The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-03-01
."LEAD us NOT INTO TEMPTATION.
AN AFFECTING COURT INCIDENT.

y LEAD 10 MI INio EINT ioN.
AN AFFECTING COURT INCIDENT.
LAw-though framed for the protection of so
ciety, for the individual benefit OF is members,
often admits OF a construction adverse to the
designs Of its legislators: and in its application,
frequently defeats the object which it was in.
tended to sustain. We have seen however nu-
merous instances where honest jurirs have
given their verdicts, conformable to the promp.
tings Of justice; and too happily, when such
decisions have not been too widely different to
the expressed rule, they have escaped from the
appeal.
We take pleasure in relating an incident
which greatly enlisted our sympathies, held Us
spell bound by its interest, and finally, made
anr heart leap With Joy at ils happy tlrnna-
toa.
In the spring of ls4' we CHANGED to be spend.
ing few days in beautiful inland country
town in Pennsylvania. 1t was court week, and
to relieve us from the monotonoIs incidents at
village life, We stepped into the room where
the court had convened.
Among the prisoners in the box, we saw a
lad but ten years Of age, whose sad ond pensive
countenance, his young and innocent appear.
ance, caused him to look sadly out Of place
among the hards sned criminals by whom he was
surrounded. Close by the box and manifesting
the greatest interest in the proceedings, sat
fearful woman, whose snxiops glance from the
judge to the boy, left US room to doubt tina.
1t was his mother. We turned with sadness
from the scene to inquire of the offence of the
prisoner, and learned he was accused Of steal,
ing money.
The case was soon commenced, and by the
interest manifested by that crowd, we found
| that our heart was not the only one in which
sympathy for him existed How we pitied him!
The bright smile had vanished from his face
and now it more expressed deep care. His
young sister, bright eyed girl, had gained ad-
mission TO his side and cheered him with the
whisperngs Of hope. But that sweet voice
which before caused his heart to bound with
happiness, added only to the grief his shame
had brot upon him.
The progress Of the case acquainted us with
the circumstances OF the loss, the extent Of
which was but dime-no more.
The lads employer, a wealthy, misery and
unpnncipled manufacturer, had made use Of il
for the purpose of what he called "testiDg the
boy . honesty 1t was placed, where, from
IT'S very position, the lad would oftenest see it,
and least suspect the trap.-A day passed and
the master, to his notification, not pleasure
found the coin untouched. Another day passed
and yet his object was not gained. He was,
hnWever, determined that ths boy should take
it, sa let it remai in.
This continued temptation was too much for
the lads resistance. The dime was taken A
simple present for that little sister was pur.
chased with it. But, while returning home to
gladden. her heart, his own was made heavy by
being arrested tor 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 he jury the necessity
Of making 'le ':llt,le rogue" sH 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 mother and his faithful sister But
| their eyes were all dry now, and none looked if
they cared for, or expected, aught but convic-
| ton. The accuser sat in conspicuous place.
smiling as if in fend like 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 defence
gave no encouragement, as we learned that it
was the young mans maiden plea-his first ad-
dress. lie appeared greatly confused, and
| reached to desk near him, from which he took
the Bible that had been used to solomnize the
testimony. The Wnvement was received with
| general laughter and taunting remarks-among
| which we heard harsh fellow close by us cry
out
He forgets where he is. Thinking to take
| hold Of some ponderous law book he has made
a mistake and got the Bible
The remark made the young attorney flush
with anger, and turning his flashing eye upon
| the audience, he convinced them that it no
mistake, SAYING, "Justce wants no other book"
His confusion was gone, and instantly he was
calm as the sober Judge on the bench.
The Bible was opened, and every eye was
upon him as he quietly and Ieisureiy turned over
the leaves. Amidst breathless silence he read
to the jury this sentence
"Lead US not into temptation"
We felt our heart throb at the sound Of those
words. The audience looked at each other
without speaking-and the jurymen mutely ex-
changed glances, as The appropriate 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 magic. We saw the guilty accuser leave
| the room in fear OF personal violence. The pri
soner looked hopeful.--the mother smiled again
and, before its conclusion there was no! an
eye in the court room that 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
bef"re the verdict of the jury could be learned,
was period of great anxiety and suspense.
But when thelr whispering consultation ceased,
and those happy words Not guilty." came
from the foreman, they passed like thrill from
lip to lip-the austere dignity Of the court was
| forgotten, and not a voice there that did not
Join in the accamaton that hailed the lads re.
lease.
The young lawyers first plea was success
| ful one. He was ION the favorite, and now
| represents bis district in the councils of the
commonwealth. The lad has never ceased his
grateful romembrances-and we, by the Affect
ing scene herein attempted to be described have
often been led to think how manifold greater is
the crime Of the tempter than Of the tempted.
ATTACKED BY PANrHER-A few days