The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-07-14
A Lawyers Adventure.

| iesS, WAS pfhctlclnp law III ILLINOIS on n pret
ty largo circuit. | was called on one day in
my office, in tho town of c., 10y very
pretty woman, who not without fears, told
; me her husband had been arrested for horse.
stealing. She wished TO detain NE on the
defense. asked her why she did not 90 10
Judge B., an ex-senator of the u. S.
whose Office was in the same town. told
that was young man at the bar, ETC.
She mournfully said that he had asked ro.
taining fee above her means, and besides did
not want to touch the case, for her husband
was suspected of belonging to an extensive
band Of horse.thicvcs and countcrfcitcrs,
whose headquarters were on Moor's prairie.
| asked her to tell mo the whole truth of
the matter, and if it was true that be did be-
long TO such n band?
"Ah, Sir" said she, "a better man at
heart than my George never lived; but he
likes cards and drink, and | am afraid they
made him do what he never would have done
if he had not drank fear that it can be
proved that he had the horse; he didn't steal
it; another did, and passed it to him."
didn't like the case. / knew there was
great dislike TO the gang located where she
named, and feared TO risk the case before
jury. She seemed to observe my intention
to refuse the case, and bur- t into tears.
never could sec n woman cry without
feeling like weak fool myself. If il hadn't
been for eyes Enlightened by ''pearly tears"
(blast the poet that made 'em to como into
fashion 10y praising 'em,) I'd never be caught
in the lasso Of matIimony. And my would
bc-clicnt was pretty. The handkerchief that
hid her streaming eyes didn't hide her ripe
lips. and her snowy bosom rose and fell like
II white gull in n gale Of wind at sea. took
tic case and she gave me the particulars.
The gang, Of which he was not a member.
had persuaded him to take the horse. lie
knew it was stolen, and, like fool, acknowl-
edged it when arrested. Worse still-he had
trimmed the tail and mano to alter its ap-
pearancc, and the opposition could prove it
The trial can on. | worked hard to get
jury Of ignorant men, who had more heart
than brain. Who, if they could not fathom
the depths Of argument, or follow the laby-
rinthine mazes Of the law, could feel for n
fcllow in n bad fix, weeping, pretty wife,
nearly broken hearted, and quite disliactcd
Knowing the use Of 'cffcct," ] tod her TO
dress in deep mourning, and bring her little
chcrpb Of boy, only three years old, into
court, and TO sit rs near her husband MS the
officer would Jet her. L tired that game nee
III murder case, and weeping wife and sis
ter made jury render verdict against law,
evidence, and the judges charge, and saved
u fellow that ought to have been hung as
high as Haman.
,rI Ihe anraefGnltn si,epod,SGry bitterly: in;
who made the land q terror to Strangers and
travellers and who had robbed every farmer of
their fine horses. 1t introduced witnesses,
and proved all and more than feared it
would.
The time came for me to rise for defence.
Wtncsscs--I had none. But ! determined
to make an oiiort--only hoping SO TO interest
ihc Judge and Jury as TO secure rccommcn-
dation to gulciratorial clemency and light
sentence So painted this picture. A young
man entered into life, welded to an angel,
beautiful in person, possessing every gentle
and noble attribute. Temptation was before
and all around him. lie kept taveTn.--
Guests there were many; it was not for him
TO inquire into their business; they were well
dressed, made large LillS, and paid promptly.
At an ungnarded hour, when he was insane
with the liquor they urged upon. him, he had
deviatcd from tie path of rectltude. The
demon of alchohoi reigned IN hls hr"'n, and
it was ms first offence: Mercy pleaded Tor
another chance to save him from rum: jus,
ticc did not require that his young wiie shod
go down sorrowng to the grave" and that
the shadows OF disgrace and The taunt OF
felon father should cross the path OF mat
sweet child. ., how earnestly did plead
for them! The woman wept; the husband
did the same; the Judge fidgeted ard rub
bed his eyes; me jury looked melting II
could have had 'he closing Speech nc w0oiG
have been cleared; but the prosecution iaG
INC close ana threw ice on the nre l hao
kindied. But thcv did not qn'te put IL out;
~ J"Isv ~, ~ IeOnnd % ~ ~" % s;do "f
rSn'o"'' ry T"' ; cI ,"'a" -, nf IL
"r', hu, .nor;rnnr.Iv yocommcnde1 ,Lo rSisoncr
:" n"t ,bn "n',c n"rcy - Tho court Nv clirn, was
" - =,