The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-03-23
LEAD US not MO TEMPTATION,
AS AFFECTING COURT IscIDEsr.

Law-thougb framed for the protection Of
soeIety,for the individual benefit of lis mem.
oers' often admits Of a construction adverse
70 me designs Of its legislator; and. in IL.
aPPiieaiion, frequently defeats the object i,
was intended 10 sustain. We have. how.
ever, numerous INSTANCES where honest ia.
Iles nave gwen their verdicts, conform1ble
10 the prompting nf justice; and too happily
when such decisions have not been too
wideIy different to the expressed rule, they
nave escaped from the appeal.
we take pleasure in relating an incident
which greatly enlisted our sympatl.ies, hrl,
Us spell bound by its interest, and finally
made our heart leap with joy at its happy
termination.
ln the spring Of lSI- We chanced 10 b.
spending few days in beautiful inlan,
country town in Pennsylvania. II wa.
court week, and TO relieve Us from the mo.
notonous incidents ofyiiiage life, we step.
ped into the room where the court had con.
yened.
! Among the prisoners in the box, we saw
lad but tenyears of aye, whose sad aud
pensIve countenance, his young and inno-
cent appearance, caused him to Jock sadly
out OF place among the hardened criminals
by whom he was 81 rroun1ed. Close by the
box and manifesiiDg the greatest interest in
the proceedings, sat fearful WOMAN who e
anxious glance from the Judge to the bog
leftus no room to donbt that il was his
mother. We turned with sadness from the
scene to inquire of the offence OF the prison
er, 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
vanished from his face, and now il expressed
more the cares Of the aged. His young SIS
ter bright eyed girl, had gained admission
to his side, and cheered him with the whil-
perings of hope. But that sweet voice
which before caused his heart to bound with
happiness, added only 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 whi,h was dime-no more!
The lads employer, a wealthy misery
and unprincipled manufacturer, had made
use Of it'for what he called testing the
boys honesty II was placed where from
its very position the lad would oflenest see
it, and least suspected the trap. A day
passed, and the master, TO his modification,
not pleasure, found the coin untoched-
Another day passed, and yet his object was
not gained. He was, however, determined
that the boy should take it, and So let it re-
main.
This continued temptation, was too much
for the lads resistance The dine was TAX
en-. A simple present for that little sister
was purchased with IT, But. while return
ing home to gladden. her heart, his own was
made hei IVY by being arrested for theft!
crime, the nature OF which he little knew
These circumstances were sustained by
several of his employers workmen. who
were also parties to the plot. An attorney
urged upon the jury the necessity of making
the little rogue an example to others, by
punishment. His address had great effect
upon all who heard it. Before could see
many tears of sympathy for the lad, his
mother aud faithful sister. But
their eyes were all dry now, and none look
ed as they cared for, or expected, aught
but conviction. The accuser sat in con-
spicuous place, smiling like as il in iiend
hike exultation over the misery 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 de-
fence, gave no encouragement, as we learn
ed that it was the young mans maiden plea
his first address. He appeared greatly
confused, and reached to desk near him,
from which he took the Bible that had been
used to solemnlze the testimony. This
was received with general laugh
ter and taunting remarks among which we
heard harsh fellow close by us cry out
He forgets where hefs. Thinking to
take hold of some ponderous law book he
has made mistake and got the Bib le.'
The remark made the attorney flush with
anger, and turning his flashing eye upon the
audience, he convinced them il was no mis-
take, saying, Justice wants no other book,
His confusion was gone, and instantly he
was as calm as the sober Judge OIL the
bench
The Bible was opened, and every eye
was upon him as he quietly aud leisurely
turned over the leaves Amidst breath
less silence he read to the jury this SEN
teEce:
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION.
We felt our hearts throb at the sound o
those words. The audience looked at each |
other without speaking-and the jurynen
mutely exchanged gancea, as the apprOpri !
Dte quotation carried its moral to their !
hearts. Then followed an address which
for its pathetic eloquence, we have never {
heard excelled. Its influence was like mag
c. We saw the guilty accuser leave the (
room in fear of personal violence-the I
mother smiled aga:n-and before its con-
clu ion there was not an eye in the court
room that was not moist. The speech, af-
'ecting to that degree which caused tears,
held its hearers spell bound.
The little TIM that was necessary to
before the verdict of the jury could
Dc learned, was period Of great auxieties
Ind suspense. But when their whispering
ceased, and these happy words.
Not Guilty came IRON the foremrn, they
passed ike thrill from lip to lip-the aus
ere dignity Of the court was forgotten, and
lot voice was there that did not join in
he accumulation that hailed the lads re-
ease.
The young lawyers first plea was sue
.essful one. lie was soon tHvorite, aud
low represents his district in the councils
# the commonwealth The lad has never
.eased his grateful lremembrances-au and, we
" the affecting scene herein attempted to
,e described have often been led to think,
Iow manifold greater is The crime OF the
empter than Of the tempted.