Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-10-24
aflistellaneous,
THE CRIMINAL WITNESS
A LAWYERS STORY

III Iuc spliuS VI 1CfO, l. Wdo Cailcu W
Jackson, Alabama, to attend Court, hav-
ing been engaged to defend young man
who mad been accused ofrobbing the mail
| arrived early in the morning, and imme-
diately had long conference with my
client. The stolen mail bag had been re-
covered, as we'll as the letters from which
the money had been riAed. These letters
were given ME for examination, and re.
turned them to the prosecuting attorney
Having got throuah my private prelimi
narics about noon, and as the case would
not come off before the next day, wen
into court in the afternoon to see what
was going on. The first case that came
up was one Of theft, and the prisoner was
a young girl, not more than seventeen years
of age, named Elizabeth Madworth. She
was very pretty, and bore that mild, in
nocent look which we seldom find in a
culprit. She had been weeping profusely
but as she found SO many eyes upon her,
she became too Frightened to weep more.
The complaint against her SET forth tina
she had stolen hundred dollars from
Mrs. Naceby, and as the case went on
found that this Mrs. Naceby, a wealth,
widow, lived in the town, was the girl'l
mistress. The poor girl declared her in
nocence in the widest terms, but circum
stances were hard against her. A hundred
dollars in bank notes had been stolen from
her mistress room, and she was the only
one that had access there.
At this juncture, when the mistress was
upon the witness stand, young ma,
came and caught me by the arm. He wal
fine looking man, and big tears stood
in his eyes.
"They tell me you are good lawyer
he whispered.
81 am lawyer" answered.
"Then do save her! You certainly cal
do it, for she is innocent"
"Is she your sister"'
"No sir" he added, "but, but"
Here he hesitated.
"Has she no counsel?" / asked.
"None that's good for anything-no
body that will do anything for her. o
save her, and I'll give you all I've got
l can't give you much, but l can rais'
something"
l reflected a moment l cast my eyel
toward the prisoner, and she was at tina
moment looking at me. She caught my
eye, and the volume of humble entreaty
| read in her glance resolved me in mo
ment. arose and went to the girl, ant
asked if she wished me to defend her. Sh
said yes. | then informed the court tina
| was ready to enter into the case and wa
admitted at once. The loud murmur o
satisfaction that ran quickly through tn
room told me where the sympathies of tn
people were. l asked for a moment
cessation that might speak with my eli
ant. Invent and sat down by her side, an
asked her to state candidly the whole case
She told me she had lived with Mrs. Mace
by nearly two years, and had never an
trouble before. About two weeks age
she said her mistress had lost hundre
dollars.
"She missed it from her drawer" sh
said to me, "and asked me about it. sal
knew nothing about it. That evening
know Nancy Luther told Mrs. Naceb
. that she sew me take the money from II
v drawer-that she watched me through II
keyhole. Then they went to my trun
and found twenty-five dollars of the mi
sing money there. But, sir, never toe
it, and somebody must have put it there
then asked her if she suspected any on
II don't know" she said, "who cou
, have done it but Nancy. She has new
!, liked me because she thought l was bett
treated than she. She was the cook.
=. was the chambermaid."
She pointed Nancy Luther out to N
She was stout, bold-faced girl, SON
where about twenty five years old, will
low forehead, small grey eyes, pug nc
and thick lips. I caught her glance
once, as it rested upon the fair young pr
oner. and the moment detected the 10
n of hatred which / read there was CO
vinced that she was the rogue.
5 Nancy Luther did you say that gir
!, name?" / asked, for a new light had b.
ken in upon me.
e eyes, SIR"
4 "Then rest easy, I'll try hard to sa
you."
. y left the court room and went to I
prosecuting attorney and asked him for
letters had handed him-the ones II