Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-08-15
A LAWYERS ADVENTURE,

] PFetty large circuit. was called on one
day in my Office, in the town of c.,
by avery pretty woman, who, not with
out tears told me her husband had been
arrested for horse-stealing. She wished
to retain me on the defence. I asked her
why she did not 60 to Judge b, an
ex-senator of the United States, whose
Office was in the same town. told her
that was young man at the bar, &c.
She mournfully said that he had asked
a retaining fee above her means, and be-
sides did not want to touch the case, for
her husband was suspected of belonging
to an extensive band of horse-theives and
counterfeiters, whose headquarters were
on Moore's prairie.
/ asked her to tell me the whole truth
of the matter, and if it was true that her
husband did belong to such a band.
'Ah, SIR said she, "a better man at
heart than my George never lived; but he
liked cards and drink, and | am afraid
they made him do what he never would
have done if he had not drank. ! fear
4 that it can be proved that he had the
4 horse; he didn't steal it; another did, and
passed it to him.
| didn't like tile case. | knew that
there was great dislike to the gang loca-
ted where she named, and feared to risk
1.-THE case before a jury. She seemed to
fobserve my intention to refuse the case,
land burst into tears.
II | never could see a woman weep wlth~
rout feeling like weak fool myself. [
lssook the case and she gave me the partlc-
leplars.
70 The gang, Of which he was not mem
Der, had pursuaded him to take the horse.
H. He knew the horse was stolen, and like
ll'e 4 fool acknowledged itwhen he was arres-
~ ed. Worse stiIl-he had gone and trim
. > ned the horses tail and maine to alter
e, il appearance, and the opposition could
n. rove it.
The trial came on. The prosecution
m pened very bitterly: inveighed against
to Iiieves and counterfeiters, who had made
ne le land terror TO strangers and travel
is rs, and who had robbed every farmer
b, sthe region of their finest horses. 1t in
> aduced witnesses, and proved all and
@ Ore than feared it would.
The time came for me TO rise for de-
~ flee. Witnesses had none. But de~
IL tTnined to make an effort, only hoping
ii sto interest the Judge and jury as to Sc
10 Gle recommendation TO gubernatorial
if cheney and light sentence. 50 !
st pnted this picture: A young man enter
ednto life, welded to an angel; beautiful
l. irnerson, possessing every gentle and no.
Of blattribute. Temptation was before and
ss aIround him. He kept tavern. Guests
the were many; it was not for him to IN
QUE into their business; they were we'll
g drsed; made large bills and paid prompt
'r Iy. AT an unguarded hour, when he was
N insae with the liquor they urged upon
is hinshe had deviated from the path OF
rectude. The demon of alcohol had
rfeiaed in his brain; and it was his first
ofsce. Mercy pleaded for another
2" chase to save him from ruin. Justice
: did pt require that his young wife should
e go dvn sorrowing to the grave, and that
the sadow of disgrace and the taunt OF a
felorfather should cross the path OF that
sweeehiId. Earnestly did ! plead for
. them The woman wept; the husband
did III same; the judge fdgeted and rub
rs bed II eyes; the jury looked melting. 1t
J" | coui have had the closing speech ne
}" wouldlaye been cleared; but the prose-
cutor lad the close, and threw ice on the
!. !. fire | hdkindled. But they did not quite
put it ant.
lr Theiudge charged according to law
and evidence, but evidently leaned on the
Il side ofnercy. The jury found verdict
Il of guilt, but unanimously recommended
the priDner to the mercy of the court
: NV cliat was sentenced to the shortest
y inprisdment the court was empowered
f to give, ,and both jury and court signed a
], petitionto the Governor for an uncondl-
5 tional urdon, which has since been gran
!" ted. butnot before the following incident
occurred
sometbree months after this, | receiv-
= ed an account for collection from whole
sale houie in New York. The parties to
collect from were hard ones, but they had
q proDerg.and before they had any idea OF
n the trap laid, / had the property, which
q they were about to assign, before they
3 broke under attachment. Finding ] was
neck ahead and bound to win, they 'ea.
we'd in, ard 'forked over three thousand
/ seven hundred and ninety-four dollars
9 and eighteen cents (per memorandum
4 book In good money. They lived III
q shawneetSwn, about thirty-five or forty
= miles southeast of Moore's pralrle' re-
ea;...a.I IL lls,naa ;,,st after hank onenIng