American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-07-26

n part in it,
A bright flush Of pleasure passed over
the hitherto sad counlenanee of James as
he replied, Thank you, Mrs. Nelson,
should be delighted to come
Then meet us at recess, James, said
Louis, joyfully, and I'll tell you all the
plan. Harry got itup. Oh, we'll have a
splendid limep
During the school recess, the friends
fastened to aretired part part of the play
ground, and secre.ed themselves from their
companions behind large rock where
they were sheltered from the cold; they
talked eagerly of the one subject which
engrossed their thoughts.
Thanksgiving dinner had been eaten and
enjoyed; the afternoon was passed in busy
preparations for the approaching scene
In one room, a young lawyer could be
heard practicing his part. In another, the
district attorney was committing his speech
to memory, while ever and anon the cry
of father, please tell me about this, or
what shall do next, Mrs. NeIson?' could
be heard through the house.
After tea, which Mrs. Nelson willingly
consented to hasten, TO give more time for
the evening entertainment, the spacious
dining room was prepared for the court
An elevated seat for the Judge, then the
desks for the district attorney and lawyers,
box for the criminal, and a bench for the
jurors. were arranged in due order.
At seven O'Clock the constable, carry
ing his long pole in one hand, walked in
on one side Of the prisoner, the other be.
ing occupied by young assistant appoint
ed as deputy. Dr.. Haywood, the valued
physician Of the family, was the officiating
Judge; and advanced to his seat with great
dignity. Though neither Mrs. Nelson or
her friend Mrs. Haywood aSpired 10 the
honor o! being members to the convention
for women's rights, yet on this occasion
they consented to occupy seats usually al,
loted to the lords of creation, and to take
the place of jurymen. Mr.. Nelson occu-
pied retired seat where he could be con-
suited by the young sprigs the law, then
they found themselves at loss. Henry
Nelson WIS district attorney, and Louis
was counsellor for the defence.
The cour: opened. The Indictment was
read charging the prisoner (who was none
Other than the miSchievous little Albert
Nelson, with breaking into the house and
stealing a pocket book containing money,
and also attempting to purloin other arti-
cles from which he was prevented by hear
ing a noise in the next room.
The prisoner with his slouched hat part
iy concealing his face, his straight bodied
coat and vest, which evidently from the
size allowed free scope to his lungs, ap-
peared much excited at the formal and
ceremonious manner in which he was ar
raigned. He however plead mot guilty.
when some of the witnesses made such a
noise that the sheriff was obliged to rap
with his pole and call, 'order!
The witnesses were then called, and
affirmed that they were lying in bed on
the night Of, when suddenly hearing
noise they jumped up and looking into
the next room, saw young man whom
they identified as the one at the bar. stand
ing with dark lantern in his hand, hold
ing the pocket book which bad been in the
desk. Two or three also testified to hear
ing noise like the raising of a window.
The next witness was the constable, who
was going by the house, when, hearing a
loud scream for help, he went in through
the open window and secured the prison
er.
The evidence Of guilt seemed so clear
and conclusive that Mrs. Haywood whis-
pered to her friend, i shall carry in ver-
diet of guilty
Attention of the juryr said the Judge
in stern voice. This reprimand was so
unexpected as to cause start which almost
threw the jury out of their seats, and rails
ed such laugh that the sheriff was again
obliged to interpose his authority.
Louis, for the defence, now arose in a
digniied manner, and pushing his glasses
to the top ofhis head, proceeded to cross
question the witnesses, who, however kept
to their original statements. Having fail
ed to bring forwardany direct proof in ia
vor of his client, lie said he had some i'm
portant rebutting testimony, and called
forward James Pond, who appeared and
read to the court letter from the prison
er, addressed to him, purporting to have
been written on the very night of the al
legged robbery, attempting thus to prove an
alioi. After several witnesses had been
called to identify the hand writing, when
the strictest integrity was manifested, and
after the closing speech of the lawyer, the
distrect attorney closed with powerful
argument, urging the growing frequency
of crimes, the great necessity of caution in
allowing criminals to go unpunished.-
When he had closed, the Judge in slow
and grave accents charged to jury tojudge
the case by the evinence given to the court,
and to remember that now the issue Of
this important case rested with them.
The jury, with palpitating hearts at the
thought of sending so young a prisoner to
jail, were obliged to render a verdict of
guilty" when the young man at the bar,
with heavy groan tried to escape from
his keepers.
Finally order being restored, Mr.. and
Mrs. Nelson, with their friends, DR.. and
Mrs. Haywood, retired to the parlor, leav-
ing the young people for game by them
selves.