Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1861-01-22
From the New York Dispatch.
THE WIDOWS TRIAL.
\ "REMINISCENCES.
BY OWEN JONES.

During Inc WauueFihgS OF ny Garner
days in Europe, l visited the ancient
city of Hereford, a place remarkable
for its picturesque beauty, its order low
ing and intelligent people, and lis nu-
merous charitable institutions, establish
ed and endowed by the benevolent,
centuries ago Il is also adorned by
many ancient sacred ed:fices: it can al
50 boast of being the birthplace Of the
famous actor. Eavid Garrlck. With
what feeling of curiosity | gaz-
ed upon the house in which the great
English Roscius first appeared on the
Stage Of life. There Is 4 strange imagI-
nary halo which Fancy weaves around
even inanimaie objects, when connect
ed with genius.
l had just finished general survey
of the fine old caIhedraI-one of those
magnificent, stupendous structures,
which stand as monuments of the ar
chitectural skill of past ageS-when |
was informed that the assize term had
just commenced in the County court, so
| concluded to vary my recreation by
passing an hour or two there. To
student Of human nature, a criminal
court affords much matter for reflection
he can there mark the varied shades
of character. | entered the court, and
took my place among the spectators.--
The prelmInaries incidental 10 the
opening Of the court were passed thro',
and the first prisoners on the list called
10 appear at the bar. The crier called
IN slen,oriau tones: "Silence 10 court
when poor, wretched looking woman
appeared, moving tow ard the rail, which
her trembling hands grasped for sup
port After a moment or Two, she ra!s-
ed her eyes impIoringly toward the
Judge-Blron Williams, and, IN
tremulous voice, exclaimed:
90 my lord, be mercitul 10 me, for
the sake Of my poor children
Never have | beheld a more pitiful
picture Of misery, poverty and despair
than that poor woman presented, as sac
stood there, scanlily altired IN her worn
out widows habimeDts. Sorrow had
Powed on her brow deep lines Of care,
and
sharp misery lac worn her TO the bone
There she stood arra,gned before one
of the highest funytiouaries of the
crown, charged with the terrible Grim.
/ % Of taking little milk to satisfy the
1 craving OF her starving children.
The prisoner ii appeared, was a poor
I widow, with five small children depend
/ lag on her for bread, aided only by a
small pilance al. wed by the parish.
! About ten o'clock en- a certain night
she was met hy lie principal witness
/ against her, farm servan'; she held
4 IN her hand small pail containing
milk, and was crossing a style IN close
proximity 10 a field. wherein were a
number Of milk cows belonging 10 the
master of The servant referred 10, who,
1 concluded that she had been felonousiy
millung those COWS, arrested her, and
in spite OF all her eu:rea,ies and prayers
! hurried her into the presence Of the IN
4 dignant farmer, who was deaf to all
her cries for mercy. In his opinion the
majesty Of The law should be Wind lea ted.
She was soon ushered before 'capou
/ lined justice Of the Peace, TO whom
she made a conf s5i0n IL tie follow ing
words:
Il may as we'll tell the the truth;
did milk drop Of milk for my children.
Forgive me, and Oh, for God sake let
me 90 home t. my poor, hungry lilt,e
! ones Bat the farmer was inexoraLle.
and the poor creature was ruthlessiy
/ dragged 10 the village lookup, aud on
the following morning was conveyed to
j the county gaol, a distance Of twenty
miles, where she had LAIN incarcerated
for four long dFeary months. The chill
dren had been taken charge of by the
I parochial authorities, and the poor mo.h-
er had not been permitted 10 see one OF
them daring the period Of her coafle-
ment
Her trial commenced, and no,wi,h-
standing her confession before the JUS
nee, she pleaded Not Guilty TIE first
+ witness was the solid, sleek looking
servant, who gave his evidence with as
much emphasis and air Of importance
as if aiding in the conviction Of some
. terrible desperate. Then followed The
. corpueut rudly farmer who had never
felt the pangs Of hunger, and probably
/ believed 1t to be 4 fable, and the word
+ a mere a. a,ract term "siguifyIng moth
ing"
Next appeared the Justice with his
+ seil-imporJanl gravity; he testified 10
the prisoners confession. The case
seemed 10 be clearly made out against
+ the poor woman, who stood trembling
wljh fear and dread Of further impr!5-
oameut.
Have you any counsel eagagedZ
asked ;he Judge, IN a gentle tone.
No, my lord. she replied, sobbing;
4 am poor and frlendlcss.
At that II uomeut, a noble locking
Sergeant Gods1n, bless him, arose up.
My lord SAID be, 1 viii undertake
The prisoners defence
! | confess was at a loss TO conceive
how he could succeed in defending a
cause 50 clearly proven, coupled with
the confession Bu ths shreWd sagaci-
,y Of the talented lawyer enabled hin
10 penetrate deeper.
lie, she first witness be called, he
SAID wi,a calm dignity.
The rustic soon appeared on the
stand.
Now tel Us on your oath said The
counsel. were there not o.her milk
COWS, he properly q olher farmers, in
fields adjoining that belonging to youC
maS.er!"
There were sIr.
Can YOU swear that the prisoner
mil1ed YOU, masters eowss'
4 ,li,.I- ehk. dtd