Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-05-09
fiterarp Selections.
THE CRIMINAL WITNESS.


gagged to defend a young man accused of
robbing the mail I had a long confer
ence with my client, and he acknowledged
to me that on the night when the mail
was robbed, he had been with a party of
dissipated companions over to Tapham,
and that on returning, they met the mail
carrier on horseback coming from jack
son. Some Of his companions were very
drunk, and they proposed to stop the car
rier, and overhaul his bag. The roads
were very muddy at the time, and the
coach could not run. My client assured
me that he not only had no hand in rob-
bing the mail, but that he tried to dissuade
his companions. But they would not lis
ten to him. One of them slipped up be-
hind the carrier and knocked him from
the horse. Then they bound and blind
folded him, and having tied him to tree
they took the mail bag, and made off to
neighboring field, where they overhauIed
it, finding some five hundred dollars in
money in various letters. He went with
them, but in no way did he have any hand
in the crime. Those who did it, fed, and
as the carrier 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, by or
der of the officers, and duplicates sent to
the various persons, to whom they were
directed. These letters had been sent to
me for examination, and 1 had returned
them to the prosecuting attorney.
/ got through with my private prelim-
inaries about noon, and as the case would
not come up before the next day, I went
into the court TO see what was going on.
The first case which came up was one of
theft, and the prisoner was a young girl
not more than seventeen years of age,
Elizabeth Madworth. She was very
pretty, and bore that mild, innocent look,
which we seldom find in a 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 became too much
frightened to weep more.
The complaint against her set forth
that she had stolen one hundred dollars
from Mrs. Naseby; and as the case went
on, found that Mrs. Naseby was her
mistress, a wealthy widow, living in town.
The poor girl declared her innocence IN
the most wild terms, and called on God
10 witness she would rather die than steal.
A hundred dollars in bank notes had been
stolen from her mistress's room, and she
was the only one who had access there.
Atthis juncture, while the mistress was
upon the witness-stand, a young man came
and caught me by the arm. He was a fine
looking fellow and big tears stood in his
eyes.
@They tellm you are good lawyer p
he whispered.
Il am lawyer" answered.
@Then-O-save her! You can GER
tainly do it, for she is innocent"
rs she your sister ?"
The youth hesitated and colored.
3Has she no counsel?7 [ asked.
@None that's good for anything-no-
body tbatl do anything for her. o, save
her, and III pay you all I've got. leans
pay you much, but I can raise some
thing"
/ reflected for a moment. I cast my
eyes towards the prisoner, and she was a
that moment looking at me. She caugh
my eye, and the volume of humble prayer
ful entreaty, read in those large, tearfu
orbs, resolved me IN a moment. In my
soul knew that the girl was innocent
or at least 1 firmly believed so-and per
haps could help her. arose and wen
to the girl, and asked her if she wishe'
me TO defend her. She said yes. The
informed the court that was ready Z
enter into the case, and was admitted a
once. The loud murmur of satisfaction
which ran through the room. quickly toll
me where the sympathies Of the peopl
were.
I asked for moments cessation, tha
/ might speak to my client. I went an
sat down by her side, and asked her t
state to me candidly the whole case. Sh
told me she had lived with Mrs. Naseb
nearly two years, and that during all tn;
time she had never had any trouble b,
fore. About two weeks ago, she sal
her mistress lost a hundred dollars.
@She missed it from the drawer" Il
girL told me, @and she asked me about
out knew nothing of II. The next thin
knsw, Nancy Luther told Mrs. Naseb
mat she saw me-. take The u,o1ev from n