Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-04-17
From the Dollar Magazine.
A Reality.
FROM THE POCKET BOOK OF AN Er-roIrcE OFFICER.

No! there's nothing like direct, positive
testimony to plump man into the States pris.
1n."
You talk at random" replied l, taking
fresh regala from the bundle which nv Young
Iriend,-a student of the new code in a Wall
street den-had literally thrown down before
me. {" You talk at random, say. Let me blow
a cloud toward you. freighfed with little of
the experience of an old thief dodger."
We both lighted.
Puff, puff.
Many years ago, when the old Bridewel was
yet standing, with the shadows from its dismal
grating falling on the pavement TO the Park, l
was detailed as attendant On the Sessions 1t
was one December morning, few days before
Christmas, that the case of Pierre Rchaud was
called on for trial before Recorder Riker Ri
chaud was indicted for grand larceny, and had
been bailed before leaving the office of the ex-
aiming magistrate. Consequently he knew
little of prison, and might be excused the
smiling face with which he entered the court
room and sat down by the side of his counsel.
The counsel was very young man, but, like
most young lawyer, thought he knew great
deal.
(Puf puff, very vigorously from the student
at this iuncture) and suppose he was think
ing of criminal mons suit as If such thing
could be
The jury were sworn.
The District attorney opened his case.
1t seemed strong one. But Heavens the
opening is no criteron. I've seen savage on.
slaught made upon poor prisoner, who, at the
very outset turned out to be the wrong man -
Two Germans, brothers, were the complainants.
They had lodged in the same house with the
prisoner, in an upper story, and had prepared
for ball, leaving their door locked, and trunk
containing some three hundred dollars in silver
in an inner-room closet. At the ball one was
taken sick, and came home quite early. From
the street he observed light in his room, which
caused him to run up stairs very quickly. On
the stairs he met the prisoner with light, and
having his hand in his pocket. He grappled
with him ; in the struggle the lamp was broken,
and the prisoner escaped to his own side of the
house. The German found the door open, his
money gone, and the chest showing marks of
violence Police were called in; a bar was
found near the chest by an officer. The French
man Reynaud and his wife were arrested, and
on the formers hands black marks oorresPond-
ing to the size of the bar (which had been a
chimney appendage) were plainly dscernbe.
A search was made of their rooms. The wife
was very officious in conducting the officers ev-
erywhere except around table in the middle Of
the rooms But finally this table was approach.
ed, and under it was found basket containing
rags and bones, and under these latter all the
missing money of the German brothers, vary
ing only half dollar from their count The
wife of course was discharged las, if at all, it
was under the husbands coercion, in the eye
of the laws but the case seemed plain to all
bat the Frenchman He smiled and took snuff
when he obtained his bail, even forgaye the
heavy German for his assault on the stairs, and
was ready for trial any day.
Such was the general aspect of the case as
opened.
Well, the brothers went on the stand; swore
to their seeing this money in their chest just be-
fore going to the ball ; to locking it, and to
locking the door; 10 the loss; the meeting on
the stairs, and all the facts of finding the money
under the rags. The police testified as well to
the print of the bar on the hand, and to the fur
ther finding of the lock which had been upon the
chest, and which was found in the possession of
the wife.
AS point after point was pressed with terrible
distnctness, still the Frenchnan smiled and
took snuff and grimaced to the jury, as if he
thought it all a capital vaudeville, of which he
was an unconcerned spectator.
An officer Of the prison came on the stand.
"Do you know the defendant"
"Seen him in prison"
Have you talked with him."
(Here the court mterposed with the usual
questions as to inducements and promises.-
lncTG was none.
eyes have talked with him."
8" About this larcery?"
He said his wife did it and he must suffer
for it,"
The defendant dropped his snuff box, and
jumping up, exclaimed, "You speak nottruth."
The snapplsh old crier raped with the cover
of Testament, and the young lawyer turned
slightly pale
"Theres the case, said the District Attorney.
The defence had weakened none of the pro-
secutor's evidence, but on the contary, had
brought out many things quite bad for the prls-
oner. The jury looked restless, as if wonder
ing what could be said to this.
The young attorney arose for his opening
, He stated that they would prove his client to be
a man of the strictist integrity, and that this
t money found was his own.
} A sarcastic gentleman on the jury was observ-
D ed to blow his nose twice with a sound which
: seemed to say, "may be So" "may be So"
f The very first witness was asked of the de-
: fendants character, while the defendant himself
= smiled as usual in his face, as if to say, An
tome Bodin, my dear friend, and my wife
dear friend, will show me to be a most excel'e nj
t man.
n The witness hesitated.
It "Well" said the young lawyer.
It The Recorder dipped his pen in the ink, as i
e about to write down large answer, while the
J, District Attorney spotted" the witness from toI
n to toe.
n L" l would rather not answer"
t, The Recorder dropped his pen, the sarcastic
s Juror blew his nose again, and the young awye
|. turned pale as before
"You do not understand" said the latter; "