San Andreas independent., 1858-05-08

gappul.
'Weighedp
In the city justice scales. The case
is spoken of everywhere, with this addi-
ton, that the proofs against you are ire
futable'
'Then there is no hope?'
None, if you be what you say your
self-guiltless for you cannot afford to
retain me, who, probably of all the bar,
could alone give you chance
Overwhelmed and Mortified, the hypo-
crite, after some hesitation, admitted that
he was in condition to remunerate the
counsellor for undertaking his defence
What is your fee, sir? he asked
Ten per cent.
'Ten per cent? Why, that is thous-
and pounds ?
/ So much the better for both of us
After many futile attempts to beat down
the counsellor's demand, the prisoner ac-
ceded to it, and gave an order upon his
/ wife for the enormous sum of thousand
pounds, on an understanding that if the
counsellors's exertions should fail, he
would return nine hundred and fifty
pounds of it to-the acidOu
Immediately upon receiving this draft,
Costelloe left the prison, and, without
waiting to present it, proceeded to the
Grown Office, situate on South Cope ST.,
on the site of the rear or courtyard of the
present Commercial buildings, which at
that period resembled in its functions the
head police Office of modern times The
sitting magistrate had risen; but the chief
clerk was at his desk when Costelloe en-
tered. Good morning, Mr.. Johnson
said he. The clerk returned the salute
Anything in my way to-day, Mr. John
SOM he asked with the most perfect
noacbdlGnce.
What, Counsellor Have you not
heard of the robbery at Gleadowe's?'
'Gleadowe's? The bank? Not a word
of it.
Yes; the cashier, who was deemed the
most trustworthy of men, has plundered
the chest
Plundered the chest p
Extracted from it ten thousand guineas
in gold made up in rouleaux, and has sub
stituted for them as many farthings'
And cot clear off !?
No. He is safe in Newgate'
What a scoundrelp
A consummate one; but he will suffer
for it. The evidence against him is con-
elusive; for part of the stolen property
was found in a secret draw of his desk
at home
Did you not say that the money alb
stracted was in gold p
Yes; but those pieces have been iden-
tilted p
How? One guinea is so like anotherp
True; but mark the finger of Provi-
dence Along with the guineas the vii
lain carried off ten foreign gold coins,
Dutch ducats, which realise in the safe
and these have been sworn to by his dep
uty, and will hang him. See here
The clerk opened his desk, and took
from it small box, committed to his
custody for production at the trial of the
accused, and poured its contents into the
hands Of the apparently wondering Coun-
sellor.
Costelloe examined them, piece by piece,
with the most intense interest, turned and
returned them in his hand, and again re-
garded them with the concentrated at
tention of a Jew money-changer. The
scrutiny lasted so long that the clerk man
ifested impatience At length Costelloe
restored them, observing, The fellow
has undone himself
what fortunate foresight Was it
not, Counsellor?
'Providential, as you just now proper
ly remarked. Never was proof more
clear
After few words on general subjects,
the Counsellor left the office, with mind
seemingly disengaged. That evening his
confidential clerk and secretary was seen
to go on board a Liverpool packet which
lay at Sir John Rogerson's quay, and
sailed half an hour afterwards.
Some weeks later the prisoner was
brought to trial at the Commission court
Green street, and in the presence of as
numerous an auditory as had ever beer
congregated in it. AS usual, the counse
for the accused sat Immediately before
him. On one side of Costelloe was placed
his clerk, with whom in the course O
the proceedings he frequently conversed
: and whose hat was on the table before
him; on the other hand of Costelloe was
the attorneyof the prisoner When called
upon to plead, the unfortunate man at the
bar, with much emotion, exclaimed
Not guilty With a solemn asseyera
ton, he added, that the rouleaux of coin
(farthings) found in the safe were those
which had existed there for years and
formed part of the rest as he had been
! given to understand; and he received
them from his predecessor at the value
indicated by the ticket attached to each
packet. He had never opened them.
CostelIoe cross examined, but only
slightly, the witnesses who deposed to the
preliminary facts. At length came the
turn of the deputy cashier, who swore
that he had frequently seen in the chest
the identical ten Dutch pieces of gold
: which the Counsellor had so curiously
examined at the Crown Office, and which
> th,, witness now aoain identified