The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-07-11
A Lawyers Adventure.
From the Missouri Democrat.

ly expand the town c. mentioned in Tx
following sketch into CARLYLE:
About three or four Years ago, more or les
. was practising law in Illinois in prett.
large circuit. | was called on one day in my
woman who, not without tears, told me hel
husband had been arrested for horse stealing
She wished to retain me on the defence.
asked her why she did not 90 to Judge B.
an ex-senator of the United States, who's,
office was in the same town. told her thai
was Young man at the bar, &c. She
mourntullv said that he had asked a retaining
fee above her means, and besides did nO
want to touch the case. for her husband wa.
suspected of belonging to an extensive ban'
of horsc-thievcs and countcrfciters, whose
headquarters were on Moore's prairie.
asked her to tell me the whole truth Of
the matter. and if it was true that her hus
band did belong to such band9
"Ah. sir" said she. ga better man at heart
than nv George never lived but he liked
cards and drink. and am afraid they made
him do what he never would have done if hs
had not drank fear that it can be proved
that he had the horse he didn't steal it, an
other did. and passed it to him.
| didn't like the case. knew that there
was great dislike to the gang located whcr,
she named. and feared to risk the case before
Il jury. She seemed to observe my intention
to refuse the case aid burst into tears.
| never could see 4 woman weep without
feeling like weak fool myself. If it hadn,
been for eyes Frightened 10y "pcarlv tears.
thla>t the poets that made them to come i.
fashion by prai>ing 'em.) Id never have beer
caught in the lasso of matrmonv. And III,
would-bc client was pretty. The handAcr
chief that hid her streaming eyes didn't hid,
her ripe lips. and her snowy bosom rose and
fell Ike white gull in gale of wind at sea
took the case and she gave me the particu
lars.
The gang. of which he was rot member
had persuaded him to take the horse. II.
knew the horse WAS stolen. and like foo
acknowledged it when he was arrested
Worse still-hr had trimmed the horses tai
and name to alter his appearance, and III,
opposition could prove it.
The trial came on worked hard to gt
u jury of ignorant men. who had more hear
than brain : who. if they could not fa;hon
the depths OF argument. or follow the
lA'lrinth;nc macs Of the law. could feel to
iourc !c' W IN Il lad tix.;. Weeping pretty
wife. nearly hrokrn-hcartcd and quite dsirac
ted. Knowing the use of effect told hcI
to dress in deep mourning. ard bring h..
little chcrub Of :. boy. only three years old
into court. and to sit as near her husband a,
the officer would let her. tried that gam,
once in 4 murder case. and a weeping vii,
and sister made a jury render a vcrdic
against law. evidence and the Judges charg,
and saved fellow that ought to have bee,
hung as high as lIaman.
The prosecution opened very bitterly in
Weighed against thieves and countcrtciters
who had made the land terror to stranger.
and travellers. and who had robbed ever,
farmer in the region of their finest horses
1t introduced witnesses. and proved all anc
more than feared it would.
The time came for me to rise in defence
Witnesses had none. BIZ. determined tc
make an effort. only hoping so to interest tn,
Judge and jury as to secure recommendation
to guhcrnatoral clemency and light sen
;rnce. SO painted this picture A young
man entered into life. welded to an angel
beautiful IN person. possessing every gentl,
and noble attribute. Temptation was before
and all around him. lie kept tavcrn-
guests there were many it was not for him
to inquire into their business they were
wcll-drcsscd made large bills and paid
promptly. At an unSuarded hour. when he
was insane with liquor they urged upon him
he had dcviatcd from the path of rectitude
The demon of alcohol had rcigned in hi,
brain and it was his first offence Mere,
pleaded for another chance to save him from
ruin. Justice did not require that his Young
wife should so down sorrowing to the grave
and that the shadow of disgrace and the
taunt of fclon father should cross the pat}
of that sweet child. o, how carrstlv did
plead for them. The woman wept tn,
husband did the same the Judge fdycte,
and rubbed his eyes; the jury looked melting
If could have had the closing speech h'
would have been cleared but the prosecutor
had the close. and threw ice on the fire ha,
kindled. But they did not quite put it out
The Judge charged according to law ant
evidence, but evidently leaned on the side of
mercy. The jury found verdict of guilt,
but unani ,nously recommended the prisonc
to the mercy of the court. My client wa
sentenced to the shortest Imprisonment tn
court was empowered to give, and both jur,
and court signed petition to the govcrno
for an unconditional pardon, which has sine
been granted but not before the followin.
incident occurred:
Some three months after this, Ireceived al
account for collection from wholesale hous
in New York. The parties to collect from
were hard Ones but they had property. an,
before they had an idea of the trap laid ha,
the property, which they were about to assigl
before they broke under attachment. Findin.
> was neck ahead and bound to win, the
''caved in" and "forked over" three thousan,
seven hundred and ninety-four dollars an,
eighteen cents (per memorandum-book) il
good money. They liven in Shawncetowr
about 80 or 40 miles southeast of Moore
prairie | received the funds just after banl
opening, but other business detained me til
after dinner. l then started for c., il,
tending to go as far as the village of Noun
Vernon that night.
had gone along ten or twelve miles, whe,
| noticed splendid team of double horse
attached to light wagon, in which wer
seated four men, evidently of the high-strun
order. They swept past as if to show no,
easily they could do it. They shortened ir
and d. allowed me to come up with them, ant
hailirg me, asked me to wet" or in otbe
words diminish the contents of jug of oil
rye they had aboard but excused myself
with the plea that had plenty on board
They asked me how far l was going. l toll
them as far as Mount Vernon, if nv hors
didn't tire out. They mentioned a plcasan