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

Sot INC seFenty-nVc dollars you sent to
your sister in Somers I"
The witness started as though a volca-
no had burst at her feet.
She turned pale as death, and cverv
limb shook violently. | waited until the
people could see her emotion, and then
repeated the question.
-never-sent-any ~ she fairly
gaSped.
"l-l-didn't,' she family uttered,
grasping the rail for support.
May it please your honor, and gentle.
men of the jury" | said, as soon AS had
looked the witness out Of countcnance.-
II came here to defend youth who had
been arrested for robbing the mail, and in
my course Of preliminary examination |
had access TO the letters which had been
torn open and riiled of money. When |
entered upon this case, and heard the
name Of this witness pronounced, went
out and got this letter which now hold,
for | remembered to have seen one bear.
ing the signature Of Nancy Luther. The
letter was taken out Of the mail bag, and
contained scveniy-tive dollars and hv
looking at the post mark YOU will observe
1t was mailed on the very next dav after
the money was taken from Mrs. Naseby's
drawer. will read it to you, if YOU
please"
The Court nodded assent, and I read
the following, which was without date,
save that made by the post masters
stamp on the outside. give it here ver-
| batim:
Sister Dorras: send YOU hecr seven.
tie tive dolers, which | want WI to kepe !,
tor me TILL cum hum, cant kcpc hecr
coz line afraid it will get stole, don't spekc
wun wurd tn living sole bou. this coz
don't want nobOdi TO know i have got en-
ny money. yu wont will yu. | am iirsi
rate hecr, only that good for nothing snipc
OF liz madwurth is hecr yet but hone
u get rid Of her now. yu know rote va
bout her, give my luv to awl cnourcn
friends. this is from your sister till deth
Nancy LUTHER"
"Now, your honor" | said, as hand.
ed HIM tic letter, and also the receipts
"you will see that the letter is directed ,o
Dorcas Luther, Somcrs, Montgomery
county. And YOU will also observe tina;
one hand wrote that letter and signed
those receipts. 1t is plain how the hun
dred dollars was disposed of. Seventy
tive were in that letter and sent away
for safe keeping, while the remaining
twenty five were placed in the pris pncr's
trunk, for the purpose OF 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 will thank
Col, and know you will also, that Al
innocent person has been thus STRANGELY
saved from ruin and disgrace"
The case was given to the jury immc
diateIy following their examination of the
letter. They had heard from the Witness
own mouth that she had no money of her
own; and, without leaving their seats
they returned verdict of mo, Guilty.
The youth who had first asked me tc
defend the prisoner, caught Inc by the
hand, but he could no, speak plainly
lie simply looked at me through his tears
for moment, and then rushed TO the fair
prisoner. lie seemed to forget where lie
was, for he flung his arms around her, and
she laid her head upon his bosom and
wept aloud.
will not attempt to describe the scene
that followed; but If Nancy Luther had
not been arrested for the theft, she would
have been obliged to seek the protection
of the officers; for the excited people
would have surely MANNED her, if they
had done no more.
Next morning, received note, hand.
somely written, in which | was told that
the within was but a slight token of graft.
tude due me for my efforts in behalf of a
poor, defenceIcss, but muc! loved maiden.
1t was signed "Several Citizens" and
contained one hundred dollars. Shortly
afterwards the youth came to pay all the
money he could raise. simply showed
him the note | had received, and asked
him to keep his hard earnings for his wife.
when he got one. lie owned he had in.
tended TO make Lizzie Madworth his wife
very soon.
Next day | succeeded in clearing my
other client Of robbing the mail; and
made considerable handle Of the fortu.
nate discovery Of the letter which had
saved an innocent girl on the day before,
in my appeal to the jury; and if made
them feel that the finger of Omnipotence
was in the work, il was because / sincere
Iy believed that the young man was limo
cent Of all crime, aud am sure they
thought so too.
Do not yenture into n SIGH roon, ;f ,o,