Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-03-21
BRATTLEBORO, VT: MARCH 81, 1861.

tive in cotton mill, in which have been ever
since engaged lost sight of Miss Kendall till
year ago last summer Mt which time she came
here and entered the mill as a weaver and then
learned for the first time that her fathers cir
cumstances had changed sadly-that he had lost
all his property except small farm on the out
skirts ot the village, on which also there was
mortgage Of five hundred dollars pressing for
payment. She had come from hon in order
to assist in raising the necessary funds to pay
of the incumbrance by her labor in the mill
and she has continued to work most industri-
ously for that purpose up TO the time the cir
cumstances happened that have brought her un-
der this unfortunate suspicion. All my former
opinions of her worth are stronger than ever,
since the renewal of our acquaintance; and hav
ing been in the receipt of three dollars day for
the past four years, and saved large portion
Of my wages have repeatedly offered to lend
her the balance necessary to pay off her fathers
Indebtedness, which she has uniformly declined.
She is now accused of stealing from the Office of
the corporation package of money containing
five hundred dollars on the Globe Bank, Bos-
ton--and has been arrested on the charge. The
examination takes place this afternoon, and |
am requested to engage you as her counsel"
lie then proceeded to narrate the circum-
stances of the arrest, but it is unnecessary to re-
peat them here, as they will appear in the
sequel.
"And you really believe" remarked the Coun-
scllor, after he had listened to the narration,
"that she is innocent of the charge9"
"As innocent as the babe unborn ! would
be willing to risk my souls salvation upon it.
There is villainy as well as guilt somewhere,
and strongly suspect where tits. ! have more
reasons than one to be interested in This matter,
but the first OF all to save the innocent from dis
grace and punishment; and besides all that, it
would add the last drop of bitterness TO the cup
of an honorable and proudspirited old man
one who has ever been ready to lend helping
hand to the distressed, and who years ago, cheer
ed me in my struggles Of youth and poverty
1t would bring disgrace and sorrow upon large
class of reputable connections-and-and
"Would put an end TO the fond anticipations
of certain person who has an unusually deep
interest in her welfare ?" suggested the Coun-
selor.
ayes"
"And you have deep interest in her wei
fare?"
"Yes"
81 suspected as much. What can do for her
and you shall he done. If she is really innocent,
God help her If she is guilty, BETTER far bet
ter to have found it out in time"
81 beg of you," replied the young man, "to
Danish from your mind all idea of guilt as con-
neced with her. tell you she has not so soon
and in the noble cause in which she has been
struggling, forgotten the lessons of her youth.
Whatever may be said of lawyers ability to
advocate an unjust cause, | know it is not in
the power of man to do so with the same zeal
which would inspire him on the side of truth ;
and if you do not give full credit to her inno-
cence now, you may do so hereafter when it will
| be of no avail"
After some further conversation, the young
man, whose name was William Johnson, with
| drew, and the Counsellor re-applied himself to
| his task. AT the hour appointed for the exam
ination, he repaired to The Office of the magis-
trate, in and around which large crowd was
collected, much interested and excited, conyers-
ing in small groups upon the probabilities oi
the prisoners guilt She was sitting in the Of
flee, deeply affected by the disgrace OF her posi-
ton. She was well but plainly dressed, of an
intelligent and interesting appearance, but very
| pale, and her countenance bore evident traces
of recent weeping. No one could look upon
her without feeling interested in her fate, and
no wonder that the crowd felt strong sympathy
in her behalf The examination was then com.
menced, and sufficient evidence introduced to fix
strong guilt upon the prisoner, and warrant the
magistrate in holding her to bail in the sum o
| three thousand dollars, to answer to the charge
| of grand larceny at the next term OF the court
The prosecution evidently did not go into the
case, and the defence for some cause, which wa,
at the time kept secret, introduced no evidence
at all-Willam johnson and two others, alsC
overseers in the mills, presented themselves ant
were accepted as bail.
That evening Johnson had long consulta
ton with Counsellor NJ. "Ihe circumstance
look suspicious indeed" remarked the Counsel
lor "with one or two more links in the chain
h.,f A.C, al. 6