Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-01
THE LAwY YER'S RIDE,
THRILLING SKETCH.
Judge Remsen's First Client.
ICONcLuDRD.l

the case called, Helen Montressor placed in the
prisoner box, and the District Attorneys tell
ing merciless opening of the case completed, in
what seemed to be but few minutes of time.
Helen seemed to look moro innocent than ever,
and resolved that full justice should be done
, her, If my resources could compass such result
1t is in such an hour that lawyer feels the
honor and dignity of his positon-lt Is then
that he also feels his responsibility.
The first witness was Charlotte BOyce. She
had been called by her mistress to go up and
see Helen's trunk searched; and she went up
and saw the breastpin and money found in it
tucked away in one corner. By my crOss-ex-
animation elected the fact that Helen had Just
come home from an errand, ION which she had
been sent moro than an hour, when her trunk
was searched, and had on her bonnet and
shawl; that g she looked quito innocent and
UncOncerned until the things were found, and
then she seemed astOniShed." On dismissing
the witness gazed ut the jury, but they sat
with stern faces, aS though resolved that moth
ing could make them clear the culprit. L
called Miss BOyce back, saying had forgotten
very important point. This excited some at
tcntiOn, and when l asked her if Mrs. Wesley
in the habit of ill-treating the prisoner,
everybody picked up their cars. The girl hesi-
tlted and stammered, and finally said she was
And why do you think sO?' / asked.
- Because Mrs. Wesley beat her once with q
large club, and threatened 20 kill her and was
scoldinS her. But don't ask me any more
questions" she suddenly exclaimed, "Or L
shall lose my place.
glanced at Mrs. Wesley, and saw that she
was regarding her servant with look of in
tense mllignity, and to annoy her 1 appealed
To the Court to protect the witness against the
threatening looks of her mistress. This brought
all eyes to a focus on Mrs. Wesley's ugly eOun-
tenanee, and she turned fairly white with in
dignatian. The Judge told the witness to speak
without fear, and If she lost her place by telling
the truth, she would find plenty Of better ones
Being satisfied with the impression made, 1 told
the witness she might 90, and the District At
torney permitted her to pass without question
ing
The next witness was Miss Sarah Brown, the
seanStreSS-a Tat-eyed, hatchet-faced dapper
little creature. She was at work for Mrs.
Wesley ut the time the theft was discovered
She met Helen the day before the trunk was
searched, coming out OF her miStress's ROOM
and she looked so guilty she suspected she had
been doing something wrong. The same day
Mrs Wesley spoke to her about the things be-
ing gone and she told her suspicious. There
upon she thought it would be q good plan to
search Helen's trunk; proposed to do it at once,
but Mrs Wesley preferred to wait. When the
trunk was searched, the things were found in
il, just as she expected they would be-"
When the witness was passed over to me,
asked in a careless tone, how she knew the
money was in Mrs. Wesley's room the day she
had met Helen coming thence.
. She knew 1t, because Mrs Wesley had
told her Couldn't be mistaken, for Mrs
Wesley had spoken about the half eagle with
it, which she was going to present to the minis
ter's boy"
This made her say over and over again. un-
I'll there could be no mistake about it, and then
asked if she knew who made the hole in the
half eagle.
Yes; Mr.. Murch, the jeweler, made it."
. Il he in the room % asked
- H., =, Il.
told Miss Brown she could go and the Dis
trict Attorney requested that Mr.. Murch should
be sworn. The Attorney handed Murch the
identical half eagle and asked if he recognized
IT. lie said he did that the magistrate who
committed the prisoner had made q mark upon
il.
That's all; the witness is yours, Mr.. Rem
sen"
=. Do You remember, Mr.. Murch, on what day
OF the month you made the hole in the half
eagle! ~ i asked.
1t was on the 17th Of March," said he.
Why, that was the very day the prisoner
trunk was searched. was it not l'' said |, turn
Ing to the District Attorney.
That is the day mentioned in the indict-
ment," he replied.
Turning again to the witness, said, Mr.
Murch please to recolIcct with precision: you
heard the witness who preceded you swear that
Mrs wesley told her that the identical half
II,
husband trunk on or before tho 10th of last
March
Yes, said Murch, q / heard ber swear to
mat, and was astOnished, for Mrs. Wesley
brought ma the coin in the afternoon of the
lOth and told me | must have il fixed by noon
next day; at III on the 18th she came for il, and
AT mat afternoon 1t was found in Miss Mon
treSsOr : trunk"
Inc District Attorney turned sharp round
HId M gave the NeSleys piercing look Mrs |
W was lmm9vable; but Wesley turned pale
ana Iairiy covered beneath the gaze of the At |
.orhey, VINO L saw, was now convinced of the
rue facts Of the case; and Judge and iury
seemed to be Of the same mind. felt certain
tleh; oi a verdict IN my client favor but how
was 70 crush the Wesleys and how win hack |
her estate decided on my course
ha1negan was called next, and showed by |
MN MN that MIS- Wesley had prosecuted the pris-
oner IN the most outrageous manner-boatinp
her, and threatening 10 kill her. and min bo2
reputation, and treating her shamefully. His
.SSuhi'hy excited 50 much Indignation against
Ihe couple that longed E1r the moment when
2aine' 'I wesley should take the stand. When
l4nhegan retired Mrs Wesley whispered to her
TI1nu and ne whispered to the Attorney
Inc iatter seemed surprised, but announced
that the prosecution would there rest the case
eryoody was surprised that the Wesleys
were not called, and my plans were all disar
ranged OWNED at once that Mrs. Wesley
u@i suggested this course to shield her husband
and herself from eross-examination. Had the
instinct OF self-preservation told her what was
coming L rose to open my case for the de-
renee; and began by stating that / had incon-
.estiole evidence that conspiracy had been
entered into To blast the character of INV client
70 enable the parties in the conspiracy 10 nor
Iect certain secret plans which would Ell the
community with horror. saw that eyerybodv
was prepared 10 believe almost everything and
determined TO waste no time in words. Sc T re.
9nested that James Wesley might be sworn, and
desired the Judge to have Eunics Wesia, @nu
moved while her husband was being examined
enc was taken out by the Sheriff and I tu-nej
10 question James Wesley
James Wesley" said /. sternly, how eo,ne
uat scar on your fOrehead1D
~ a 5he villain turned ghastly pale, staggered.
Sor r.' vluVched at the railing of the witness box