True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-04-15

a direct assault on charge of conspiracy
against Helen, and crush James w esley
on the witness stand. And l wove my
meshes for the unsuspecting victim, until
the morning rays sireamed through my
window.
The court was opened. jury empan-
nelled, and the case called, Helen Mon
tressor placed in the prisoners box, and
the district attorneys telling, merciless,
opening of the case completed, in what
seemed to me but few minutes time
Helen looked more innocent than ever, if
my resources could compass such result.
1t is in such an hour that the lawyer feels
the honor and dignity of his position ;
and it is then he feels his responsibility.
The first witness was Charlotte Bovce,
the servant girl. She had been cal led by
her mistress to go up and see Helen's
trunk searched she went up and seen
the breastpin and money found in it
tucked away in one corner. By my cross
examination | elected from the witness
the fact that Helen had just came home
from an errand, ION which she had been
absent over an hour, when her trunk
was searched, and had on her bonnet and
shawl; that she looked quite innocent
and unconcerned, until the things were
found, and then seemed astonished." On
dismissing the witness, I gazed at the
jury, to see if what | had elected had
made any impression on them, but they
sat with stern faces, as though nothing
should make them clear the cuprit. |
called Miss Boyce back, saying | had
forgotten very important point. This
excited some attention, and when asked
her if Mrs. Wesley was in the habit of
ilI-treating the prisoner, every body prick
ed up their ears. The girl hesitated
and stammered, but finally said she was.
"And why did you think 50 FL asked.
She replied, "because Mrs. Wesley beat
her with large club, and threatenedto kill
her, and was always scolding her. But
don't ask me any more questions" she
suddenly exclaimed, I" or shall lose my
place y Iglanced at Mrs. Wesley, and
saw that she was regarding her servant
with look Of intense malignity, and, for
the purpose of annoying her as much as
possible, appealed to the court to pro-
tect the witness against the threatning
looks of her mistress who was evident by
bent on intiinidating her. This brought
all eyes to locns on Mrs. WesIey's ug-
ly face, and she turned fairly white with
Indignation. The judge told the witness
to speak without fear, and if she lost her
present place by telling the truth, she
would undoubtedly find plenty of better
ones. Being satisfied with The impress
sion already made, told hCl she might
60.
The next witness was Miss Sarah
Brown the seamstress-a rateyed, hatch
et,faced, dapper little creature. She was
at work fOl Mrs. Wesley at the time The
theft was discovered. She met Helen
the day before the trunk was searched,
coming out of her mistress room, and
she looked SO guilty, she then suspected
she had been doing something wrong
The same day Mrs. Wesley spoke 10 me
about the things being gone, and the told
Mrs. Wesley her suspicious. Thereupon
they thought it would be a good plan to
search Helen's trunk; she proposed to
do it at once, but Mrs. Wesley preferred
to wait until the next afternoon. When
the trunk was searched the things were
found in ii just as she expected they
would be. ...
When the witness was passed over to
me. asked in careless tone, how she
knew the money was in Mrs. Wesley's
room the day she had met Helen coming
thence. "She knew it, because Mrs.
Wesley had told her it was there. Could
not be mistaken, for Mrs. w. had spoken
about the half eagle with hole in it,
which she was going to present to the
minister's little boy" This, made her
say over ard over again, until there could
be no mistake about il, and then asked
her if she knew who made the hole in
the half eagle. rr
eyes Murch the jeweler made it, is
he in the room," l asked. There he
is," said she pointing to Murch, who
was setting near l told Miss Brown she
could go; and as l supposed he would do,
the district attorney requested that Mr..
Murch should be sworn. The oath
having been administered, the district at
torney handed Murch the identical hall
eagle, and asked if he recognized it. He
said he did, that he made a hole in il for
Mr.. Wesley, and that the magistrate who
had committed the prisoner had made a
mark upon it so it could be easily iden.
tilted. "That's all, the witnesses yours
Mr. Rumsen,". said the district attorney.
"Do you remember, Mr.. Murch oi
what day Of the month you made the hole
in the half eagle you are holding in your
hand!" / asked. cit was on the l7lh
day Of March," said he. Faa i,
Why that was the very day the pris
oner's trunk was searched,' was it not
said | turning TO the district Attorney
nThat is the day mentioned in the in
diciment," he replied. Turning agar
TO the witness / said. i"Mr. Murch
Iplease'rto recolect with precision; yu
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