Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-29
M(isfcllnncous.
THE INCENDIARY.
A TALE OF 4 sNsrANrIAL EVIDENCE

HOW ioW-splrlte+F7 F7stpa 3ts,ls aFeh1 q,
said Edith Conway to her sister, as they sat to-
gcther knitting in the window of their fathers
lodgings, in the Foregate Street of Worcester,
on the second day of the assize " something
has annoyed him in court"
"Yes heard him tell mamma that boy
had been sentenced to transportation to-day,
upon evidence SO weak that he cannot believe
him guilty and that his poor mother was in
court, and, when.sentence was pronounced, she
was taken out in conyulsions."
j" How dreadfnl did papa defend him :"
Yes, and that is why he is so low-spirited." :"
No wonder. What a fearful responsibility
is that of an advocate | am almost astonish-
ed that any man should will. gly undertake it."
Undertake what, Edith - asked the bar
rister, coming between his two daughters, and
placing a hand caressingly upon each fair head.
@ Defending prisoners, papa
Why!"
I" Because it is such terrible charge to ac-
ccpt, such an awful duty to perform So much
depends upon you conviction and acquittal,
life or death, may hang upon your words, your
exertions and it must be irightful reflection,
when all is over, to think that you might have
done more"
"You are right, Edith, it is a frightful re-
fection, and one that haunts us long after the
case which excited it is forgotten by others l
remember one which, at the first, threatened to
leave this terrible memory to me as a legacy"
What was it, papa, may we hear it v ask
ed Margaret.
Yes, but it is story of old times, a tale
which happened many years ago. 1t was on
this curit, and in this town. / was young
at the bar then, and of the least-known jun
iors, and very poor; anxious to work hard, but
without either interest or connection to bring me
forward | had been the circuit four times,
and except twice had never held brief, and
those two were given me by another man, who
was summoned from the bar to his mothers
death-bed. Still, did not despair had two
incentives to courage and perseverance the
first was firm trust in God 8 mercies and the
second my cement to your mother. But it
was hard work, sometimes, lasses, and needed
all my resolution to endure but | did endure,
and the end came. Well, it was the Lent As
sizes, and Lord Cranstoun, the Lord Chief JUS
tice, was on the criminal side. The calendar
was unusually heavy, and VIC knew from bis
lordship's charge that he came prepared to
make an example,, as he called it.
The commission was opened late in the day,
after which the court adjourned till the NOR
row. 1t happened that, for some reason or 9th
er, remained in court short time after every
one else had quilted it. Itseemed but accident,
although doubtless it was Gods doing, and Or
dained by him. remember that was gazing
idly on the empty benches, when l heard rapid
footsteps approaching through the deserted pas
sage, and moment after was accosted by an
attorney.
beg your pardon, said he, hurriedly car
you tell me where to find Mr. Ashley!'
Indeed, cannot. Some mistake has occur.
red with his clerk, and when we came into towI
to-day, we found that he had not procured lodg.
ings as usual
So learn. | have been to the rooms Mr.
Ashley usually has, and hear that they arr
taken for Sergeant Keats; wish to see hin
as soon as possible, and am in the utmost per
plexity.'
K, AM very sorry cannot help you, Mr.. Pa
get-Mr Ashley had some intention of going te
Malvern this evening. in which case he Offered
to drive me over; therefore, if you will come te
my rooms we may hear some tidings of him
although, perhaps, as declined his proposal
he may not call it is all chance
How did you know Inc asked the attorne,
as we walked together.
f You are an Oxford man, ! think; were yo,
not at Magdalen!'
Yes; and you do not remember you.'
was at Worcester. Do you not rccollec
that wine party in Lloyd's room at Ostel, whe
the chimney took fire, ana the punch WINS spoi
9 ed met you there
II To be sure; how could forget And VIII,
have you been doing since
/ Marvellously little
It Is this your first circuit''
d No. the fourth.
: Il never saw you before did you read wi
o Chantry
h No, with Monk why!'
J, Because he had an Oxford man of your nan
}, with him a few terms since, and he married
& cousin of mine. wish had seen you befor
t l should have asked you to hold this brief t
Is me. But now---ah, here is Mr.. Ashley.
s. Ashley had been to my rooms, and not findil
y me there, had sailed forth in search of me, al
( now turned hack with us. AS soon as his e
W caught the name upon the brief which Mr.. Pag
O. handed to him, he said, Sorry can't take
&c sir am retained to prosecute A short co
n sultation ensued, which resulted in the brief
ing handed to me.
IL And now, Mr.. Conway, said the attorne