to
this were added the children of foreigners, the
number will come ~ to nearly so per cent of
the whole population.
An Ohio paper states that Miss Porter, in
that State, has married a man by the name of
Bottle The editor says it is not only good
match. but it proves that there are are more
ways than one to bottle porter