Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-09-05
EBENSBURG. PA. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1850


All eyes were on his face. and judges jury.
( lawyers and SPECTATORS felt certain that he
was guilty of leading the unhappy young man
astray.
Not long afterwards resumed young Lew
| is, 'in receiving my wages, [ found Mr.. Car
man had paid me fifty cents too much. L
was about giving it back to him, when re
membered the remark about letting people
correct their own mistakes, and said to my
self, Let him correct his own errors and
dishonesty kept the money. Again the same
thing happened, and again [ kept the money
that did not of right 5elong to me. This
was the beginning of evil, and here [ ann
| Mr.. Carman has shown an eagerness to con-
Wet me have me punished as the court has
seen. If he had shown me any mercy,
would have kept silent. But now l inter
pose the truth. and may it incline you to show
some consideration to the unhappiest being
that is alive to day
The young man covered his face with his
| hands, sat down ovrepowered by his feelings
| His mother who was near him, sobbco out
aloud, and bending over laid her hands on
his head. saying,
My poor boyl My poor 5oy!'
There were few eyes in the court room tn
| dimmed. In the silence that followed, Mr..
Carman spoke ont:
is my character to be thus blasted on the
words of criminal. your honors? Is this
right? Is this right? Is this the protection
citizen finds in court room!'
Your solemn oath that this charge is un-
true" said the judge. will place you all
right. 1t was the unhappy boys only op-
portunity. ard the Court felt bound, in hu-
manity to hear what he wished to say
James Lewis stood up again instantly, and
turned his white face and dark piercing eyes
upon Mr.. Carman:
let him take that oath If he darel' he ex-
claimed, vehemently.
The counsel for the prosecution now inter-
fcrred. and called the proceeding an outrage
on all justice, and unheard of before in a
court room. But the judge commanded or
der, and then said to Mr.. Carman:
The Court offers you the only way for re-
paration in its power. Your oath will scatter
the allegation of criminal to the winds -
Will you take the oathf'
Mr.. Carman turned with distressed look
towards his counsel, while james kept his
eyes fixed upon him. There was brief con-
ference and the lawyer said:
The proceeding is irregular and I have
advised my client TO make no response At
the same time he protests against all this as
al outrage upon the tights of citizen
The judges bowed. aud Mr. Carman with
drew After g brief consultation with his
associates, the presiding judge said, address
sing the criminal.
In consideration of your youth, and the
temptation to which in tender years you were
unhappily subjected, the Court gives you the
hghtest sentence, one years imprisonment
AT the same time in pronouncing this SEN
tenee, let me solemnly warn you against any
further steps in the way you have taken Crime
can have no Valid excuse. 1t is evil in the
sight of God and man and leads only to suf-
ferring. When you come forth again, after
your brief incarceration. may it be with the
resolution to die rather than commit crime.
And the curtain fell on that sad scene in
the boys life. When it lifted again, and he
came forth from prison year .afterward, his
mother was dead. From that day her pale
face faded from his vision. as be passed from
the court room he never looked upon her
again.
Ten years afterward nan sat reading
newspaper in a far western town. He had
calm, serious face, and looked like one who
had known suffering and trial.
Brought to justice at las,,' he said to him
self, as the blood came into his face. Con
victed on the charge of fraudulent insolvency,
and sent to the States prison. So much for
the man who gave me in tender years the first
lesson in doing wrong! Too well. alas, did
| remember his words! But thank GOD, 9TH
er words have been remembered when
you come forth again. said the judge, may
1t be with the resolution to die rather than
commit crimen and l have kept this in
junction in my heart when there seemed no
way of escape, except through crime; and.
God helping me, will keep it to the end"