The Van Buren press., 1861-06-19
ed the Judge, in gentle tone.


The prisoners defence -
confess ] was at a loss to conceive how
he could succeed in defending cause so
clearly pfos:a. coupled with the confession.
but tbs sh'e~d sagaeity of the talented
lawyer enab ed him to penetrate deeper
. Let the first witness be called, ;" he said
with calm. dignity.
/ The rustic soon appeared on tie stand
| Now, tell rs ou your OATH" said tho
counsel weye there no, otheruaifch cows,
+ tiis ,s'ssef s.....ss.. ~ 49, ar
ls:' a. i..'s oei 'iss'ny sts-s.Asf = ssaes
7 There were, sir.
:. caa yoa swear shat the prisoner milk
rniiked your masters cows 90
- think she did."
Can you swear she did ?''
! / cannot; because didn't see her do
IT."
That wall do said the lawyer, with
smile. Then turning to the Jury, he deliv.
cred one of the finest impromptu forensic
efforts ! have ever heard. What eioquence
! Vha. rsthos Aow he dilated On the suf-
/ feriugs Of che prisoner--her long, gloomy
inearceration--ber separation from her ci,il-
dreD-the anguish she must have felt---the
temptations OF poverty, and the need OF
! all present even the Judge was moved to
tears. Then followed scatlrng denuncia.
ton Of the heartiess farmer, who quaied
snd blanehed beneath the burning words.
could not Tepress my Indignation, ;"
exclaimed the orator, land / believe that
every Christian man ia the court iees in
dignant al one one of the most heartless
cases Of inhumauity which has ever come
under my notice, and ] thank God for this
opportunity of pleading in behalf of this
| poor widow, aud yindicsting the credit of
Humanity and the honor OF my country.
| ro settle the legal hearing Of this case but
| little need De said. The evidence is fail
ure, you cannot convict the prisoner
defy you 10 dc it. Her confession amount
cd 10 nothing she did not say that she
MIXED the plaintiff cows, nor can he prove
that she did Thanking you for your pa
thence, gentlemen, ] lea. .e the case in yoQr
hands, believing that you will perform your
duty by aequit;iug this prisoner
| The counsel sat down with look of tn
umph, while the court resounded with
spontaneous applause. The Judge, in !or-
t,sed the connsei's argument; aud the jury
without hesitation, prounced their verdict,
:" Not Guiity."
Never shall forget the Joy portrayel on
that e2te- serE face, at the sound OF those
se.Ea2.S.E1 1s~ess-.-l-a..--..-.-Azg@x u
1 . ca are acquitted, my poot woman, but
| be careful whose cows you milk in iuture,' -
said the Judge, playtuliy, being evidently
| pleased with the result. On leaving the
dock, she turned her eyes toward the noble
hearted man who had so eloquently defend
ed her.
| God bless you, SIR" she exclaimed.
Aye, God bless him." responded seve-
raj voices among the spectators, who moved
to greet the poor widow with sympathy and
congratulations.
! A subscription was forthwith made, and
handsome sum put into the hands OF the
poor woman, who hurried along with a
glad. grateful and yeaining heart, to find
and embrace her little ones.
| MATRIMONIAL RETALLIArIoS-Some wear
since in the county of Penobscot, Maine,
there lived man by the name OF Ii -,
whose greatest pleasure was in tormcnting
others his own family was generally the
brunt of his sport.
One cold, clustering night he retired TO
bed at An early hour. his wife being absent.
Some time after. she returned, and finding
the door fastened, demanded admittance.
"Who are you ?" cried II.
"You know very we'll who I am le,
me in it's vey cold.'
"Begone you stroling vsgabond
want nothing Of you here"
:" But l must come in 20
I What's your name? p"
"You know my name-it's Mrs. H
"Begone! Mrs. II. is a likely woman
and never keeps such hours as this -
"If YOU do not let me in, will drown
myself in the well"
e" Do if you please,,' he replied
She took up a big log, plunged it intc
the well, and returned tc the side Of the
door.
Mr. II. hearing the splash, rushed from
the house to save, as he supposed, his drow
ming wife. She, at the same time, slipped
into the house and closed the door after her
H.. almost naked. in turn demanded admit
tance.
"Who are you ?" she demanded
"You know who | am let me in or
shall freeze"
"Begonc you thievsh rogue, l dom,
want you here j.
:" But must come IN
Z" What is your name -
"Iou know my name-it is II.
+, "Mr. II. is a very likely man he don
keep late hours"
Suffice it to say, she, after keeping him
in the cold until she satisfied. opened
the door and lett him in.
! A CoURT WAVING ITS DIGNITY one
of the Courts at Pixies Peak. two oppos-
ing attorneys got to abusing each other,
until one remarked "If it was not for
disturbing the dignity of the honorable
Court, he would pitch into his opponent.
and thrash him for impertinence and black
guardism' Whereupon the Court gener-
ously remarked. " Gentlemen, the Cour,
waves its dignity for the present, so go in,
and may the best mar win" They did SO
in, not waiting for q second invitation, aud
hard fight was made Of it; wearing ap-
parel was considerably damaged. aud the
belligerent parties finally separated having
sufficiently vindicated their prowess. and
amused the Court and the crowd. The
battle was ended. peace declared, and the
Court proceeded to business .'-Repub-
Ican.
/ f..