The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-12-18
EVANSVILLE IND TUESDAY MORNING. DECEMBER l8
GBe 9ailp yonrnal.
AN EscApADE IN THE WEST.

who not without tears, told me that her hus-
band had been arrested for horse stealing She
wished to retain me on the defence | asked
her why she didn't go to Judge b, an ex
Senator of the United States whose office was
in the same town. | told her that was a
lyoung hand at the bar, &c. l.i - if
She mournfully said that he asked retain
ing fee beyond her means and besides did not
want to touch the case, for her husband was
suspected of belonging to an extensive bind of
horse thieves and counterfiters, whose head
quarters were ON Moore's Prairie
/ asked her to tell me the truth about the
matter, and it was true that he did belong to
such gang. @ @
"Ah siT,' said she "a better man at heart,
than my George, never lived; but he liked
cards and drink, and fear they've made him
do what he never would have done if he had
had the horse, but he didn't steal it. mother
did and passed it to him.
| didn't like the case. | know that there
was great dislike to the gang located where
she named, and feared to risk the case before a
| Jury. She seemed to observe my intention to
refuse the case, and hurst into tears. 3.
| | never could see a woman weep without
feeling ike weak fool myself fit hadn't
been for eyes frightened with 'pearly tears
| (blast the poet that made em come In fashion
| by praising 'em) I'd have never been caught in
| the lasso Of matrimouy. And my would be
client was pretty. The handkerchief that hid
her streaming eyes didn't hide her red ripe,
lips and her snowy bosom rose and fell like
white gull in gale of wind at sea. | could't
stand it. agreed to take the case; she gave
me all the particulars
The gang, of which he was not a member,
I. I .laI fo fal- fha IIo
knew the horse was stolen, and like, fool, ac-
lknowledged it when he was arrested. Worse
stili-had trimmed the horses tail and name
to alter his appearance, and tie prosecution
could proyeit.
The trial came on. Iworked hard to get jury
Iofignorant men who had more heart than brains
who, if they couldn't fanthom the depth OF
argument or follow the labarynthian meshes of
the law, could feel for young fellow in bad
scrape who had weeping pretty wife nearly
broken-h hearted and quite distracted. Know
ing the use of the effect l told her to dress
in deep mourning and bring her little cherub
of boy, curly haired and only three years old,
Into court, and sit as near her husband as the
officers would let her. | tried that game once
lin murder case and weeping wife and sis
ter made jury render IA verdict against law
evidence and the judges charge, and saved a
fsllow that ought to have been hung as high
as Haman.
The prosecution opened very bitterly, in
Weighed against the thieves and counterfeiters
| who had made the land terror to strangers
and travellers, and had robbed every farmer in
the region of their finest horses 1t introduced
witnesses who proved all and more than fear
ed they would.
] The time came for ME to rise for the de-
fence. Witnesses. | had none! But | was
determined to make one effort-only hoping
to interest the judge so as to secure an univer-
sal recommendation to gubernatoral clemency
and light sentence So painted this picture
| A young man entering into life, welded to an
angel, beautiful in person, possessing ever,
lvirture, every gentle and noble attribute
Temptation was before and al around him. He
kept tavern. Guess there were many-it
was not for I'm to inquire into their business
Ley were well dressed, made large bills, and
paid promptly. At an unguarded hour, when
he was insane with the liquor which they had
urged upon him, he had deviated from the path
of rectitude. He was not himself at the time.
The demon Of alcohol reigned in his brain.
And it was his first offence. Mercy plead for
another chance to save him from ruin. Justice
| did not require his sacrifice. Nor did it require
that his sweet wife should 60 down sorrowing
to the grave and that the shadow of disgrace,
or the talint ola felon across the sunny path
way of that sweet child. Oh, how earnestly
did | plead for them-the woman wept her
husband did the same-the Judge fdgetted and
rubbed his eyes-the jury looked melting. If
| could have closed he would have been clear
ed but the prosecution had the close, and threw
ice on the fire had kindled. But they did
not put quite out.
! The Judge charged according to law and evi
Il. Al. H., i o.of
mercy. The jury found a.veriict of guilty,
but unanimously commended the prisoner to
the clemency Of the court. My client was SEN
fenced to the shortest Imprisonment the court
was empowered to give, and both jury and
court signed petition to the governor for an
unconditional pardon, which has since been
granted but hot before the following incident
occurred.
Some three months after this received an
account for collection from wholesale house
lin New York. The parties to collect FROM
were .'HARD ONES" but they had property and
before they had an idea Ct the trapI laid |
had the property, which they were about to
assign before they broke" under attachment
Finding that was neck ahead, and bound to
win, they caved, and paid over three thousand
seven hundred and n;nety-four dollars-eigh-
teen cents (per my memorandum book, J in
leurrent money 1ney nved IN Shawneetown
twenty five or thirty miles southeast of Moore's
Prairie received the funds, just after bank
opening, but other business detained me until
after dinner. then started for c., intend
ing to go as far as the village of Mount Vernon
that night.
1 lad got along at fair pace about ten or
twelve miles, when / noticed double team o.
SPLENDID horses coming up behind me, attach
ed to light wagon, in which were seated oar
men-evidently of the high strung order.
They sYent mast me as if to show how easy