Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-07-05
miscellaneous.
From a Correspondent ofAsihur's Home Gazette,
AN AFFECTING COURT INCIDENT.

1 tHAS RtSeSAtO igkAkluE al tuSiuCht
which greatly enlisted our ~sympathies, held
us spell-bound BY its interest, and finally
made our hearts leap with joy at its happy
termination.
In the spring of 1888 we CHANGED to be
spending a few days in a beautiful inland
country town in Pennsylvania. It was court
week. and to relieve us from the somewhat
monotonous incidents of village life we step
ped into the room where the court had con-
vened.
Among the prisoners 10 the box we saw q
lad but ten years of age, whose sad, pensive
countenance, bis young and innocent appear
ance. caused him to look sadly out Of place
among the hardened criminals by whom he
was surrounded. Close blythe box, and man.
ifesting the greatest interest in the proceed
ings, sat a fearful woman, whose anxious
glance from the Judge to the boy left us no
room to doubt that it was his mother, We
turned with sadness from the scene TO inquire
of the offence of the prisoner, and learned he
was accused of stealing money.
The case was soon commenced, and. by the
interest manifested by that large crowd, we
found that our heart was not the only one in
which sympathy for the lad existed. How
we pitied him! The bright smile had van
ished from his face. and now it expressed the
cares of the aged. His young sister, q bright
eyed girl, had gained admission to bis side,
and cheered him with the whispering of hope.
But that sweet voice, which before caused
bis heart to bound With happiness, added on
ly to the grief bis shame had brought upon
him.
The progress Of the case acquainted us
with the circumstances Of the loss-the ex-
tent of which was but dime, no more!
Tho lads employer, a wealthy, misery, aud
unpriucipled manufactures, had made use Of
it for the purpose Of what be called testing
the boys honesty" 1t was placed where,
from its very position, the lad would o~ftenest
see it, and least suspect the trap. Tho day
passed, and the master, to his modification,
not pleasure, found the coin untouched. An
other day passed, and yet his object was not
gained. He, however, determined that the
COY should take it, and SO be let it remain.
This continued temptation was too much
-- Fy
for the boys resistance. The dime was ia
ken. A simple present for that little sister,
was purchased with it. But while returning
home to gladden. her heart, bis own was made
heavy by being arrested for theft! a crime
the nature Of which he little knew. These
circumstances were sustained by several Of
bis employers workmcn, who were also par
ties to the plot. An attorney urged upon
the jury the necessity Of making the little
rogue an example to others by punishment.
Before, l could see many tears of sympathy
for the lad, his widowed mother and faithful
sister. But their eyes were all dry now, and
none looked as if they cared for naught else
but conviction.
The accuser sat in a conspicuous place.
smiling as if IN tend-like exultation over mis-
cry he had brought upon that poor but once
happy trio.
We felt that there was but little hope for
the boy, and the youthful appearance of the
attorney who had volunteered in his defence
gave DO encouragement. as we learned that
it was the young mans maiden plca-his first
address. He appeared greatly confused and
reached to a desk near him, from which be
took the Bible that had been used to solemn
izo the testimony This movement was re-
ceived with general laughter and haunting re-
marks, among which we heard u harsh fell
low, close to us, cry out:
.IIe forgets what it is. Thinking to get
hold Of some ponderous aw-book, be has
made a mistake and got the Bible"
The remark made tie young attorney
blash with anger, and turning his flashing
eyes upon the audience he convinced them
that there was no mistake, saying, Justice
wants no better book" His confusion was
gone, and instantly ho was as calm as the So
Der Judge on the bench. The Bible was
opened, and every eye was upon him. as he
quietly aud ~leisurely turned over the leaves.
Amidst brcathless silence be read the jury
this sentence LEAD us not into 1empta-
tom
We felt our heart throb at the sound of
these words. The audience looked at each
other without speaking and the jurymen ex'
changed glances as the appropriate quotation
carried its moral to their hearts. Then fol-
lowed an address Which for pathetic eloqueuce
we have never heard excclled Its Influence
was like magic. We saw the guilty accuser
Ioavo tho xnom IN faar If narannal yiolenee