Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-22

Very well, said l, show long have you
been with Mrs. Naseby 2"
Not quite year, sir"
GLOW much does she pay you a week 2"
ga dollar and three quarters"
"Haye you taken any of your pay since you
have been here z"
Yes, sir
GLOW much 90
81 don't know"
"Why don't you know 2"
Chow should / have taken it at differ.
ent times, just as l wanted it, and kept no ac-
count"
Now if you had wished to harm the pris
oner could you have raised twenty. five dollars
to put in her trunk g.
mo, sir" she replied with virtuous indig
nation.
"Then you have not laid up any money
since you have been there 2"
"No, sir, only what Mrs. Naseby may owe
me-"
''Then you did not ha e any twenty-five
dollars when you came there"
mo, sir; and what's more, the money
found in the girls trunk was The money Mrs
Naseby lost. You might have known that if
you'd remembered what you asked her."
This was said very sarcastically, and was in,
tended as a crusher upon the idea that she
should have put The money in the prisoners
trunk. However, WAS not overcome entire
ly.
"Will you tell me if you belong in this
state ?'
81 do, sir"
ain what town 2"
She hesitated, and for an instant The bold
look forsook her. But she finally answered.
81 belong to Somers, Montgomery county"
next turned to Mrs. Naseby:
"Do you ever take receipt from your girls
when you pay them 2"
always"
''Can you send and get one of them for met"
"She has told you the truth, sir, about the
payment" said Mrs. Naseby.
20, don't doubt il" / replied particular
proof is the thing for the court room. So, if
you can, l wish you would procure the re-
ceipt."
She said she would willingly go if the court
said so. And the court did so, and she went
Her dwelling was not far of, and size soon re-.
turned and handed me four receipts, which l
took and examined They were signed in a
strange staggering hand by the witness.
"Now, Nancy Luther" said turning to
the witness and speaking in quick startling
tone, at the same time looking her sernly in
the eye, "pease tell the court and jury, and
me, where you got the seventy five dollars
you sent in your letter to your sister in Som
ers?"
The witness started as though a volcano had
burst at her FEET. She turned pale as death,
and every limb shook violently l waited I'M
til the people could have an opportunity TO
see her emotions aud then | repeated the ques-
ton.
"I-never-sent any," she gasped
"You did l' Numbered, for was excited
now.
I'll didn't" she family muttered, grasp.
ing the railing by her side for support.
MAY it please your honor and gentlemen of
the jury" said, as soon as had looked the
witness out of couDtenance, 81 came here to
defend man who was arrested for robbng the
mail, and in the course of my preliminary ex.
aminaiions had access to the letters which
had been torn open and robbed of money.
+ When entered upon THIS case, and heard tile
name of this witness pronounced went out
and got this letter which / now hold, for | re-
membered having seen ore bearing the sigma.
ture of Nancy Luther. This letter was taken
from the mail bag, and it contained seventy
five dollars, and by looking at the post mark
you will observe that it was mailed the day
after the hundred dollars were takeh from Mrs.
Naseby's drawer. / will read it to YOU if on
please"
The court nodded assent, and read the fol
lowing, which was without date, save that
made by the postmaster upon the outside.
give it verbatim =
"tSiSter DorcuS IL send yu hear seventy five
dolers which | want yu TO cope for me till
cum hum cant cope it cos i'm Altered it will
git stole don't speek wun word to a Twin soul
about this don't want nobody to no i've got
eny mony, you wont now will you. | am
tust rate hear unly that guide for nothin snipe
OF lis madworth is hear yit-but l hop to git
over now. yu no rote yu bout her. Civ my
luv to al uquiring tIens. this is from yur
sister till deth. NANCY LUTHER"
''Now, your HONOR / said, as / gave him
the letter, and also the receipts, "you will see
that the letter is directed to Dorcus Luther,
Somer Montgomery county. And you will
observe that one hand wrote the letter and
signed the receipt. and the jury will also OBJ
serve. And now will only add, it is plain to
see how the hundred dollars were disposed OF
Seventy five dollars were sent off for safe
keeping, while the remaing twenty five were
placed in the prisoner trunk for the purpose
of covering the real criminal OF the tone OF
parts of the letter you must Judge l now
leave my clients case in your hands"
The case was given to the jury Immediately
following their examination of the letter
They had heard from the witness own mouth
that she had no money of her own, and with
out leaving their seats they returned the YER
diet of-"Not Guilty"
will not describe the scene that followed
but, if Nancy Luther had not been immediate,
ly arrested tor theft, she would have been
obliged to seek protection of the officers, or
the excited people would have manned her at
least, if they had not done more. The next
morning received note, handsomely writ
ten, in which was told that the within was
but a slight token of the gratitude due me for
my efforts in behalf Of the poor, deeneeless
maiden. 1t was signed by Several Citizens
and contained one hundred dollars. Shortly
afterwards the youth who first begged me to
take up the case called upon me with all the
money he could raise but l showed him that
| had already been paid, and refused his lard
earnings Before left town was guest at
his wedding-my fair client being the happy
| bride.