The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-06-18

tnat she had stolen ono hundred dollars
from Mrs. Nasehy, ard as the case went
on found that Mrs. Mas, by was her mis-
, tress, a wealthy widow, living in town.
The poor woman declared her innocence
in tie most wild terms, and called ON
God to witness that she would rather die
than steal. But circumstances were hard
against her. A hundred dollars in bank
notes had been stolen from her mistress
room, and she was the only one who had
| access there.
AT this juncture, while the mistress wns
upon the witness stand, n Young man
came and caught NE by the arm. lie
was tine looking fellow, and big tears
stood in his eyes.
"Ihey tell me you arc good lawyer ~
he whispered.
a,n lawyer" | answered.
"Then-O! save her! You can ccr-
tainly do it, for she is innocent"
" Is she your sister,r
No, sir" he said. But-but-"
Hero he hesitated again.
Has she no counselw l asked.
"None that's good for anvthinc-no
body thatIl do anything for her. 8. save
her, and III pay you all I've got. | can't
pay YOU much, but can raise some
thing"
reflected for a moment. least NV
eyes towards the prisoner. and she was "a,
that moment looking at me. She caught
my eye, and the volume Of humble, PRAYER.
tai entreaty, l read in those large, fearful
orbs, resolved me in moment. In NV
soul knew that the girl was innocent :
or at least, firmly believed so-and per.
haps | could help her. arose and wen,
to the girl. and asked her if she wished
me to defend her. She said yes. Then
| informed the court that was ready to
enter the case, and was admitted at once.
The loud murmur OF satisfaction which ran
through the room, quickly told me where
the sympathies Of the people were.
| / asked for moments cessation. that
| might speak to my client. went and
sat down by her side, and asked her to
state to me candidIy the whole case. She
told Inc she had lived with Mrs. Naseby
nearly two years, and that during all that
time she had never had any trouble be
fore. About two weeks ago, she said, her
mistress lost hundred dollars.
| "Shc missed it from 'be drawer" the
girl told me, land shc asked me abou, il
Gut knew nothing Of it. Tho next thing
| knew, Nancy Luther told Mrs. Naseby
.he saw me take it from the drawer-that
she watched me through the key hole
Then they went to my trunk. and they
found twenty five dollras of the missing
money there. But o, sir, never took i
somebody else put that money there ~
lthen asked her if she suspected any
one.
IL don't know" she said, "who could
have done it but Nancy. She never liked
me, because she though, was treated
better than she was. She is the cook.
and | was the chambermaid.'
She pointed Nancy Luther out 10 me
She bas stout, bold faced girl, about two
and twenty, with low forehead, small
grey eyes, pug nose and thick lips.
caught her glan:e at once, Ms it rested
upon the fair young prisoner, and the mo.
ment | detected the look Of hatred which
read there, | was convinced that she
was the rogue.
"Oh, sir, can you help me r. my client
asked in fearful whisper.
"Nancy Luther, did you say that girls
name was I"
"Yes, sir"
"ls there any other girl Of that name
about this placer"
"No, sir"
Then rest easy. I'll try hard to save
YOU"
| left the court room, and went 10 the
prosecuting attorney and asked him for
the letters | had handed him--the ones
that had been stolen from the mail bag.
lie gave them to me, and having selected
one, | returned The rest, and told him that
, would see that he had the one kept
before night. then returned to the
court room and the case went on.
Mrs. Nasehy resumed her testimony
She said she intrusted her room TO the
prisoners care, and that no one else had
access there, but herself Then she de.
scnbed the missing money, and closed by
telling how she had found twenty five
dollars OF IL in the prisoners trunk. She
could swear it was the Identical money
she had lost, it being two tens and one FIVE
dollar bill.
"M's. Naseby," said I, "when you
first missed your money, had you any
reason to believe that the prisoner had
taken il 7"
No, SIR" she answered.
"Ilad you eva before detected her in
dishonesty"
"No, sir"
"Shcuid you have thought Of search
ing her trunk had not Nancy Luther ad-
vised you and informed your"
"No, sir"
Mrs. Naseby then lch the stand, and
Nancy Luther took her place. She came
up with bold look, and upon me she
cast defiant glance. rs much as 10 saw,