New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-10-02
Aen 0rlfaas ls..tIp Grrsttnt.
a LAWYER anvENTrRE.

a
circuit. YES called on one day in my office hy
very pTessss woman, who, not without tears, tetd
me nsr ha oand had been arrested for horse steat
M. IN wished to retain me on me aeiehSe-
asked DER why she did not go to Judge b., an eA-
Senator of the United States, whose oihce Was IN
the town. i told her that was young man at the
har ETC. She Fsaournfaly said that he had asked
retaining fec beyond her means besides, he did
not want to touch the case, for her husband was
suspected OF belonging to an extensive band OF
horse thieves and eoanterfeiters, whose headquar-
tiers were on Moore's prairie.
[ asked her to tell me the whole truth Of the
matter and if it true that her husband did be-
Tong to such band.
All. sir, - said She e A better man at heart
than nv George never lived, but he liked cards and
drink, and am afraid they made him do what ne
never would have done If he had not drank. fear
it can be proved that he had the horse; ne didn
steal Ill another stole il and passed 1t to NM.
Ididnt like the case. knew that there was great
dislike to the gang located where she named, and
feared to risk the ease before Jury. She seemed
to observe lnv intention to refuse the case, and
burst into tears.
never could see woman weep without feeling
Lire weak fool myself. If it hadn't been eyes
frightened BIZ pearly tears, (bast the poet that
made them come into fashion by praising 'em y I'd
never have been caught in the lasso Of matrimony.
nv would be client was pretty. The handkerchief
that hid her streaming eyes didn't hide her ripe
lips; aud her snowy bosom rose and fell Like
white gull I'M gale of wind at took the case
and she gave me the particulars
The gang, of which he was not a member, mad
persuaded him to take the horse. He knew that
the horse was stolen, and, like fool acknow-
lodged It when he was arrested. Worse still, he
had trimmed the horses tail and name to alter its
appearance, and the opposition could prove it.
The trial came on. worked hard to get a jury
Of ignorant men, who had more heart than brain
who, If they could not fathom the depths of argu-
ment or follow the 1abarynthne mazes OF law,
could feel for young fellow in a bad fix, a weep
ing. pretty wife, nearly heartbroken and quite
distracted. Knowing the use Of s. e1ect,n told
in md hnrE
cherub of boy, only three years old, into court,
and sit as her husband the officer would let
her. tried that game once in a murder case, and
weeping wife and sister made jury render YER
dict against Law, evidence and the judges charge,
and saved fellow that ought to have been hung
as high as Haaman.
The prosecution opened very bitterly, and in.
weighed against thieves and counterfeiters, who
had made the land a terror to strangers and
travellers, and who had robbed every farmer in the
region Of his finest horses. introduced witnesses,
and proved all and more than feared it would.
The time came for me to rise for the defence.
Witnesses, had none. But determined to make
an effort only hoping, to interest the jury, as to
secure Recommendation to gubernatorial elem
encT and 4 light sentence So painted his pic
tnres A young man entering into life welded to an
angel; beautiful in person, possessing every noble
and gentle attribute. Temptation lay before and
all around him. He kept tavern. Guests, there
were many it was not for him to inquire their
business they dressed well, made large bills and
paid promptly At an unguarded hour, when he
was insane with liquor, they urged upon him, he
deviated from the path of rectitude. The demon
alcohol reigned in his brain, and it was his first
offence Mercy pleaded for another chance to
save him from ruin. Justice did not require that
his young wife should go down Borrowing to the
grave, and that the shadow and taunt of felon
father shonld cross the path of that sweet child.
Oh, how earnestly did l plead for them, The
woman Wepts the husband did the same; the
judge hdgetted and rubbed his eyes; the Jury
locked melting. If could have had the closing
speech, he would have been cleared but the pro-
secution bad the close, and threw ice on the fire
had kindied But they did not put it quite out.
The judge charged according to law and evil
dence, but evidently leaned on the side of mercy.
The jury found verdict of guilty, but unanimously
Recommended the prisoner to the mercy of the
court. My client was sentenced to the shortest
imprisonment the court was empowered to give,
and both jury and court signed a petition to the
Governor for an unconditional pardon, which has
since been granted, but not before the following
incident occurred.
Some three months after this received an ac
count for collection from q wholesale house in
New York. The. parties to collect from were hard
ones; but they had property, and before they had
an idea of the trap laid, had the property which
they were about to assign before they broke under
attachment. Finding was neck ahead and bound
TO Hin, they eayed In, they forked over 49, 794 Is
Sper memorandum book in good money. They
lived in ShaWneetown, about thrty-fye or forty
miles southeast OF Moore's prairie. received the
funds just after bank opening, but other business
detained me till after dinner. then started for c.,
non that night.
had gone along ten or twelve miles, when no.
ticed splendid team of double horses attached to
3 light wagon, in which were seated four men, eyi.
IDENTITY Of the high strung order. They swept past
As if 10 show how easily they could do it. They
shortened in and allowed me to come up with
them, and mailing me, asked me to "wet,n or in
other words, diminish the contents of Jug of old
rye they had aboard, but excused myself with
the plea that had plenty board. They asked
me how far was going. told them as far as
Mount Vernon, my horse didn't tire out. They
mentioned pleasant tavern ten or twelve miles
ahead as nice stopping place, and then drove on
did not like the looks Of those fellows nor their
actions. But was bound to go ahead. had a
brace of revDiyers and a nice knife; nv money
was not in my Falise or my sulky, but in a belt
around my body. Idroye slow in hopes they would
go on, and should see them no more. 1t was
nearly dark when saw a tavern sign ahead. At
the same time saw their wagon stood before the
door. i would have passed on, but my horse
needed rest. hauled up, and q woman came TO
the door. She turned as pale as sheet when she
saw me, she did not speak, but with a meaning
lock she put her finger on her lips and heckoned
me in. She was the wife Of my late client.
When entered, the party recognized me, and
hailed me as an old travelling friend, and asked me
to drink. ] respectfully but firmly declined to
do 50.
I But yon shall drink or fight!'' said the noisest
of the party.
!. just o. you please. drink shall notp' said l.
purposely showing the butt of Colt which kicks
six times In rapid succession.
The others interposed. and very easily quieted
my opponent. One offered me a cigar which |
should net have received, but q glance from the
woman induced me to accept. She advanced and
proffered me light, and in doing SO slipped note
into my hand which she must have written with a
pencil the moment before. Never shall forget
the words-they were:
aBeware-theY are members Of the gang They
mean to rob and murder you Leave soon. will
manage to detain them.i
did not feel comfortable just then, but tried to
look so.
Have you any room to put mp my horse ?n
asked, turning to the woman
9 What, are yon not going on tonight? u asked
one OF the men we are.''
g No, y said L. I shall stay here to-night,s
g Wen all stay, then, guess, and make night |
of Il. said one of the cutthroats.
You III have to put up your own hoss-here's |
lantern said the woman.
Z lin used to that said g Gentlemen excuse |
me minute I'll join you in o drink when come |
in.si
Good on your headl More whisky, old gall,u
shouted they.
vent out and glanced at their wagon; it was
oldfashienes, and .slinchpins' secured the Wheels
TO take out my knife and pry one from the fore /
and hind wheels was but the work Of an instant
and threw them as far off in the darkness as |
could. 10 unite my horse and dash OFF was but the |
work Of q moment. The road lay down steep |
hill, but my lantern lighted me somewhat.
had hardly got under full Roadway when |
heafa q yell from the party had so unceremo-
At.s L.