Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-07-04

hearted and quite distracted. knowing
the use of reflect" told her to dress
in deep mourning, and bring her little
cherub of a boy, only three years old,
into court, and sit as near her husband
as the officer would let her. l tried that
game once in murder case, and weep
ing wife and sister made jury render a
verdict against law, evidence and the
judges charge, and saved a fellow who
ought to have been hung as high as Ha-
man.
The prosecution opened very bitterly. !;
inveighed against thieves and counter
feiters, who had made the land terror to
strangers and travellers, and who had
robbed every farmer in the region Of their
finest horses. 1t introduced witnesses
and proved all and more than l feared it
would.
The time came for me to rise for defense
Witnesses / had none. But determined
to make an effort, only hoping so to inter-
est the judge and jury as to secure re-
commentator to gubernatorial clemency
and light sentence. So l painted the
picture young man entered into life
welded to an angel; beautiful in person,
possessing every gentle and noble attri-
butte. Temptation was before and all
around him. He kept tavern. Guests
there were many it was not for him to
inquire into their business they were
well dressed made large bills and paid
promptly. At an unguarded hour. when
he was insane with the liquor urged upon
him, he had deviated from the path OF
rectitude. The demon of alcohol reigned
in his brain; and it was his first offense.
Mercy pleaded for another chance to save
him from ruin. Justice did not require
that his young wife should go down sor-
rowing to the grave, and that the shadow
of disgrace and the taunt of felon ia
ther should cross the path of that sweet
child. o, how earnestly did l plead for
them. The women wept; the husband
did the same; the judge 6dgeted and
rubbed his eyes; the jury looked melting
If | could have had the closing speech
he would have been cleared but the
prosecution had the close, and threw ice
on the fire had kindled. But they did
not quite put it out.
The Judge charged according to law
and evidence. but evidently leaned on the
side of mercy. The jury found verdict
of guilty, but unanimously recommended
the prisoner to The mercy of the court.
My client was sentenced to the shortess
Imprisonment the court was empowered
to give. and both jury and court signed
a petition to the Governor for an uncon-
ditional pardon, which has since been
granted. but not before the following in
cident had occurred.
Some three months after this, Ireceived
an account for collection from whole
sale house in New York. The parties to
collect from were hard ones, but they had
property, and before they had an idea of
the trap laid, ! had the property which
they were about to assign before they
broke, under attachment. Finding was
neck ahead and bound to win. they caved
in and forked over three thousand
seven hundred and ninety-four dollars
and eighteen cents (per memorandum
book), in good money. They lived in
Shawneetown, about 35 or 40 miles south
east Of Moore's prairie. l received the
funds just after bank opening. but other
business detained me till after dinner. l
then started for c., intending to go
as far as the village of Mount Vernon
that night.
/ had gone along ten or twelve miles.
when l noticed splendid team of double
horses attac he'd to a light wagon, in which
were seated four men, evidently of the
high-strung order. They swept past as
if to show how easily they could do it.
They shortened in and allowed me to
come up with them. and hailing me asked
me to "wet," or in other words, dimin-
ish the contents of a Jug of old rye they
had aboard, but excused myself with
the plea that l had plenty on board. They
asked me how far l was going, l told
them as far as Mount Vernon if my horse
didn't tire out. They mentioned pleas
ant tavern ten or twelve miles ahad, as
nice stopping place. and then drove on.
Ibid not like the looks Of those fellows,
nor their actions. But was bound to
go ahead. had brace of revolvers
and a nice knife; my money was not in
my valise or my sulky. but in belt round
my body. drove slow in hopes that
they would go on, and l should see them
no more. 1t was nearly dark when l saw