True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-04-15
D. Raglan, Editor and Proprietor

mind that they were not unrriendly to my
client, and that would seek an interview
with them, although it should necessitate
journey to Bedford. In Miss Browns
testimony | at once detected intense NAL.
ice, and determined to harrow her un
mercifully in my cross examination, Yves
ley's evidence was very similar in style
and manner 10 that of Hannegan but
Mrs. Eunice Wesley's testimony was
full, discursive and acrimonious-suc
for instance, as that, "She had always
believed Helen TO be viper, but her hus.
band had upheld the trollop." Iremem-
bered The gossip about Ilelen's i'll treat
ment, and to my mind. the case now SEEM
ed to be clear ); | believe that Mrs. Wes.
ley herselfhad put those things in Helen
Monlressor's trunk. next went to the
court house and requested Mr.. Mace, the
sheriff, who lived in wing of the bull.
ding, to introduce me to the prisoner. He
conducted me to her cell. Although the
bolts changed heavily as they sprang from
the locks, our entrance did not seem Ia
attract her attention. She was standing
with clasped hands before her narrow
grated Window, gazing intently at the
sky. The sheriff touched her arm and
said, Miss Montressor, this gentleman,
Mr.. Rumsen, is the lawyer who is to
manage your case to morrow, and he
wants to see you" She started, turned
quickly round, and made an inclination
Of her head, toindicatc her willingness to
listen, but she SAID not a word. The
sheriff had already left the cell. and we
were alone. Conscious that every mo-
ment was precious, said: 3.
" Miss Mentressor, we must throw
aside all ceremony and communicate
frankly upon this painful business.
say painful, because it is not less harrow
ing to me than to yourself Not that !
think you guilty, for | believe that you
are innocent The next thing is to prove
that you are SO. AS things now are, this
promises TO be difficult matter !; but am
not without hope. If you will tell me
frankly what your experience has been
with the Wesleys, my task may be very
much lightened. I then put a series Of
questions, which she answered with en-
tire frankness, whereby | learned that she
was fifteen years old, that she had lived
with Mrs. Wesley, who had been married
about eight years that she formerly iv.
ed with a kind old gentleman, named
Gregory, who taught her to call him
grandpa; that Mrs. Wesley, who was
then Miss Nesmith, lived with Mr.. Gre.
CORY also; that he seemed afraid of Miss
Nesmith that Miss Nesmith inherited
all his property, and married Mr.. Wes.
ley about month after old Mr.. Gregory
died that she told her never to call him
grand pa any more. for he wasn't any re-
lation 10 her at all that the day on which
old Mr.. Gregory died he gave her seal
ed packet, and told her not to let Eunice
see it, but to give it to certain lawyer
when he returned to town, for it would
make her rich young lady and then he
cried and said he had let Eunice have
her own way too much; that she fell
asleep with the packet, in her lap and
when she woke up it was gone, and she
had never dared to ask any questions
about it; Mrs. Wesley hated her and
beat her, and treated her like slave, and
threatened 10 kill her, and that she some.
times thought Of drowning herself, she
was so miserable that Mr.. Wesley had
said improper things to her, that he was
bad man, but very weak and cowardly,
and completely under his wife's control ;
that the day on which her trunk was
searched, she was sent 10 The minister's on
an errand, was gone about an hour and a
half, and on her return was taken up
stairs to see her trunk opened, before she
had pulled off her bonnet and shawl ;
that she was sure Mrs. Wesley had put
the things in her trunk while she was
gone out, because she Ellen had over
hauled it that morning, and they were
not in it then but whether Mr.. Wesley
knew about it she could not say, although
she rather thought he did because he
looked guilty when his wife opened the
trunk.
Telling the poor girl 10 cheer up, and
keep good heart, withdrew, and | went
to the sherifl's sitting room, where found
Mrs. Mace. l informed her that it was
my opinion Miss Montressor was an limo.
cent, prosecuted girl, and that ! hoped
she would try to cheer her up that day
and evening, go that che could enter The
court room with a good heart on the NOR
row. This the kind hearted woman pro-
missed to do, and hastened to my office
My brain was in a whirl. Gregory
grandpa-he packet, which was to make
her a rich young lady--its mysterious
disappearance What could that all mean
Was old Mr.. Gregory really Helen's
Grandfatherl Was that packet his las
will and testament, bequeathing his pro
perly 10 her! and Eunice Nesmith, now
Eunice Wesley, had stolen IT from tht
| child as she slept, that she might clutcf
The property by virtue Of formerjwill
which had been forced from the man 2
!" He cried, and said he had let Eunict
have her own way too much! Her owr
lway about whati I felt certain that