The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-07-02
A Lawyers Adventure.

we pTesIme our iliinols TedueFs VIII TeduiIy
expand the town c. mentioned in the fol-
lowing sketch into Carlyle:
About three or four years ago, more or less,
was practising law in Illinois, on pretty
large circuit. was called on one day in my
office, in the town or c., by very pretty
woman, who, rot without tears, told me her
husband had been arrested for horse stealing.
She wished 70 retain me on The defence.
asked her why she did not 60 to Judge B., AN
ex-senator of the United States, whose Office
young man at the bar, &c. She mournfully
said that he had asked a retaining fee above
her means, and besides did not want to touch
the case, for her husband was suspected of be-
longing to an extensive band of horse thieves
and counterfeiters, whose headquarters were
on Moore's Prairie. aH
asked her to tell me The whole truth of the
matter, and il it was true that her husband did
belong to such band.
"Ah, sir" said she. ga better man al heart
than my George never lived /; but he liked cards
and drink, and am afraid they made him do
what he never wonld have Jene il he had not
drank. fear that il can be proved that he
had the horse he didn't steal it, another did,
ar,d passed j. 70 him "
dldu't like the case. knew tia. there
was great dislike to the gang located where
she named. and feared to risk the case before
| Jury. She seemed 10 observe my intention
to refuse Il case, ard burst into tears.
| never could see WOMAN weep without
feeling Ike 4 weak fool myself. II it hadn't
| been Tor eyes Frightened by ''pearlv tears,'
| (hlast the poets that made them to come into
| fashion By prais,ng 'em) I'd never been caught
| in the Iasso of matrimony. And my would be
client was pretty. The handkerchief that hid
her streaming eyes didn't hide her red lips,
| enll in gale OF winj al sea. took the case
| aud she gave Inc the particulars r-a .a a
| The gang, of which he vas not member,
had persuaded hun TO take the horse. lie
| knew the horse was stolen, and like fool
| acknowledged il when he was arres ed worse
| still--he had trimmed the horses tail All
name TO alter his app ,arance, and the opposi-
rioa could prove it. ....r .......a.
The trial came on. worked hard to get a
jury Of ignorant men, who bad more heart
,han brain, who, if they could not fahom the
depths of argument, or follow the labyrinthine
lnazes of the law, could feel for young fellow
in a bad fix, weeping, pretty wife, nearly
broken hearted aud quite distracted. knowing
the use of '.efect,"I told her 20 dress in deep
mourning, and bring her little cheru5 of boy,
only three years old, into court, and to sit as
near her husband as the officer would let her.
| tned that game once in murder case, and a
weeping wife and sister made jury reader a
verdict against law, evidence and the judges
charge, and saved fellow that ought to have
been hung as high as Haman.
The prosecution opened very bitterly; in-
Weighed against thieves and counterfeiters,
who had made the land terror to strangers
and travellers, and who had robbed every far
mer in the region of their finest horses. 1t in
troduced witnesses and proved all and more
than feared it would.
The time came for me to rise for defense
Witnesses-I had none. But determined to
make an effort only hoping so to interest the
Judge and jury as to secure Recommendation
ogubernatorial clemency and light sentence.
So painted this picture: A young man enter
ed into life welded to an angel beautiful in
person, possessing every gentle asd noble at
tribute. Temptation was before and all around
him. lie kept tavern. Guests there were
~ fnr -, - x.o;-
business 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 lad deviated from the path
| of rectitude. The demon Of alcohol reigned
in his brain; and it was his first offence
Mercy pleaded for another chance to save
him fre m ruin. Justice did moi require that
his young wife should 60 down sorrowing to
the grave, and that The shadow of disgrace and
the taunt of felon father should cross the
path Of that sweet child, o, how earnestly
did plead for them! The woman wept; the
husband did the same the Judge fidgetee and
rubbed has eyes; the jury looked melting. II
corll have had the closing speech he would
have heen cleared; but the prosecutor had the
close, and threw ice on the fire had kindled.
But they did not quite put 1t out.
The Judge charged according to law and ev-
idence, but evidently leaned on tie side Of
mercy. The jury found verdict Of guilty
but unanimously recommended the prisoner te
the mercy of the court. My client was sen.
ltencea TO the shortest Imprisonment the cour
was empowered TO give, and both jury and
court signed petition to the Governor for sr
iuncoiiditsonsf pardon, which has since beer