Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-03-03


.. "Alas! it is otherwise, and / mysel
shall be forced to prove her guilt,
gasped the shuddering client, will
looks of terror.'
The lawyer was mute with aston
ishment.
"It is a most extraordinary tale .
continued the grief stricken parent.
in a hollow voice. sMy darling child
was a paragon Of purity and good
ness until five summers ago. when she
fell dangerously i'll with fever, that
brought her to the very door of
death; and ever since her recovery
she has been afflicted with an uncon-
querable passion to steal. Indeed,
she seizes every opportunity to graft
| fly this insane propensity, while in ev.
cry other respect she evinces the same
reason and yirtuous moral sentiment
as previous to her misfortune.
'.Is the fact which you have men
toned generally known in the comn.u-
nity?'' inquired Newland, With pain
full anxiety.
cit is SO notorious" replied the
other, "that her character stands as,
fair as ever. She is universally ad-
mired and loved, as well as pitied.-
Conscious of her fault, | always search
for the articles which she purloins,
and return them to their true owners.
the present prosecution originated in
spite against me on the part Of a de-
feated political rival"
i"She can be excused on the ground
Of partial derangement," said New.
land. in confident tones.
"Thc most learned advocates think
differently" answered the client, with
a gloomy countenance.
Il am willing to pledge myself for
Der complete justification before
jury declared the attorney, with the
assurance of youthful enthusiasm.
'Then name your reward" cried
the father, in accents of hope and ca
gerness.
1--WE will talk of that after the tri-
al" observed the other, thoughtfully;
sand now let me muster my authorl-
ties, and we will meet at the court
house.
At the hour fixed by the adjourn
ment, the capacious hall Of justice
was densely crowded with spectators,
all anxious to witness the singular
scene; but the astonisbment of Albert
Newland may wellbe lima gined when
the prisoner was brought to the bar,
and he beheld the beautiful girl,
whose radiant image had shone, like
luminous star in the air around him,
wherever he turned his eyes, since
the night of his lecture! She turned
mortally pale, and then blushed red
as southern sunset, the Instant their
glances met.
The case was opened by the dis
.rict attorney, and the proof adducec
showed beyond question that the ac-
cused had stolen jewelled necklace
of considerable value, the property
Of a youthful companion, the daugh.
ter of Major Miles,
The counsel for the defence then
introduced testimony to support the
plea of mental arrangement, and the
evidence seemed perfectly conclusive
as far as it went, demonstrating that
on one subject at least her intellect
had been altogether detbroned.
Fhe Judge, however, displayed his
spartiality at the outset by interPosing
with a querulous crcss.aaestiont to the
father Of the fair prisoner: "Col.
Greenleaf, l desire you to say on
your solemn oath whether the hallu-
cination of mind under which your
daughter labors, so entirely obscures
;. her reason as to obliterate the sense
Iof right and wrong?"
Fl 81 must answer that it does not
your honor" replied the witness, "be
|, cause she repents and weeps bitterly
, over every fresh offence, but is still
again urged On by irresistible impuis'
: to repeat the error"
f "Then | must decide, according t
f the Uniform current of precedents
e that her insanity is not such as Cal
: be legally recognised as an excuse 10
this or any other criminal action,
4 said the court, with look of pom
= pous solemnity-
d The proofs being exhausted, tn
r, arguments commenced, and never b
fore, or since, was such an effort heai
: in Missouri as that powerful appe