The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-05-16

prisoner, couldn't you have nised twenty
; FIVE dollars to put in her trunk?"
"No, sir" she replied with virtuous in
dignation.
, "Then you have not laid up any money
since yon have been thcre?"
"No sir-only what Mrs. Nascby may
owe me-"
Then you didn't have twenty-five dol
lars when you came thcrc?"
"No, sir, and what's more, tho money
found in the girls trunk was the money
that Mrs. Naseby lost. You might have
known that, II you'd only remember what
you hear"
This was said very sarcastically, and was
intended as a crusher upon tho idea that she
could have put the money into the prison.
er's trunk. However was not overcome
entirely.
Willyou tell me If you belong to this
State?" l asked next.
al do, SIR"
"In what town.
She hesitated, and for moment the bold
look forsook her. But she finally answer
ed:
81 belong in Somers, Montgomery Coun-
ty."
next turned to Mrs. Naseby.
"Do You ever take receipt from your
girls when you pay them ?" asked.
Always" she answered.
Could you send and get one Of them for
mc?"
She told the truth about my payments
Mrs. Nascby said.
90, don't doubt doubt it," l replied
but ocular proof is the proof of the court
room. So, fyou can, wish you would
procure me the receipts"
She said she would willingly go, IL the
court said so. The court did say 10, and
she went. Her dwelling was not far oa'.and
she soon returned, and handed me four re-
ceipts which took and examined. They
were all signed in strange struggling hand
by tho witness
"Now, Nancy Luther" said I, turning
to the witness, and speaking in quick start
ling tone, at the same time looking sternly
in the eye, "pleasc tell the court and the
jury, and tell me, too, where you got the
seventy.Gve dollars you sent to your sister
in Somcrs?"
The witness started Us though volcano
had burst ot her feet.
She turned pale as death, and every limb
shook violently. waited until she people
could see her emotion, and then repeated
the question:.
"l-ncvcr-sent-any!" she fairly gasp
cd.
You did" thundercd, for was cr-
cited now."
"l-l-didn't," she family uttered,
graspinS the rail for support.
"May it please your honor and the gen.
tlemen of the jury" said as soon as had
looked the witness out of countenance, al
came here to defend youth who had be,n
arrested for helping to rob the mail, and in
my course Of preliminary examinations, |
had access to the letters which had been
torn open and riacd of money. When l
entered upon this case, and heard the name
of this witness announced, | went out and
got this letter which now hold, for | re-
mcmbercd to have seen one bearing the sig
nature of Nancy Luther. The letter was
taken out of the mail bag, and contained
scvcnty-fvc dollars, and by looking at the
post-mark, you will observe it was mailed
on the very next day after the money was
taken from Mrs. Naseby's drawer. | will
read it to you, If you please"
The court nodded assent, and read the
following, which was without date save that
made by the postmaster's stamp on on the
outside. gave it here verbatim
"Sster Dorcas; l send you hcer scvcntc
Eve dolers, which want yu to kcpe it for
me til cum hum, cant kcpe it here coz
imc afraid it will get stole, don't speke wun
wurd tn lvin sole bout this coz don't
want nobodi to know have got eny money,
VA wont will yu. ! am first rate hcer. only
that guide for nothin snipc Of liz madwurth
is hccr yit-but h,pe tn git rid of her now.
va kno rotc you bout her. Civ my luv to
I awl enquirer friendss. this is from your
sister til dcth. NANCY LUTHER"
I" Now, your honor" said, as handed
1 him the letter, and also tho receipts, "you
will sec that the letter is directed to Dorc IS
Luther, Somers, Montgomery County
And you will also observe that one hand
wrote that letter and signed those receipts.
II is plain how the hundred dollars were
disposed of. Seventy.fvc were in the letter
and sent away for safe keeping, while the
remaining twenty-five were placed in the
prisoners trunk for the purpose Of covering
the real criminal. or the tone of other
parts Of the letter, I leave you to judge
And now gentlemen Of the jury, l leave my
case in your hands, only will thank God
and know you will also, that an innocent
person has been thus strangely saved from
ruin and disgrace"
The case was given to the jury immcdi-
ately following their examination of the let
ter. They had heard from the witncss's
own mouth that she had no money OF her
own, and without leaving their seats, they
eturned verdict Of" Not Guilty"
The youth who had first asked me to do
nd the prisoner, caught me by the hand
at he could not speak plainly. He simply
>okcd ut me through his tears for moment
nj then r,shcd IN tho fair nrisDner, lie