The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-01-12
Lead Us Not into Temptation.
AN AFFECTING COURT INCIDENT.

frequently defeats the object which It was intend
ed to sustain. We have, however, numerous IN
stances wherein honest juries have given their
yerdicts conformable to the promptings of JUS
tice 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 incident which
greatly enlisted sympathies, 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 cbanced to be spend
ino few days in a beautiful inland country
town in Pennsy Il was court week, f,. anu
to relieve US somewhat from the monofonouS IN
cidents of village life, we stepped into the room
where the court had convened.
Among tie prisoners IN the box, we saw a lad
but ten years Of age, whose sad and penslye coun-
tenance his young and innocent appearance,
caused him to look sadly out of place among the
hardened criminals by whom lie was surrounded.
Close by the box, and maulfestng the greatest
interest in the proceedings, sat a fearful woman,
whose anxious glance from the Judge to the boy,
left us no room to doubt it was his mother. We
turned with sadness from the scene to enquire OF
the officer of the prisoner, and learned he was
accused of stealing money.
The case was soon commenced, and by the IN
terest manifested by that large crowd, we found
that our heart was not the only one in which sym
pathv for the lad existed. How he pitied him.
The BRIGHT smile had vanished from his face, and
now it more fully expressed the cares OF the aged
His young sister-a bright-eyed girl-had gain
ed admission to his side, and cheered him with
whisperngs Of hope. But that sweet voice, which
before caused his heart to bound with happiness,
added only to the grief his shame had brought
upon him.
The progress of the case acquainted us with
the circumstances of the loss, the er>nnt of which
was dime-no more
The lads employer, a wealthy, miserly and
unprinciplcd manufacturer, had made use of 1t,
for purpose of what he called testing the boys
honesty! 1t was placed whore, from its very po-
sition, the lad would oftenest see 1t, and least
suspect the trap. day passed, and the mas
ter, to his modification and chagrin, found the
com nNtouched. Another day passed, and yet
his object was not accomplished He was, how
ever, determined that the boy should take it, and
so let it remain.
This continued temptation was too much for
him to resist The dime was taken. simple
present for that little sister purchased with it.
But while returning home to gladden. her heart
his own was made heavy by being arrested for
thenI-a 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 the jury the
necessity of making the ''little rogue" an exam
pie His address had great effect upon all who
heard it. Before, could see many tears pf sym
pathy for the lad his widowed mother and his
faithful sister. But their eyes We're all dry now,
and none looked as if they cared for or expected
aught else but conviction. The accuser sat In
conspicuous place, smiling as if in tiend-lke ex-
ultaton the misery he had brought upon
that poor but once happy trio.
We felt that there but little hope Tor the
boy and the youthful appearance of the attorney
who had volunteered his defence, gave no en-
couragement, as we learned that it was the young
man 5 maiden plea-his first address lie ap
nd cba1t To n II
near him, from which he took the Bible that had
been used to solemnize the testimony. The
movement received with general laughter
and taunting remarks-among which we heard
harsh fellow close by cry out:
''He forgets where he is Thinking to take
hold of some pondrous law book, he has made s
mistake and got the Bible
The remark made the young attorney flush
with anger and turning his flashing eye upor
the audience, he convinced them it was no mis-
take. saying:
Justice wants no other book
His confusion gone. and instantly be wa
as calm as the sober judge on the bench.
The bible was opened, and every eye upor
him, as he quietly but leisurely turned over the
leaves. Amidst a breathless silence he read the
jury this sentence:
lead as not into fensptation.'
We felt our heart throb at the sound of these
words. The audience looked al each other with
out speaking-the jury mutely exchanged glances
as the appropriate quotation carried its moral tc
their hearts.
Then followed an address which, for its pathet
ic eloquence, we have never heard exceled. Its
influence was like magic. We saw the guilty ac-
cusers leave the room in fear of personal VIC
lence.
The prisoner looked hopeful-the mother
smiled again, and before its conclusion there was
not 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 transpirt
before the verdict of the jury could be learned
was period of great anxiety. But when the
whispered consultation ceased, and those happy
words. Net gssat, came from the foreman the,
passed like thrill of electricity from lip to lip
the austere dignity of the court was forgotten. ant
not voice was heard there that did not Join il
the aceiamatlon that hailed the lads release
The young lawyers FIRST plea was successful
one Hewas soon a favorite, and now represe n t
his district IN the councils of the Comnaonyeslth
The lad has never ceased his grateful reus,,
brances-and we, by the affecting scene attan,n+
ed TO be described, have been often led =, th;,l
how manifold greater is the crime of the temnte
than the tempted.
LOVER SrILL.-"No longer a lover!' ex
claimed an aged patriarch. "Ahl you mistak
me If you think age has blotted out my heart
Though these silver hairs fall over a brow al
wrlnkled, and a cheek all furrowed, vet am
lover still. love the beauty Of the maiden
blush, the soft tint of flowers, the singing o
binds and abavs oil ~