The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-31
The Young Attorneys Argument.
AN AFFECTING COURT INCIDENT.

Law-though framed for the protection
OF society, for the individual benefit of its
members-o:ten admits of construction
adverse to the design Of its legislators.
and its application frequently defeats the
object which it was intended TO sustain.
We have. however. numerous instances
wherein homes, juries have given their ver-
diets, coniormable to the promptings OF
justice, and happily, when such decisions
have not been too widely different from the
expressed rule, they have escaped from the
appeal
We take pleasure in relating an Incl
dent, which greatly enlisted our sympa-
thies. held US spell bound by its interest,
and finally made our hearts leap with joy
at its happy termination.
| In the spring Of 1874 we CHANGED to be
spending few days in beautiful inland
country town in Pennsylvania. 1t was
court week, and to relieve US from the
somewhat monotonous incidents of village
life. we stepped into the room where the
court had convened.
| sAmong the prisoners in the box. we saw
a lad but ten years of age, whose sad,
pensive countenance, his youth and limo.
cent appearance, caused him to look sadly
out OF place among the hardened crimi-
n ais by whom he was surrounded. Close
by the box, and manifestihg the greatest
interest in the proceedings, sat fearful
woman, whose anxious s lance from the
Judge to the boy left US no room to doubt
that she 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 interes, anifested by the large crowd,
we found that our heart was not the only
one in which sympathy for the lad existed.
How we pilied him! The bright smile had
vanished from his face, and now it ex-
pressed the cares of the aged. His young
sister, brigh,.eyed girl. had gained ad-
mission to his side. and cheered him with
the whispering Of hope.
But that sweet voice, which before eau
sed his heart to bound with happiness. add.
ed only to the grief his shame had brought
upon him.
The progress OF the case acquainted US
with the circumstances oil the loss. the ex.
tent Of which was a dime, no more!
|
and unprincipled manufacturer, had made
use Of ii for the purpose of what he called
Testing the boys honesty" 1t was pla.
ced, where from its very position the lad
would ofenest see it. and least suspect the
luaps.- A day. pssssd; and tha master TO
his notification. not pleasure, found the
coin untouched. Another day passed,
and yet his object was not gained. He,
however, determined that the boy should
take it, and so he let it remain.
This continued temptation was too much
for the boys resistance. ssses
The dimeswas taken. A simple present
for that little sister was purchased with it,
But while returning home to gladden. her
heart, his own was made heavy by being
arrested for theft!-a crime the nature oil
ces were sustained by several of his EN-.
fployer's 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 widowed mo-
ther and faithful, sister. But their ewes
were all dry now, and none looked as il
they cared for aught else but a conviction
The accuser sat in a conspicuous place
smiling as if in fend like exul,ation over
misery he had brought upon that poor, bul
once happy trio. We ielt that there was
but little hope for the boy, and the youth.
full appearance OF the attorney who had
volunteered his defence gave no encour-
agement. as we learned that i, was the
young mans maiden plea-his first ad.
dress. He appeared greatly confused
and reached 20 desk near him. from
which he took the Bible that had been used
to solemnize the testimony. This move
nent was received with, general laughte,
and taunting remarks-among which we
heard a harsh fellow close to us cry out:
"He forgets where he is. Thinking 10
ge, hold OF some ponderous law book. he
has made mistake and got the Bible"
\ The remark made the young attorney
flush with anger, and turning his flashing
leyes upon the audience, he convinced
them there was no mistake. saying, "Jus.
tice wants no other book" His confu.
sion was gone, and instantly he was as
calm as the sober Judge on the bench.
/ The Bible was opened, and every eye
was upon him, as he quietly and leisurely
turned over the leaves. Amidst breath
less silence. he read to the jury this sen.
ltence:
! "Lead as not into Temptation.
We felt our heart throb at the sound O
these words. The audience looked. a
each other without speaking-and the iu
trymen exchanged glances as the appro
pirate quotation carried its moral to theil
hearts. Then followed an address,, which
for pathetic eloquence we have never heard
excelled. Its influence was like megic
We saw the guilty accnser leave the room
in fear Of personal violence. The pris-
oner looked hopeinl~ihe mother smiled
again-and, before it's conclusion, there
was not an eye in the court room tha,
was not moist. The speech, affecting TO
that degree which caused tears, held its
hearers spell bound.
The little time that was necessary to
transpire before the verdict of the Jury
could be learned was period of grea,
anxiety and suspense. Rut when their