Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-06-11

'ho" snouiu I've taken 1t at differen
times, just as I wanted it, and have kept n,
account" ''Now, if you had any wish I,
harm the prisoner, couldn't you have raiseC
twenty-five dollars to put in her trunk ?'' s.No
SIR" she replied, with virtuous indignation. ,
''Then you have not laid up any money since
you have been there ?'' ssNo, sir-only wha
Mrs. Naseby may owe me.'' Then you didn'
have twenty five dollars when you came there9,
'No. sir; and what's more, the money found
IN the girls trunk was the money that Mrs
Naseby lost. You might have known that, il
you only remember what you hears
rms was said very sarcastically, and intend
ed as crusher upon the idea that she could
have put the money into the prisoners trunk.
However, was not overcome entirely. s:Will
you tell me if you belong to this States" 1 ask
ed next, 81 do, sir.'' 'sIn what town a''
She hesitated, and for moment her bold
look forsook her. But she finally answered, 81
belong to Somers, Montgomery county''
1 next turned to Mrs Naseby: .sDo Won ey-
er take receipt from your girls when you paw
them - asked. ':Always,' she answered.
''Could You send and get one of them for
me 20 ''She told the truth, sir, about my
statements" Mrs. Naseby said. s.Oh, don't
| doubt it, replied, but occular proof is the
proof for the court room. So if you can, 1
wish you would procure me the receipts,
| She said she would willingly go, if the court
| said so. The court did say so, and she went
Her dwelling was not far off, and she soon re-
turned, and handed me four receipts which I
took and examined. They were all signed in
| a-stfange, struggling hand by the witness.
''Now, Nancy Luther,'' said I, turning to
the witness, and speaking in a quick, startling
tone, at the same time looking her sternly in
the eye, ''please tell the court, and the jury,
and tel me, too, where you got the seventy-five
dollars you sent to your sister in Somers -
The witness started, as though a volcano had
burst at her feet. She turned pale as death,
and every limb shook violently. 1 waited un-
til the people could see the emotion, and then
repeated the question.
"l-never-sent-any ~ she family gasped.
'You did 20 thundered, for was excited
now.
''May it please your honor and gentlemen of
the jury said, as soon as 1 had looked the
witness out of countenance, 81 came here to
defend youth who had been arrested for help
ing to rob the mail, and in the course of my
preliminary examinations, had access to the
letters which had been torn open and rified of
money. When entered upon the case, and
heard the name of this witness pronounced, |
went out and got this letter which now hold,
for L remembered 20 have seen one bearing the
signature of Nancy Luther. The letter was
taken out of the mail bag and contained sew
enty-fve 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. l will read it to you
if you please.
The court nodded assent, and I read the fol-
lowing, which was without date, save that
made by the post masters stamp on the out
side. give it here verbatim =
Sister Dorcas 1 send you hcer scvente five
dollars, which want yu to kepe it for me til 1
cum hum. cant kepe it here coz ime afraid
it viii get stole, don't speke wun wurd Ia a
liyin sole bout this coz l don't want nobodi to
know have got emmy money. yu wont will
yu am first rate heer, only that guide for
nothin snipe of a liz madwurth is heer yit-
but hope to git rid of her now. yu kno
rote you bout her. Civ my luv to all enquirer
friends. this is from your sister till deth.
NANCY LUTHER.
ssNow, your honor,'' said, as handed him
the letter, and also the receipts, ssyou will see
that the letter is directed to Dorcas Luther
Somers, Montgomery County. And you will
also observe that one hand wrote that letter
and signed those receipts. 1t is plain, how the
hundred dollars were disposed of. Seventy
five were in that letter and sent away for safe
keeping, while the remaining twenty-five we're
placed in the prisoners trunk for the purpose
eff covering the real criminal. OF the tone of
the other parts of the letter, leave you to
judge. And now, gentlemen of the jury,
leave my case in your hands, only 1 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 Immediately
following their examination of the letter.
They had heard from the witnesses own mouth,
that she had no money of her own, and with
out leaving their seats, they returned yer-
dict of ''Not Guilty ~
The youth who had first asked me to defend
the prisoner, caught me by the hand, but he
could not speak plainly. He simply looked
at me through his tears for the moment, and
then rushed to the fair prisoner. He seemed
to forget where he was, for he flung his arms
around her, and she laid her head upon his bo
som and wept aloud.
I will not attempt to describe the scene that
followed but if Nancy Luther had not been
arrested for the theft, she would have been O.
bliged to seek the protection of the officers;
for the excited people would have surely MAIN