The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-17
From the Camden Advertiser.
MY FIRST CASE.
BIZ WILLIAM.

By WILLIAM.
commenced practice in Burlington, Iowa;
but, being q stranger in a place already
well supplied with lawyers, my youth and in
experience, Il am net rerg old YETI were a
kind of a safeguard 10 protect me from busI-
ness in general, and all important cases in
particular.
About ten DAYS before the October term Of
Court an lrishmau, whom | will designate by
calling Majors, was arrested and confined ia
iail for an assault with an attempt to kill his
wife. The attending physician said it was
doubtful if she ever recOvered-that she had
apparentlv been beaten with stick as large
as an axe handle-that the head aud spine
were injured, some OF The ribs broken, hand
crushed, and an arm broken in two places.
Great indignation was felt by every one, and
Il was afterwards ascertained that | was
heard to say that "the lawyer who would try
to clear him ought TO be sent to the penitcn-
tiary for life Some Of the more impeluOus
proposed that, lest he might be cleared, it
would be better to t9ke him out OF Jail aud
hang hia' up like dog, 10 the first tree.
Mrs Majors vas sand 10 bc a very beauti-
full woman, and lie having been known as,
worthless drllnkard for several years, ac-
counted ior the strong feeling il the case.
Aud here will remark that, " hatgver may
be the faults of Western men, they are never
wanting in sympathy for the suffering, and
more especially where beautiful woman has
been the victim Oi cruelty ana oppression. -
And could you lit the curtain which family
pride throws over deeds OF blood in the South
and West, YOU would find that, III more thau
half Of these cases, the bowie knite lCaped
from its scabbard iu defence OF teomaR, whose
rights had been outraged. Public opinion,
that mighty engine which can kill or make
alive, throws is weight into the balance, and
it is next to impossible TO find jury who will
convict OF murder, however Prelneditated or
cold d-bloodea, ii done in the defence If wO-
man.
A very remarkable case in point occurred in
St. Louis, in the summer Of 1850
Il with his bride OF few days, was
spending the honeymoon at the Planter S
House, when be one day found his wife in an
agony Of tears She had been grossly insult
ed BY one W stranger who was stopping
at the IjltcI, and although that insult had
been by words only, yet 50 keenjy was she
alive to O sense OF honor, that the proud heart
Of the Southern beauty seemed crushed for
ever.
Burning for revenge the young husband
rushed nadIy from the house in quest Of the
wretch who would thus WautgHiy insult q
being 50 pure. Entering au non store Oh Main
street, he approached gcltcel boxing man
Of about thirty-iive saying
care y0u Mr.. w
81 am. sir, was his reply and last words; .
'for at that moment a bowie knife CLEANED at
his breast, and sinking deep into his heart, |.
W-lsil TO the ground a lyId cOrpScl
II was Afterwards discovered that W
was only an assumed name. and that he was
the villain who basely deserted his wife in |
Cincinnati year previous, and had taken /
boarding a. the Railroad House, where the in
jurcd wife called on him. but meeting with .
his guilty paramour, stabbed her to the heart /
at single plunge She was tried for mur-
der and acquitted on the ground Of iaSa1iity .
~ but was 20 fortunate as to be permanently |
cured after a residence Ot three months at the .
Insane Asylum.
10 avoid universal loathug and hate, after !
The result Of the trial was known, he lett |
Cincinnati, and under the false name Of
W, had been at the Planters House but
few davs, when he was thus hurried into
eternity, his conscience still loaded with guilt
H gave himself into the hands OF the
officers, was tried and acquitted!
But viii not dwell upon isolated cases
for the records are full Of like trials and ac-
quittals:
And | fancy that, if more of this feeling
pcrvaded public opinion in the North there
would be fewer cases OF broken VOWS and lope
destroyed. Fear Of summary ycugenGe alone
can hold in check the heartless wretch wEOm
nothing good can influence.
Then, at least, we might hope TO be rid of
the lOathsomc reptile that cOnceals his iangs
beneath the smiles Of deceit and the polish OF
education; whose presence Is contamination
whose touch is pollution; whose pathway
may be traced by agony and desolation, and
who, under guise OF friendship, invadcs the
unsuspecting circle OF domestic innocence to
crush the fondcst hopes and destroy the bright
dream Of youth.
But did not sit down to morali1G, and hope
shall be pardoned this depression.
Court came on. Majors was indicted and
brought up for trial. Not a friend sympa-
thiZed with him; not lawyer sought his de-.
fence. The court room was crowded, aud as
he entered, every eye was turned upon him.
Apparently about twenty eight years old, h3
was tall and commanding; his handsome coun-
tenance, naturally pale, was now so touching
" sad, that it was impossible to behold him
without interest.
Have You counsel?' inquired the Court.
"NO yonr homer, | am too poor TO employ
any," was his reply, in a voice that sounded
like 'the wall OF a broken harp"
"Yuu may select any lawyer you choose, and
will appoint him as your counsel, said the
Court.
The Door fellow looked beseechingly upon
the stern array of the disciples Of Blackstone,
and every one, except mfsclf, averted his face.
Being the Junior member Of the bar, and
wholly inexperienced in practice, ! had no
thought Of being selected in task so ditiI-
cult. After looking moment, be signified
his wish to speak to me. approached him
and he said:
DO you think you can clear me2'
"No sir, do net, -
care you willing to try?
Il shall, / suppose, if the Court appoints
me, but / had rather have nothing to do with
1t.
VIII you undertake the defence, Mr..
-" said the CoGrt addressing me.
~ would rather not, your hOaor, for
"Hers | was iHterrup pied by half dozen
lawyers crOWd!ng upon ms and saying, 30