True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-04-15
9 ;sga1,p Talpger.
JUDGE RUMsEN's FIRST CLIENT
BY MARY LEE.

Old Judge Rumsen was fond Of telling
his early experience at the bar. My
first case, he would say, came upon me
most unexpectedly, after | had waited a
considerable time for client. The way
came 10 get it was this:
A young girl named Helen Montres
sor, was to be tried at our county court
Belleview for stealing breast pin, valu.
ed at four dollars, and twenty dollars in
gold, from the trunk of her employer
one James Wesley, merchant who liv.
ed in a neighboring town Of Bedford
The theft, which was detected some five
weeks before, occasioned quite talk at
the time, as the girl was very beautiful
and James Wesley and his wife Eunice
were anything but that, besides being
generally detesed. People said Helen
had been treated shame(ulIy by her mis-,
ress, who was jealous of her ;and it was
even limited that there had been foul
play in the prosecution for theft The
subsequent arrest of gang of counter.
feiters and horse thieves had so absorbed
public attention, that the case of Helen
Montressor was quite forgotten, and nc
one seemed 10 care for her fate. Bu
when her case was called. and she was
placed in the prisoners box, her beauty
riveted every eye and when the Judge
asked her who was her counsel, and she
modestly replied that she had none, and
that she had no money TO pay a lawyer,
there was not member of the bar pres.
en-. who would not willingly have under
taken her case. The Judge, after look
ing round the room for moment, fixed
his eye on me, and, said," Mr.. Rumsen
you will please act as This young lady's
COUNSEL" I started as though I had been
shot, Luckily, a juror was just taken i'll,
and the court adjourned till ten O'Clock
theinext morning, or / am afraid that
should have made sad work with my eli.
ent's case. a-f ~ Pc" .' ..
','9As / left the court room, looked at
my watch il was eleven o'clock, so ]
lad but twenty three hours to prepare for
the struggle. | at once called upon the
district attorney and asked to see the in.
dictment, and the evidence taken before
thejustice of the peace. As he tumbled
over pile Of documents, in search Of the
papers, he said, "The judge must have
spite against you, Rumsen, to put you in
such tight place, and you green hand
,"No offence" he added, as he observed
the rising color of my cheek" no Of
fence VI simply meant that you are mex
perienced. There are the documents
you may take them home with you il
youllike-only be sure TO bring them tC
court to morrow morning. You will see
on perusing them, that your client has
not any chance Twas annoyed at thii
light in reference to my client, for whom
] had already entertained the deepes
respect, and believed to be innocent; bu
said nothing in reply.
Hastening to my Office, l locked my
self in and commenced the analysis Of my
case. The Indictment was in BRIEF wha
/ had already stated. The evidence be
fore the justice Of the peace consisted 0
the testimony Of James and EuHice Wes
ley, Sarah Brown, seamslress, Char
loite Boyce, o domestic. and Thos. Han
lnegan. a man of all work, employed b.
The Wesleys. Hannegan'S evidence
seemed straight forward andtruthful, AMI
40 '.f did the % servant gid's. 7 made up m.