The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-04-10

I |
mans store an innocent boy; aud it he hau
been an honest man, | would not have STOOD
before you to day as criminal.
Mr.. Carman interrupted me young man
and appealed TO the court for protection a
eainst aleg ,tions Of such an outrageous char
acter: but he was perempt0rily ordered tn
be silent. James went on in tirm yolce;-
aOnIy few weeks after went into his EN- |
ployment, examined a bill by his direction,
and discovered an error Of twenty dollars
The face Of Mr.. Carman crlmsoned in
stantly,
"You remember it, l see," remarked
James, and shall have cause to remember
it while live. The error was in favor Of
Mr.. Carman, and asked if should correct
the mistake. His reply was, We don't ex-
anime bills for other peoples benefit II
was my first lesson in dishonesty, and new
err forgot the words. | saw the bill settled,
and saw Mr.. Carman take twenty dollars
that was not his own. ! felt shocked at first;
il seemed such wrong thing. But soon af-
ter, he called me simpleton for handing
back TO the teller Of bank, fifty dollars
oyerpaid on check; and then"
:. May ask the protection Of The court ~
said Mr.. Carman, appealing to the judges.
Is it true. what the lad saysr" asked the
judge.
Mr.. Carman hesitated and looked confus-
ed, all eyes were on his face; and jury, law.
yers. and spectators, felt certain that he was
guilty Of leading the unhappy young man
astray.
mot long afterwards" resumed young
Lewis, +" in receiving my wages. found that
Mr.. Carman had paid me fifty cents too
much, was about giving it back TO him,
when | remembered his remark about letting
people correct their own mistakes; and SAID
to myself, 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 belong to me-.
This was the beginning Of evil. and here |
am! Mr.. Carman has shown an esgerness
to convict and have me punished, as the
court has seen. Ii he had shown me any
mercy might have kept silent. But now l
interpOSe the truth. aud il NAV incline you
10 show some consideration for the unhappl-
est being that is alive to-day"
The young man covered his face with his
hands, and at down. oyerpowered by has
feelings. HIS mother who was near him,
sobbed out aloud. and bending over, laid her
hands on his head, saving
my poor boy! Ny poor boy =
There were few eyes in the court room un-
dimmed. In the silence that followed Mr..
Carman spoke out
"Ismy character 10 be thus blasted on
the word Of criminal, your hOnorsi Is this
right Is this jss,i i this the protection
a cisizen should find in court room /"
Your solemn oath thai this charge is IN
true" said the Judge. "will place you all
right. II was the unhappy boy's only oppor-
tunity, and he court lelt bound 10 humanity,
10 hear what he wished TO say"
James Lewis stood gp again instantly and
turned his white face and dark piercing eyes
upon Mr.. Carmaa.
Let him take that oath ifhe dare" he
exclaimed.
The counsel Tor the prosecution now inter-
fered, and called the proceeding an outrage
on all justice, and aEheard Of before in a
court room. Bat the judge commanded or
der, and then said 10 Mr.. Carman.
!" The court offers VOC the only reparation
in its power. Your oath will scatter the al
legation Of the criminal TO the winds. Will
you swear%
Mr.. Carman turned with distressed look
toward his counsel. While James kept hi,
eve fixed on him. There was brief confer
ence, and the lawyer said:
" The proceeding is irregular, and | have
advised my client 10 make no response. A
the same time he protests against all this a,
an outrage upon the rights 81 citizen"
The Judge bowed. and Mr. Csrman with.
drew. Alter briel conference with his as.
sociates. the presiding judge said, addressing
the criminals:
+" In consideration Of your youth. and the
temptation 10 which, in tender years, you
were unhappily subjected. the ceart give;
you its lightest sentence. one years Impris.
onment. Al the same time, 10 ptonouncib:
this sentence, lei me solemnly warn you q
gsInst any farther steps ia the way you hay,
taken. Crime can hsyenO valid excuse. i
is evil in the sight Of God aud man. and lead
only 10 suffering. When yoa come forth troH
your brief incarceration, may il be with re
solution TO d.. rather than commit crime
And he curtain feII on that sad scene il
the boy's life. When il lifted again. and b.
came forth from prison a year afterwards
hls mother WAS dead. From that day he
pale face faded from his vision az he passe,
from the court room, lie never looked upO
her again.
Three years sfterward. man sat resdin
anewspaper in far-uestetn town. lie ha
calm, serious face, and looked like on
who had known suffering and trial.
Brought 70 justice ~ last" he said
himself. and the blood came into his face
"Conyieted on charge u fraudulent insol
seney, and sent to the State, prison! :
much for the man vino gave me % tend,
years tie FIRST lesson IN wrong doing! To
well, alas. did remember bis words. Bui
thank God. other words have been remem
bered. When YOU come forth again. al
the lsdge. " mas il be with . resolution
Ole rather than 10 commit erimew and
have kept this INJUNCTION 10 nv besrt; ther
seemed 30 way to escape through crime an
God helping me, viii keep i 10 the end !