Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-06-03
CLEARFIELD, PA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE s. 1851

ana oollge them 10 make restitution TO the
wronged and pillaged orphan.
ransacked my memory to find something
tangible concerning the past career of Eunice
Gregory and her accomplice, but found moth
ing. had read the story many years ago in
a newspaper, the name of which / could not
remember. could not prove that the Wes-
leys were the same parties and should men,
tion my suspicious in court the District Attor-
ney would scout at them as ridiculous and ma
licious inventions of my own, and the Judge
would charge the jury to pay no heed to them.
l must sap the characters of the Wesleys in
my cross-exam;nations of their witnessesses
and thus try to effect breech sufficient to JUS
tify direct assault on charge of conspiracy
against Helen, and crush James Wesley on the
witness stand. And L wove my meshes for the
victim until the morning sun rays streamed
through my windows.
The court was opened, jury impannelled,
the case called, Helen Montressor placed in
the prisoners box, and the District Attorneys
telling, merciless opening Of the case compile
ted, in what seemed to be but few moments
of time. Helen seemed to look more inno-
cent than ever, and 1 resolved that full justice
should be done her. if my resources could
compass such a result. 1t is in such an hour
that lawyer feels the honor and dignity of
his position-it is then that he feels his res
possibility.
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
examination l elected the fact that Helen had
just come home from errand, con which she
had been sent more than an hour,) when her
trunk was searched, and had on her bonnet and
shawl; that ssshe looked quite innocent and
unconcerned until the things were found, and
then she seemed astonished." On dsmissing
the witness | gazed at the jury, but they sat
with stern faces, as though resolved that moth
ing could make them clear the culprit. 1 cal
led Miss Boyce back, saying had forgotten a
very important point. This excited some at
tention, and when asked her if Mrs. Wesley
was in the habit Of i'll treating the prisoner, ev-
erybody picked up their ears. The girl hesi-
tated and stammered, and finally said she was.
s'And why do you think so ?'' asked.
HBecause Mrs. Wesley beat her once with a
large club, and threatened to kill her and was
scolding her. But don't ask me any more
questions" she suddenly exclaimed, "or 1
shall lose my place!''
glanced at Mrs. Wesley, and saw that she
was regarding her servant with q look of in
tense malignity, 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 Wes-
ley's ugly countenance, and she turned fairly
white with indignation. The Judge told the
witness to speak without fear, and if she lost
plenty of better ones. Being satisfied with
the impression made, told the witness she
might go, and the District Attorney permitted
her to pass without questioning.
The next witness was Miss Sarah Brown the
seamstress-a rat-eyed, hatchet-faced, dapper
little creature. She was at work for Mrs. Wes-
ley at the time the theft was discovered. She
met Helen the day before the trunk was search
ed, coming out of her MISTRESS room, and
she looked so guilty she suspected she had
been doing wrong. The same day Mrs. Wes-
ley spoke to her about the things being gone
and she told her suspicious. Thereupon she
thought it would be good plan to search He
lens trunk proposed to do it at once, but
Mrs. Wesley preferred to wait. When the
trunk was opened, the things were found in it,
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.
ssShe knew it, because Mrs. Wesley had told
her. Couldn't be mistaken, for Mrs. Wesley
had spoken about the half eagle with hole in
it, which she was going to present to the Min
ister's boy"
This l made her say over and over again,
until there could be no mistake about it, and
then asked if she knew who made the hole in
the half eagle.
eyes; Mr.. Murch, the jeweler, made it.
..Is he in the room ?'' l asked.
eyes, there he is" said she, pointing.
told Miss Brown she could go, and the Dis
trctAttorney requested that Mr.. Murch should
be sworn. The Attorney handed Murch the
identical half eagle and asked if he recogniz-
ed it. He said he did that the magistrate
who committed the prisoner had made mark
upon it.
'sThat's all the witness is yours, Mr. Rem
eson."
'sDo you remember, Mr.. Murch, on what
day of the month you made the hole in the
half eagle 2'' asked.
s'It was on the 18th of March," said he.
''Why, that was the very day the prisoners
trunk was searched, was it not 2'' said /, turn
ing to the District Attorney.
s,Tbat 80 fha dav In, ha rf-