St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-09-16

OWNED all ere she could find words tc
express it; and putting her arms
about the weeping girl, the mother
and daughter knelt in prayer. Thci,
dcvotions were not finished, when q
knock-a quick, imperative knock
aroused them. Lefty arose to oper
the door, and two men i'll the garb o.
police-officcrs entered.
Good evening, madam-Mrs-'
said the elder" all ! Johnston, what
brazcn impudence ! See, there is tn,
very ring on her finger! Young wo
man addressing Lefty, 81 confcs,
that | am greatly surprised at seeing
that ring SO conspicuously displayed
The ring ;! what of the ring
hastily asked Mrs. Everett.
"Oh you are ignorant, ma'am, are
you? Well, I'll enlightcn you," sale
the official. "You must know tha
Miss Josephine Howard had presented
to her, few days ago, by a rich un
Gle, ring of peculiar form and value
a serpent with emerald eyes well
shortly after receiving the present, 8
party of young ladies having called
the ring was brought forth for thei
inspection. About the same time
certain young woman, whom Mis-
Howard had mercifully employed to dt
embroidery, come in with her work
and since then the ring cannot bt
found in Miss Howard's room. The
servant-maid declares that she saw
this young woman take something
from the table, where the ring had
been laid, and secretc it about her
person; and respectable tradesman
Mr.. Hardsoul, aftcrward saw the
identical ring on her finger"
"Thc ring! Great heaven you
cannot mean it The ring was given
to my daughter by her dying father
She did not steal it! God forbid ~
exclaimed the agonizcd mother.
Il" 1t is all very fine prating, ma'am,
and keeping us here losing our valua-
BILE time. The sooner you prepare
yourself, Miss, to accompany us pcacea.
bly, the BETTER" said the policeman,
waxing wroth at the delay.
My mother may go with me, may
she not, sir ?" asked Lefty, raising her
beautiful, though fearful eyes to the
face of the stern man.
" If she likes" was the reply.
That night Lefty and her mother
slept within the walls of a prison.
The courtroom was thronged. The
case was one of great interest A
beautiful young girl, who had ono,
moved in the highest circles of socic
ty, was to be tried for theft. Ever,
eye rested on poor Lefty, who sat il
the prisoners dock, calm and com
posed, but colorlcss as the mountain
snow.
The proofs against her were mos,
conclusive. The ring found upon the
finger of the prisoner, not only Cor
responded exactly with the one stolcl
from Miss Howard, but the very in
itials of her unclc's name, Richard FL
mington, were engraved on the in
side
The prosecution opened the case
The attorney was an old, experience,
lawyer, and arbitrary witllal. Miss
Howard's dressing-maid, a brazen
faced girl of some fve-and-twenty
swore roundly that she had seen til,
prisoner take some small article from
the table, where the ring had beer
laid but few moments before, an,
hide it about her person; and also
that she appeared in hurry to &c
away from the house.
Mr.. Hardsoul testified to the defend
ants having called at his store to oh
tain trust for bread. He had notice,
at the time the curious ring upon he
finger, which he could identify witt
the one now in the hands of the court
The case was about to be given I,
the jury, for Lefty had no money t.
employ counsel, when there was
hurried movement near the door o
the courtroom, and a stately, deter
mined form strode into the arena
Fl" Judge Harrington" "cricd the crowd
The new conner, after saluting tn
justice upon the bench, approache,
the pale prisoner.
The nature Of the case excuse
any liberties l am about to take" h
said, addressing Lefty, "allow me t
inquire if you have no one to speak il
your behalf?"
Alas ! sir" returned Lefty, hal
raising her hopeless eyes to his face
" who would plead for the poor ant
fatherless ?"
"God and Justice I" returned Judg
Harrington, emphatically, and |, a
their humble instrument, will sift thi
affair to the bottom! Please state t
me, briefly, your history from you
birth up to the present time"
Lefty obeyed, relating the most i'm
portant circumstances in a few words
"Did Miss Howard pay you 70
your work ?" inquired Mr.. Harrington
Lefty hesitated. "No sir, it wa
not convenient"
HIM very many things are no
convenient with the rich-your ia
TIERS given name, if you please ?"
"Rogcr-Roger Everett"
Very well. Take courage, Mis-
Everett"
Addressing the court, he said, "Ma,
it please your honor, and gentleme
Of the jury stand before you in bt
half of one whom believe iAnocen
Of the crime with which the mistaken
Justice of individuals would bran,
her-innocent as the angels, who
from their places around Gods throne
are looking down in sorrow upon tn
deed which You were about to col
summate I! A few moments, gentl,
men. and l will sum up, briefly, tn
facts in the case \ young, tende
girl is left an orphan In the blan
darkness Of midnight, death stitlen
the form Of a beloved father, and still
4 l.. - t,p