The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-06-18
LANCASTER H. SOUTH CAROLINA MORNING. JUNE h 1856

S'H '"| Se'Sutl 'h'c uollars you sent TO
your sister in Somers,"
The witness started as though volca.
no had burst at her feet.
She turned pale as death, aud cverv
limb shook violently. | waited until the
people could see her emotion, and then
repeated the question.
"l-never-sent-any! ~ she fairly
gaspcd.
"I-I-didn't,' she family uttered,
grasping the rail for support.
May 1t please your honor, and gentle
men of the jury" said, as soon as mad
looked the witnes. out Of countcnancc.-
came here to defend a 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,
tor remembered to have seen one bear.
ing the signature Of Nancy Luther. The
letter was taken out Of the mail bag, and
contained seveniy-fve dollars; and hv
looking at the post mark you will observe
1t 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 7 read
the following, which was withou, date,
save that made by the post masters
stamp on the outside. give it here ver-
batim:
"Sistcr Dor"as: send YOU hecr seven
tie five dolerS, which | want VI to kepe il,
for me till cum hum, cant kcpc hecr
coz ime afraid it will get stole, don't spoke
wun wurd tn living sole bor. this coz !
don't want nobodi to know have got en-.
ny money. yu wont will yu. am first
rate hecr, only that good for nothing snpc
OF liz madwurth is herr yet-hut i hone
III get rid Of her now. yu know rote VA
bout her, give my luv to awl cnquiren
friends. this is from your sister till deth.
Nancy LUTHER."
"Now, your honor" said, rs | hand
ed him Tie letter, and also the reccip,s,
"you will see that the letter is directed TO
Dorcas Luther, Somcrs, Montgomery
county. And you will also observe tha;
one hand wrote that letter and signed
those receipts. 1t is plain how the hun
dred dollars was disposed of. Seventy
five were in that letter and sent away
Tor 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 An
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 witnesses
own mouth that she had no money OF her
own; and without leaving their seats,
they returned verdict of mot Guilty.''
The youth who had first asked me to
defend the prisoner, caught me 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 slight token of graft.
tude due me for my efforts in behalf of a
poor, defenceless, but much 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 Malworth his wife
very soon.
Next day | succeeded in clearing my
other client Of robbng the mail; and
made considerable handle OF the fortu.
nate discovery Of the letter which bad
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, it was because sincere
Iy believed that the young man was limo
cent of all crime, and am sure they
thought so too.
Do not venture into sch room if YOU