The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-07-08
ALawyer's Adventure.

/
lily expand the town c. mentioned in
the following sketch into Carlyle.
About three or four years ago, more OF
less, was practising law in Illinois on
pretty large circuit was called on one
day in my Office, in the town of c., by
. very pretty woman who, not withoutsst cars
told me her husband had been arrested for
horse stealing. She wished to retain me on
tn Nelense. l asked her why she did not
go to Judge b, an ex-senator Of the United
States, whose Office was IN the same town.
l told her that | was young man at the bar
&c. She mournfully said that he had asked
a retaining foe above her means, and besides
did not want to touch the case for her hus-
band was suspected Of belonging to an ex.
tensive band Of horse thiefs and counterfeit.
ers, whose headquarters were on Moores
prairie.
asked her to tell me the whole truth of
the matter, and If it was true that her hus.
band did belong to such band?
"Ah, sir, said she, "a better man Mt heart
than my George never lived; but he liked
cards and drink, and am afraid they made
him do what he never wonld have done If
he had not drank. fear that it can be
proved that he had the horse he didt steal
it, another did snd passed it to him."
didt like the case | knew that there
was great dislike to the gang located whore
she named, and feared to risk the case be-
fore ajury. She seemed to observe my in.
tention to refuse the case, aud burst into
tears
i never could see woman weep without
feessng hse~ weak sosl saysef Ii it hadn't
been for eyes Frightened by "pearly tears"
blast the poets that made them to come in
fashion by praising EN-, Id never have
been caught in the lasso Of matrimony.-
And my would be client was pretty. The
handkerchief that hid her streaming owes
didn't hide her ripe lips, and her snowy 10,
com rose and fell like y white gull in a gale
It sea. | took the case and she gave me the
particulars.
The gang OF which he was not member
had persuaded him to take the horse. He
know the horse was stolen, and like fool
acknowledged it when he was arrested.-
Worse still-he had trimmed the horses tail
and name to alter his appearance, and the
opposition could prove it.
The trial came on. worked hard Ia 90,
ajury Of Ignorant men, who had more heart
than brain, who, if. they could not fathom
the depths of argument, or follow the labv.
rinthine ma.es of the law, could feel for
young fellow in a bad fix, weeping. prettv
wife, nearly broken hearted, and auite dis.
tracted Knowing the use of effect / told
her to dress in deep mourning and briny
her little cherub OF q boy only three wears
Old, into court and to sit as near her hosband
as the officer would let her. tried that
game once in murder case, and a ween;nr
wife and sister made a jury, render verdict
against law and evidence and the ;udra's
charge, and saved a fellow that ought 10 heve
hung as high as Hannah.
The prosecution opened very bitterly; in. |
weighed against thieves and counter:s,tsrs
who had made the land terror to stranrers
and travellers, and who had robbed every far.
mer in the region of their finest horses II
introduced witnesses and proved all, more
than feared j. would.
lhe time came for me to rise for the de. |
tense. Witncsses-I had none But I ia. |
sermined to make an effort only hoping 80 to |
interest the Judge and jury as to secure a |
recommendation TO gubernatorial clemency
and light sentence. So / painted this p,c-
tnre. young man entered into life wed
ded to an an-e: beautiful in person, possess
sing every gentle and noble attribute. TEN
tation was before and all around him. He
kept tavern. Guests there were many it
was not Cor him to inquire into their bust
ness they were well dressed; made large
bills and paid promptly At an unguarded
hour, when he was insane with the liquor
they urged upon him, he had deviated from
the path ofrec;tude The demon Of alcohol
re'gned in his brain; and il was his first Of |
fence. Mercy pleaded for another chance to
Ave him from ruin. Justice did not require
that his young wife should go down sorrow
ing to the grave, and that the shadow of dis
grace and the taunt Of . felon father should
cross the path Of that sweet child. O. how
did plead for them. The women
wept the husband did the same; the JUDGE
idgeted and rubbed his eyes; the iury Look
ID melting Ii could have had the clo.ioc
speech he would have been cleared but the
PROSECUTOR had the close, and threw ice ON
he FIRE | had kindled But they did mot
quite put it ont.
The Judge charged according to law and
but evidently leaned on the side Of
mercy The jury found verdict Of guilty,
nut unanimously recommended the prisoner
o the mercy Of The court Ny client was
sntsnced TO the shortest imprisonment the !