Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-09-05
4h OTTUMWA, IOWA, SEPTEMBER 5, 1851.


however, soon found in small clubhouse
a, the top of the garden, where she was
a, work, as she says, by the order Of her
mistress, bot which that woman denies.
She was given into custody, and is pros
ecu,ed with a remorseless zeal that
would do honor to fend. subscrip.
ton has been raised to defend her, and
by Gods help she shall be saved"
.'Have you seen her!" | asked, after
listening ,hough,fully TO this history.
"Yes, several times; she has been in
prison nearly four months"
.And she persists in her innocence!'
"Yes, but there is little necessity to
asseverate what, to every one who sees
her, must be SO plain" "
"Your suspicion then lies"
Upon the prosecutors wife, Alice
Sharpe. And more than this. | am in
clined 10 suspect her of using unfair
means with her late master. and OF hold
ing his property unjustly." ...s.
"How!" ..a ..e ...
IL cannot exactly tell, but | firmly be-
lieve Miriam's assertion, that the old
man gave her packet previous to his
Death, and that he called her his niece;
and | also believe, that in some way or
other, Alice Sharpe has became possess
ed of the secret, aud a deeper motive
than even jealousy urges her 10 destroy
her victim"
"Bu, the will, il that was fairly exc
cuted. she need be under no app,chen-
sion." ... ..-.. ...s -r4
$50 il seems. Still my suspicious Of
foul play are very strong. Now let us
go Through the evidence. You see the
principal witnesses are Alice Sharpe.
Ann Jackson, the servan. girl who dis
covered the fire, Edward Harris, the con-
stable who apprehended the accused.
and Louisa Jones, an apprentice, who
swears that she heard Miriam vow TO be
revenged upon her mistress"
Weperused carefully the evidence Civ
en- before the committing magistrate !:
that of the servant and The constable was
straight forward enough; there was no
collision or deception there: both spoke lo
facts within their own knowledge, with
out prejudice or exaggera,ion. Bat il
struck me upon second examination,
that the testimony of Alice Sharpe and
Louisa Jones was not genuine. There
were several points tina. | did not like.
and The language of both betrayed great
acrinony and ill-feeling.
"You can make something Of lhal!"
suggested Mr.. Paget, as he saw me mu-
sing upon the matter.
II dun'r know. It's very strange they
don't call the husband
"Yes, and therefore have served him
with Crown-oiIice subpoena, which
has frightened them. and put them on a
wrong scent, think"
"ls The letter, found with the prison.
er when she was lef. a. the surgeons
door, in existence?'
IL don't know; why?'
"Nothing-a vague idea as to the in
dictmen,, that's all. But | think, if i.
is possible, i. will be as well to have it.
BY the By wha, brothers and sisters had
this old doctor! how could this girl have
been his niece!''
Nobody knows. He came here a.
bou, thirty years since. but he never WIS.,
tied, and so far as l know, never said
where he came from. Alice Sharpe fol.
lowed him Immediately.
IL should like to read my brief over
alone, and see you upon it afterward; to-
night, il you are no. engaged"
"What time will suit you?"
"Eigh, O'clock
After tie attorney was gone. poured
over those sheets again and again. and
the more did SO, The more satisfied |
was that Miriam was innocent, and that
Alice Sharpe had some serious reason
for wishing tn get rid of her. But. un-
fortunately, this was only my own con-
viciion; Iconld see no way of working
i. out, or Of bringing a jury to SO desira.
BILE a conclusion, and the more Satisfied
became, the more uncomfortable was
also, because knew shat nothing tha,
was not very plain and unuiistakeable,
would, excep, by great chance, be &C.
cepted by Lord Crans,on.
One help had, and next to common
sense witnesses, il is the greatest tina, a
counsel can have-a shrewd. clever,
practical attorney.
II was afternoon before the trial came
on. | never shall forget my sensations,
as saw the prisoner come up to the
bar. She was not simply pretty, she
was beautiful; fair, sligh, and delicate as
a high born lady, and graceful exceed
ingly. There was general murmur in
cour, as she appeared, and even The old
Judge was softened. Oh, what fell
knowing that under God her life was in
my hunds. was very nervous; the pen
| held, feigning to make notes. trembled
in my hand, and shivered from head to
foo, as if ague-s:ricken. The constable
was the first witness called. His EVIL
dence was short and clear. He stated
that he was sent for at twelve O'Clock al
nigh, to apprehend Miriam Lyndon. the
PRISONER. who was accused Of having
set FIRE 10 her masters house: that when
he reached The place he found j. burning
inside. in room which he was told was
the prisoners bed. room, and in another