Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-06-11
THE CRIMINAL WITNESS.
\ LAYER STORY.

y LAY EE ; StOlt.
In the spring of 1913, was called to jack
son to attend court having been engaged to
defend young ma, accused of robbing the
mail had long Conference with my client,
and he acknowlcdgcdto me that on the night
when the mail was rObed, he had been with
party of dissipated cGlpanions over to Top
ham. and that on returning they met the mail
carrier on horseback, coming from Jackson.
Some of his companion were very drunk, and
vr-a - sdsse lJ
in robbing the mail, but Gat he tried to dis
srIade MS companions. But they would not
listen to him. One of TEN slipped up behind
the carrier and knockd him from the horse
Then they bound and bmdfoldcd him, and hav-
ing tied him TO a treefhey took the mail bag,
and made off to icighboring field, where
they overhauled it, hding some five hundred
dollars In money il various letters. He went
with them but in no way did he have any hand
IN the crime Those who did it fled, and as
the carrier had recognized him in the party,
he had been arrested. The mail bag had been
found, as well as the letters. These letters
from which money had been taken, were kept,
10y order Of the officers, ard duplicates sent to
the various persons to whom they were direct
ed. These letters had been given to me for
examination, and had returned them to the
prosecuting attorney.
| got through with my private preliminaries
about noon, and the case would not come
up before the next day, went into the court
10 see what was going on. The first case that
came up was one of theft, and the prisoner
was young girl, not mere than seventeen
years OF age, Elizabeth Madworth She was
very pretty, and bore that mild, innocent look
which we seldom find in culprit. She was
pale and frightened. and the moment my eyes
rested upon her, pitied her. She had been
weeping profusely, for her bosom was wet, but
as she found so many eyes upon her, she be-
came too much frightened to weep more.
The complaint against her set forth that she |
had stolen one hundred dollars from Mrs. Nase |
by and as the case went on, l found that Mrs. |
NaSeby was her mistress, wealthy widow. |
living in town. The poor girl declared her in |
nocence in the 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 mistresss room, and she
was the only one who had access there.
At this juncture, while the mistress was up-
on the witness-stand, young man came and
caught me by the arm. He was a fine-lookine
fellow, and big tears stood in his eyes
''They tell me you are good lawyer?' ?'' he
whispered.
81 am lawyer 1 answered.
''Then-O!-saye herl You can certainly
10 it, for she is innocent
els she your sister?''
The youth besitated and coIored ono
'ir,'' he said. ''But-but-' Here ba basi, /,
ated again.
''Has she no counsel 20 | asked
''None that's good fer anything-pobod, .
hat'll do anything for her. o, save her. and .
I'll pay you all Eve got. / can't paw Won
much, but can raise something.'
reflected for moment. 1 cast my ewes
owards the prisoner, and she was at that mo.
nent looking at me. She caught my eve, and !
he humble, prayerful entreaty read in those
arge, fearful orbs, resolved me in moment.
n my soul, knew the girl was innocent; or |
t least firmly believed so-and perhaps ! $
ousd help her. L arose and went to the pirI 6
'fu asked her if she wished me to defend her.
'Ae said yes. Then informed the court that I
was ready TO enter into the case. and was ad- :