Mountain Democrat., 1857-10-10
From the Missouri Democrat.
A Lawyers Advent 1lre.

We presume our Illinois readers will
readily expand the town c. men.
toned in the following sketch into Car
lylc:-
About three or four years ago, more or
less, was practicing law in Illinois in a
pretty large circuit. was called on one
day in my Office, in the town of G.,
BY very pretty woman, who, not with
out tears, told me her husband had been
arrested for horSc-Stcaling. She wished
IL retain me OH the defence. lasked her
why she did not go to Judge b., an cx-
Senator of the United States, whose Office
was in the same town. told her that |
was young man at the bar, &c. She
mourniully said that he had asked n re-
tanning fec above her means, and besides
did not want to touch the case, for her
husband was suspected Of belonging to
an extensive band of horse -Stcalcrs and
countcrrritcrs, whose head. quarters were
on Moorc'S prairie.
asked her to tell me the whole truth
Of the matter, and ifit were true that her
husband did belong to such gang?
All, sir" "a hettcr man Mt heart than
my George never lived; but nc liked cards
and drink, and am afraid they made him
do what he never would have done if he
had not drank. fear that it can be
proved that he had the horse; he didn't
steal it another did, and passed it to him"
didn't like the case. l knew that
there was great dislike to the gang loca-
ted where she named, and feared to risk
the case before u jury. She seemed to
observe my intention to refuse the case,
and burst into tears.
could never see woman weep with
out feeling like weak fool myself lfit
hadn't been for eyes hrightcncdby "pcarly
tears" (haSt the poets that made them
come into fashion by praising 'em,) I'd
never been caught i'll the l0sSo of matri-
monv. And my would-bc client was pretty.
The handkerchief that hid her streaming
eyes didn't hide her ripe ibis, and her
snowy bosom rose and fell like white
gull in gale of wind at sea. took the
case and She gave me the particulars.
The gang, of which he was not men,
her, had persuaded him to take the horse.
lie knew the horse was stolen, and like
fool acknowledged it when he was arrcs-
ted. Worse Still-hc had trimmed the
horses tail and name to alter his appear
ancc, and the opposition could prove it.
The trial came on. | worked hard to
get a jury of ignorant men, who had more
heart than brain; who, if they could not
fathom the depths of argument, or follow
the labyrinththnc mazcs Of the law, could
feel for young fellow in a bad fix, a
weeping, pretty wife nearly brokcn-hcart
ed, and quite distracted. Knowing the
use of " effect" told her to dress in deep
mourning, and bring her little chcrub Of
n hoy, only three years old, into court,
and sit as near her husband as the officer
of court would allow her. tried that
game once in murder case, and weep
ing wife and sister made jury render
verdict against law, evidence and the
judges charge, and saved fellow that
ought to have been hung as high as Ha-
man.
The prosecution opened very bitterly !;
invcighed against thieves and counterfeit
crs, who had made the land . terror to
strangers and travellers, who had robbed
every farmer in the region of their h0eSt
horses. II introduced witnesses, and
proved all and more than feared itwould.
The time came for me to rise for defense.
Witnesses had none. But determined
to make ~ effort, only hoping so to inter
est the judge and jury as to secure a re-
commendation to gubernatorial clemency
and light sentence. So / painted this
picture: A young man entered life, wed.
ded an angel; beautiful in person, pos
scsSing every gentle and noble attribute.
Temptation was before and around him.