Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-05-07
D THOBURN EDITOR & pROPRIETOR.]
NEW SERIES, VOL. I, NO /

shut myself in my room, and determined to
pass the entire night, if necessary, in pre-
pairing for the contest. l wished to clear
my client on the charge made against her
expose the Wesley's and -oblige them tc
make restitution to the wronged and piIlaged
orphan.
ransacked my memory to find some.
thing tangible concerning the past car eer Of
Eunice Gregory and her accompiice, but
found nothing. had read that story many
years ago before in a newspaper, the name
of which could not remember could not
prove that the Wesleys were the same par
ties; and should mention my suspicious
in court the District Attorney would scout
at them as ridiculous and malicious inven-
tions of my own, and the Judge would
charge the jury to pay no heed to them. |
must sap the characters OF the Wesleys in
my cross examinations of their witnesses
and thus try TO effect breach sufficient to
justify direct assault, on charge of con-
spiracy against Helen, and crush James
Wesleys on the witness stand, And wove
sun rays streamed through my windows.
The Court was opened. a jury impanelled,
the case called, Helen Montressor placed in
| the prisoners box, and the District Attor-
ney's telling. merciless opening of the case
completed, in what seemed to be but few
minutes OF time. Helen seemed to look
more innocent than ever and | resolved
that full justice should be done if my re-
sources could accomplish such result
1t is in such an hour that a lawyer feels the
bonor and dignity of his position-it is then
that he also feels his responsibility.
The first witness was Charlotte Boyce.-
She had been called by her mistress to go
up and gee Helen's trunk searched; and she
went up and saw the breast2in and money
found in it-tucked away in one corner
BY my cross-exanination elected the fact
/ that Helen had just come home from an er-
rand {ou which she had been sent more than
an hour,) when her trunk was searched, and
had on her bonnet and shawl; that she look
ed quite innocent and unconcerned until the
things were found and then she seemed as
tonished, On dismiss;ng the witness gaz-
ed at The jury, but they sat with stern faces,
a. though resolved that nothing could make
them clear the prit. called Miss Boyce
back, saying had forgotten very impor-
tant point. This excited some attensi ion,
and when asked her if Mrs Wesley was
in the habit of illtreating the prisoner, every
body picked up their ears. The girlhesita-
ted and stammered, and finally said she was.
And why do you think SOP | asked. Be
cause Mrs. Wesley beat her once with a
large club, and threatened to kill her and
was scoldipg her. But don't ask me any
more questions she suddenly exclaimed 'or
| shall lose my placer
| glanced at Mrs. Wesley, and saw that
she was regarding her servant with intense
maiignity, and to annoy her l appealed to
the Court to protect the witness against ,he
threatning looks of her mistress, This
brought all eyes to focus on Mrs Wesley's
ugly countenance, and she turned fairly
white with Indignation. The judge told the
witness to speak without fear and if she
lost her place by telling the truth, she would
find plenty of better ones. Being satisfied
with the impression made told the witness
she might 60, and the District Attorney
permitted her to pass without questioning.
the next witness was Miss Sarah Brown,
the seamstresss-a rat-eyed, hatchet-fsced,
| dapper little creature. She was at work
for 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
suspected she had been doing something
wrong. The same day Mrs. Wesley spoke
to her about the things being gone and she
told her suspicious. Thereupon she thought
/ it would be good plan to search .Heen's
trunk; proposed to do it at once, but Mrs.
/ Wesley preferred to wait, when the trunk
was searched. the things were found in it
just as she expected they would be-
When the witness was passed owe. to me
! asked in a careless tone, how she knew
the money was in Mrs. Weslev's room the
day she met Helen coming thence.
She kL ew it, because Mrs. Wesley shaC
tod her. Couldn't be mistaken, for Mrs
Wesley had spoken about the half eagle
with it which she was going to present tc
the minister's boy -
This made her say over and over again
until there could be no mistake about it,ant
then asked if she knew who made the hols
in the half eagle.
'Yes; Mr.. Murch the jeweler, made it,
is he in the rooml' asked
Yes, there he is,' said she pointing.
told Miss Brown she could go, and th
District Attorney requested that Mr.. Murcl
: should be sworn. The Attorney hande
Mr.. Murch the identical half eagle and ask
ed il he recognized it. He said he did; tina
the magistrate who committed. the prisone
had made mark upon it.
That's all; the witness is yours, Mr.
r Remsen.'
do you remember, Mr.. Murch, on wha
day of the month you made the hole in tn
half eaglep asked.
: 1T was on the seventeenth of March
: said he.
why, that was the very day the prisoner
: trunk was searched, was il notp said turn
ing to the District Attorney
Luis 10 s'-c uoy hieutioueu III the luulCl
;, ment,' he replied.
e Turning again to the witness, 1 said, M
S Murch please recollect with precision; yo
e heard the witness who proceeded you, swet
IS that Mrs. Wesley told her that the identi'
y al halt eagle with the whole then made
d it, was in her husbands trunk on or befol
5. the 10th of March.
1t yes said Murch, Il heard her swear
IS that and was astonished, for Mrs. Wesle
N brought me the coin in the afternoon of tt
10th and told me must have it fixed b
:, noon next day; at l i on the 18th she can
&c fo. it, and at one that afternoon it was four
ID in Miss Montresser's trunk
The District Attorney turned sharp rour
and gave Wesley's piercing look. Mr.