Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-04-26
TaE WIDOWS TRIAL.
BY OWEN JONES.


days in Europe, visited the ancient city
of Hereford, place remarkable for its
picturesque beauty, its order-loving and
enterprising people, and its numerous
charitable institutions, established and
endowed by the benevolent, centuries
ago. 1t is adorned by many ancient and
sacred edfices. 1t can also boast of be-
ing the birthplace of the famous actor,
David Garrick. With what feeling of
curiosity gazed upon the house in which
the great English Roiscus first appeared
upon the stage of life. There is strange
imaginary halo which Fancy weaves
around even inanimate objects when con-
nected with genius.
had just finished a general survey of
the fine old cathedral-one of those mag
nifcent stupendous structures which
stand as monuments Of the architecture
of past ages-I was informed that the
assize term had just commenced in the
County Court, so concluded to vary my
recreation by passing an hour there. To
a student Of human nature, a criminal
court affords much matter for reflection
The can there mark the varied shades
Of character. entered the court and
took my place among the spectators.--
The preliminaries incident to the opening
of ths court were passed through, and
the first prisoner on the calendar was
summoned to appear at the bar The
crier announced, in stentorian tone
Silence in Court when a poor, wretch
ed looking woman appeared, moving to-
ward the rail, which her trembling hands
grasped for support. After a moment
or two she raised her eyes imploringly
towards the Judge, aud in tremulous
voice exclaimed,
"Oh, my lord, be merciful to me, for
the sake of my poor children !"
Never have ! beheld more pitiful
picture Of misery, poverty and despair |
than that poor woman presented, as she
stood there, scantily dressed in worn-out
widows garments. Sorrow had pIowed |
on her brow deep lines OF care, and
"sharp misery had worn her to the bone"
There she stood, arraigned before one
of the highest functionaries Of the crown
charged with the terrible crime Of taking
a little milk to satisfy the cra'ing Of her
children
The prisoner, il appeared, was a poor
widow with five small children depend
inc m he. for bread, aided only by
small pittance permitted by the parish.
ABOUT ten o'clock on a certain night she
was met by the principal witness. against
her--a farm servant; she held in her
band a small pail containing milk, and
was crossing a stile in Eear proximity
to a field, wherein were a number Of
milk cows belonging to the master Of the
servant referred to, who concluding that
shs had been feloniously milking those
cows, arrested her, and in spite Of every
hurried her into the presence Of
he indignant farmer who was deaf to
all her cries for mercy. In his opinion
the majesty of the law must be vindica-
ted. She was soon ushered before
capon lined Justice of the Peace, to
whom she made a confession in the fol-
lowing words:
q may as we'll own the truth; / did
milk drop Of milk for my children
Forgive me--and oh, for Gods sake. let
me go home to my poor hungry little
ones."
But the farmer was inexorable, and :.
he poor creature was dragged to the vii
lage lock up, and the next morning was
to the county Jail, distance
IF twenty miles, where she had been in
,arcerated for four long dreary months. ]
The children had been taken care of by !
he parochial authorities, and the poor
mother had not been permitted to see
'ns of them during the period of her /
confinement.
Her trial commenced, and notwith-
standing her confession before the JUS
ice, she pleaded Not Guilty" The t
irst witness was the stOlid, sleek looking Il
ervant who gave his evidence with as
much emphasis and air of Importance as q
t aiding in the conviction of some terri B
,le desperate. s.
Then came the corpulent, ruddy far 7
ner who had never felt the pangs of hun
;er and probably regarded it as fable,
nd the word a mere abstract term " sig
Iiiying nothing"
Next appeared the Justice with his r
elf important orayitv He testified IN