Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-09-23

Joseph Cooper was only two and twen-
ty and had been an apprentice to Mr..
Clark until his majority, since which
time he had been at work as a journey
man.
| Nothing more was said on the subject
of the last nights scrape, until near the
middle of the afternoon. 1t was near 3
o'clock when the deputy sheriff entered
the shop and inquired for Joseph Coop
er.
"Where is "COPPER"" the officer asked
of Nathan Wilder.
"That's him at the other end of the
shop. sir"
"Let's see," resumed the visitor,
glancing over paper he had is his
hands, where were you last night?"
s'At home sir. No sir. have conclu-
ded to let that company go without me
hereafter.
GOOD. I'm glad of that" uttered
the sheriff, emphatically; and then he
went along to where Cooper was at
work.
He spoke with the young man, and
the latter turned pale as death. There
was much evident begging and pray
ing, but all in vain: The officer had
come for Joseph Cooper, and he could
not go without him. So Joe washed his
hands and put on his coat and hat, and
then with. a trembling step, he accompa-
MED the officer from the shop.
When Nathan went out after his day s
work was done, he learned the whole
story. On the night before party of
young men had gone over to the back
village and had a carousal at Billy Nc
Wayne's; and on their return had torn
down fences, carried away barn doors,
opened barnyards and let the cattle out,
stole watermelons and several other
things of like character. News had been
received there that the party was coming,
and they were watched. They were
tseen o-do these things, and though IL
was TOO dark to distinguish their faces
at the time, yet all who were at Nc
Wayne's were known, and had been
traced TO their mischief.
That very evening the whole party,
fourteen in number, were arraigned be-
fore justice, and the complaint entered
against them. Poor Cooper pleaded
that he had nothing TO 10 With the work,
and while tears rolled down his cheeks,
he asserted his innocence.
"You have been in the same company
before?" said the justice.
eyes, sir" hesitating, answered
Cooper.
"And you have known their eharac-
ters for mischief and disturbance?
eyes, sir; but /"
"Never mind, now," said the Judge.
"You should have thought of all this be-
fore. No one man of this party would
have ever gone alone and done tn at work.
1t takes gang to make such doings
worth while, and you have been men,
Der of that gang some time. If you
would be pure, above suspicion, you
must 6e'Oare. Of aOhat company you keep. "
After this the Justice went on to speak
of the many wicked deeds which had
been done in time past, and which, for
the sake of the friends of the perpetrators,
had been passed over; but the thing
could not be overlooked now. The
crime may have been sport to the doers,
but poor, honest people had suffered
heavily. A stop should be put to it.
81 can only impose fine of twenty
dollars" said the Judge, "and as I
think the enormity of the Offence de-
mands heavier penalty, l must commit
you to be tried at the next term of the
Supe rior Court"
Each of them was required to give bail
in the sum of one hundred dollars. Ma
than Wilder became bail for Cooper,
and the others found bail among their
friends.
That night Nathan went home wi
ser man, and in his heart he thanked
Mr.. Clark for the counsel he had given.
Joseph Cooper went home wiser, too,
but he was miserable and unhappy. He
now saw what evil company had done
for him, and he wished that he had been
wiser before.
Within a week, eleven of the guilty
party went and saw the people whose
property had been abused, and not only
confessed their error, and offered to
make pecuLiary restituions but they al
SO implored forgiveness. and promised to
do SO no more. The consequence was.
at the next term of the Court no COM
plant appeared against the contrite
youths. Only three ring -leaders--three
low, reckless, hardened youths-were
tried. and sentenced to one years i'm
prisonment of the County Jail.
1t was a good lesson TO many youth
in that town, and from that time forth
there were no more disturbances of the
peace and injuring of property; for the
more virtuous of the youths had learned
hcw dangerous it was to be found in bad