Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-14
THE INSCRIPTIONS LAWYER

About ninety wears ago the celebrated
"Counsellor Costello was in his zenith
at the Irish bar, where he was unriyalled
Tor wit, acuteness, and propensity to
brogue. His practice lay considerably in
the criminal courts, where, by his inge-
nuity, he enabled the most deserving cul-
prits to evade the well-earned punishment
OF the law. lie was one day summoned
to Newgate in hurry, and in case of
great emergency. The safe or strong box
OF Glendour Il Co., had been plundered to
an immense amount Suspicion had fall
len upon The deputy cashier, who was in
consequence arrested and sent to prison,
inside of the walls of which he was ad-
viSed by his fellow prisoner, (whom on
his entrance he had conciliated by sscom-
ing down" handsomely to send for
Counsellor Costello, who would, if any
man could, save his life 1t was in ODE
dlence to this summons that the counsel
lor repaired to Newgatc-a practice not
very general in London perhaps, but not
at ali unusual in Dublin.
II am told you are committed for DUR
loining ten thousand guincas, my dear
SIR said the counsellor as ne entered the
cell. "Iam." "Areyou guilty?" Sir 2"
"Have you orogaun ehese?'' II don t un-
derstand you.' "Did you do the thing 2"
"sir, you insult Inc by your suspicion"
Then, by the powers, you'll be hanged"
and the counsellor took his hat.
'l1old, Sir" said the prisoner, who,
after Il little hesitation, confessed that he
was able to pay the counsellor thousand
guineas if he procured his acquittal: the
took his leave.
Costello Immediately repaired to the
Crown Office, as it was then called in
Dublin, from which his client had been
committed. The committing magistrate
was still on the bench.
Good morrow, Mr.. Alderman" said
the counsellor, as he entered. as there
any thing new to-day-any thing stirring
in my way!'
"Yes, most extraordinary case has
occurred. One Of the Glendours' clerks
has abstracted from the strong box of the
bank ten bags, each containing 1000
guineas'in gold. He was arrested this
morning. Some of the property was
found OH linn, and has been sworn to.
sent him to Newgate half all hour since,
and he'll certainly swing after the next
Commission. Old Bailey Sessions.
1.-The property sworn to why, zounds,
how can that BEG One guinea is precisely
like another, and
True, true; but with the guineas the
fellow stole some foreign gold coins, one
Of which, a broad Dutch, was found on
him when arrested; it has been identified
by the chief cashier; so you will admit
that he has no chance of escape. Here it
is" and he handed the coin to the coun-
sellor.
Costello took the money into his hand.
looked at it most attentvely, turned it in
hand, and after considering with the air
Of virtuoso, returned ii to tie Alderman,
with " pom my conscience, as clear
case as ever met"
After some unimportant conversation
he withdrew, went home, and by the
packet which sailed that night he dis
patched messenger to Amsterdam, with
certain instructions, and strict iniunc-
ton to be back in Dublin within three
ion of Oyer and Terrniner was to COM
mence. The man succeeded in the object
of his mission, and returned to Dublin on
the very morning of the day appointed
for the trial of his masters client.
The prisoner was put upon trial. The
principal Cashier of Glendour & Co.,
proved the circumstances of the robbery,
as narrated by the Alderman to Costello,
adding that the robber, who could be
none but the prisoner, had dsubstituted ten
bags of halt-pence for those of the gold
he had stolen.
"The Dutch piece was then handed to
the witness by the counsel for the prose-
cution; he unhesitatingly identified it as
the property of his employers. This ev-
idence was conclusive, the prisoners
countenance changed, the jury indicated
by their gestures that they were satisfied;
the witness was descending from the
stand, when Costello exclaimed
"Stop, young man, word with you.-
[ will thank you for that gold piece,
Mr.. -" addressing the counsel for
the prosecution, who handed it up to
him.. He looked at it, rubbed it On the
sleeve of his well-worn coat, and turning
to the witness said, holding the piece of
money in his fingers, land you positively
swear this is the Identical piece of gold
which was in the strong box of Glendour
& Co." "I do"
Have a care young man, look at it
again." said Costello, offering it to the
witness, but letting it fall into his hat,
which lay before him on the table. 81
beg your pardon, said he, taking up and
handing the coin to the witness. You
are sure that this is the Identical piece of
money" 81 TAM"