Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-07-23

II dcQualntcu Will Nun, no CEdpcQ nc-
quaintsnce with me, and We were soon init
mate. Very soon he began to make use of me;
he asked if would do him favor. He wanted
to get private sight Of the register in St.
James, Church. So / consented, am sorry
to say, to get him private sight; but made
the bargain that he should not copy q single
word out of it, and of course meant to be
with him and watch him."
did you know that his request had refer
ence to the case Of Carr versus Carr ?' in
quired Sergeant Wrangle.
"No, I'll swear did not, ;" retorted the wit
ness, in a savage tone, forgetting, probably,
| that he was already on his oath. He never
told me why he wanted to look. He would 20
in at night; if he were seen entering the church
in the day, it might be fatal to bis client
cause was the tale he told; and am ashamed
to acknowledge that took him in at night,
and suffered him to look at the register"
"YOu knew where the key of the safe was
kept"
'Ycs; was one day in the church with the
Rev. Mr.. Prattleton, and saw him take it from
its place
"Did you see Rolls abstract the leaf?'
"Of course 1 did not" Indignantly retorted
the witness. 81 suddenly found the vestry in
darkness, and he got me to fetch the matches
| which were left on the bench at the entrance
door Ii must have been done then. Soon
| after returned he gave me back the register,
and locked it up again. When We got to the
church door, we were astonished to find itopen,
| but
But you did not suspect it was opened by
one who had watched your proceeding" inter
rupted the judge.
aNo, my lord. Rolls left the town the next
day, and / have never seen him since. That's
all know of the transaction, and can only
publicly repeat my deep regret and shame that
| should have been drawn into such an one"
| "Drawn, however, without much scruple, as
it appears, rebuked the Judge, with a severe
| countenance. "Allow me to ask you, sir, when
it was that you first became acquainted with
the fact that theft had been perpctrated on
| the register?''
| Mr. George Prattleton did not immediately
answer. He would have given much not to be
Obliged to do so; but the court wore an omi-
nous silence, and the judge waited his reply
The day after it took place. Arkell, the
college boy, came and told me what he had
| seen, but"
The one was Mr.. George Prattleton: the
other stranger of the name Rolls, who was
staying somewhere in Riverton. Mr. George
| Prattiet0n unlocked the safe and gave Rolls
| the register, and he sat down and looked
through it; he was looking a long while"
What next did you see9'
Then, sir, il was your duty to have pro-
claimed it, and to have had steps taken to ar
rest your confederate, Rolls" interrupted the
stern judge.
| "But, my lord, I did not believe ArkelI. 1
did not, indeed" he added, endeavoring to
impart to his tone an air of veracity and there
fore-as is sure to be the case-importing to it
| just the contrary. @ could not believe that
| Rolls or any one else in a respectable position
| would be guilty of 50 felOnious an action"
| The less excuse you make upon the point,
the better" observed tho Judge.
For some few minutes Sergeant Siftem and
his party had been comforting in whispers. The
Sergeant at this stage spoke
My lord, this revelation has come upon my
instructors, Mynn and Mynn, with the most
utter surprise, and"
The man, Rolls, is clerk to Mynn and
| Mynn, L believe" interrupted the Judge in
significant tone as presiding judge per-
| mits himself to assume.
| " He was my lord, but he will not be in fu-
ture. They discard him from this hour In
fact, should he not make good his escape from
| the country, which it is more than likely he
is already endeavoring to effect, he will prob
your lordship for judgment, should you hap
pen to come this circuit, and preside in the
other court But Mynn and Mynn wish to
disclaim, in the the most emphatic manner all
cOgnizance of this mans crime. They
| There Is no charge to be brought against
| Mynn and Mynn in connection with it, is
there!" again interpOsed the judge.
Most certainly not, my lord" " replied the
counsel, IN lofty tone, meant to impress the
public ear.
Then Brother Siftsm, it appears to me that
| you need not take up the time of the court to
enter on their defense"
Il bow to your fordship's opinion Mynn
and Mynn and their client Squire Carr, are
not less indignant that So rascslly trick should
have been perpetrated. than the public must
be. But this evidence, which has come upon
them in 50 overwhelming manner, they feel
and cannot hope to confute. l am therefore in
structed to inform your lordship and the jury
that they withdraw from the suit, and permit
a verdict to be entered for the other side.
Very good" replied the judge.
And thus, after certain technicalities had
been observed, the proceedings were concluded,
| and the court began to empty itself of its spec
tators; the next cause coming on, had no inter
| est for them. For once the right had prospered.
| The Reverend Mr.. Wilberforce laid hold of
Henry Arkell. Tell me-, said he, but not in
an angry tone, chow much more that is incom-
prehsnsible are you keeping secret, allowing
| it TO come out piece-meaR"
Henry smiled. Il don't think there is any
| more, sir"
"Yes there is. 1t is incomprehensible why
| you should not have disclosed, at the time, all
you had been witness to in the church Why
did you not
George Prattleton, sir; and if had he might
| have been brought to trial for it.
Serve him right too, said Mr. WilberfOrce.
1t would have been an ungrateful return,
sir, to the Reverend Mr.. Prattleton, after all
the kindness he has shown my family
"Grstitudeis is a praseworthy feeling, Arkell,
but it should yield to justice. Had Mrs. Carr
and her orpans lost their cause, through your
not speaking, you would have reflected on your
self all your life. You ought to have thought
| Of this"
at is only within a day or two, sir, that
knew the leaf, taken out, had reference to Mrs.
Carr's case; indeed, il was only yesterday
evening that heard it would be likely to cost
her the trial. And I Immediately went to
George Prattleton and told him he must alb
solve me from the promise had given him, or
else / should speak without it."
80 Then you gave him promise not to be-
tray him." hastily interrupted the master.
''Yes, sir; eonditiOnally. The day following
the scene in the church, told George Prsttle-
ton what / had seen done. At first could not
decide how to act; had my father been in town
think should have disclosed all to him; once
| thought of telling you; then Mr.. Prattleton;
but 1t was impossible to tell any one, without
betrsying George. At last l decided to 20 to
George himself, and did so, and related what
: / had seen. Though he professed not to believe
me, he wanted me to take an oath never to