Gazette and sentinel., 1860-05-26
The Corrupt Judge.

~ AA@Af NN> 800
pectable circumstances, who having
words with another stabbed him NOR
tally; he then made his escape, but was
captured next day by the officers of pc
lice. Notwithstanding the testimony OF
several witnesses to the fact, and other
convincing circumstantial evidence
againt him, the prisoner persisted in
deed his only feasible dclencc,) denying
his having been the person who had III
fictcd the wound; he. even underwent
the torture OF the cavallcttO, without
coming to a confession. Notwithstand-
: ing this pertinacity, the presiding Judge,
satisfied by the evidence brought for
ward, condemned him TO death. Peti-
tionS and applications were made to no
purpose to the Judge for his interces-
sion with the grand master, and to the
Prince himself for pardon. The time
allotted being expired, the criminal, As
is the custom in Malta, was removed
tAtee days previous to execution into
the condemned chapel, where, with a
a spiritual adviser, people i'll that I'M
happy situation pass the few sad min
utes remaining to them, in the Offices of
preparing themselves, by c~ompunctIon
and prayer, for that pardon in the next
world, from which human police ex-
cludes them in this.
Twoof these trying days had passed,
when the father of the criminal, per-
suading himself that even yet a pardon
might be obtained for his son. could hc
succeed in engaging the influence of
the Judge who had condemned him. in
his favor, on the evening preceding the
day on which the sentence was to be
carried into execution, presented him
self. Just as it darkened, at the door ol
the functionary Admittance was at
first refused; but a dOuCeur to the ser
want soon opened both the door and the
ear to the supplicant. IN abrupt ne
gative had been already given III terms
the most unequivocal, when the distress /
ed parent, taking from under his cloak
a bag containing one thousand Maltese
crowns-a large sun for the time ant
place-put it on the table, giving the
Judge to understand that double
that amount would Ice forthc3m-
ing in the event Of a pardon being
granted to his unhappy oon. The Judge
remained for several minutes silent and
absorbed in thought; at length he told
the father in a low voice, but plain
terms, that late as it now was, and diff 7
fcult from that and other scircumstan-
ces, he would still, though the result
was far from certain, do his best to
avert the cruel doom impending over
the young man. After a little further
consideration he dismissed him with an
order Of admission to the prison, where,
under pretext of taking a last leave of
his child he was to devise some plan of
getting the priest out of the way, and
OBTAINING him as long as possible. in or
der to leave the judge sufficient time to
complete a design which he had already
conceived. Somewhat consoled, and
relying on the Judges ingenuity the
father retired. Complying with the d.
rections given him, he saw his son, en-
gagged the priest to accompany him
home, and kept him occupied in dis
course until he supposed the judge had
found time to carry his plan, whatever
it might be, into effect.
Til. Judge, in the meal time, eagert to
insure the remainder of the sum promis-
ed, had formed his project; application
- La - +bo princa ha Enouy NO opl,,