The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-03-21

/ asked, did this detective shred find an
opportunity to fasten itself upon dress
in sudden transit from its owners trunk
to a strangers traveling.bag Perhaps, /
suggested, Mary Murray might tell us
She had similar shred attached to her
shawl, and is it not possible, nay, probable,
that she could tell how and where its fell
low became attached to the trimming of
the stolen dress? Might it not have been
caught in temporary lodgment in her
room, or by contact with her own clothes
How else? In view Of all the cncurl-
stances proved, it was easier to believe
that Mary Murray had stolen the clothes
and then put them in Selma White car.
pet>bag in order to rain her and get her
out Oi the way, than that Selma had
stolen them"
j then touched upon the garnet ring
showing that it had undoubtedly belonged
to the prisoner, and had b. ell taken from
her carpet bag when the stolen goods had
been deposited there, and ended with a
few words of appeal to the conscience and
sympathy of the judge, intended to pro
duce its effect Oh the spectators rather
than the person addressed. The judge
whispered moment with one Of the offers
near him, then rose and pronounced Sc
lima White innocent of the charge prefer
red against her. There was loud burst
of applause. l took Seliua's little cold
hand in mine, and told her she had better
leave with Inc at once We had just
reached the door when Miles Allen joined
US, shaking hands and laughing aud talk
ing SO fast that one could hardly under
stand him. | learned this, however, that
he and Selma loved each other too we'll
to be far separated; that Selma had come
to get work near Miles at his suggestion ;
that, owing to q series of biunders not so
easily explained as frequently met with,
she had failed 10 find hum on her arrival,
but that, certain of meeting him soon, sne
had spent her time III looking tor employ
ment, TIL she was arrested and lodged IN
jail. Miles declared himself 10 have been
| surprised beyond expression. so much,
even, as to have been suspicious of his
mental state when, or going to the court
+ room to make complaint OF some wrong
( doae TO himself, he saw the very girl he
( loved the best in the dock on trial
! But the lovers were happy now. And so
/ was /, notwithstanding my old overcoat.
J l don't know whether or not Miles Allen
l noticed that | was thinly clad, and that,
spite of a strong effort Of viii, showed
great sensitiveness of the cold ON reaching
the outer air, but this know, the warm
hearted fellow gare into my hand I don t
say pold, for of course never char ged him
! or Selma anything)-he gave me the Price
. Of one OF the very best overcnats | ever
wore, within a week OF the time when |
trst met him in the police court room.
There may be some who are desrous to
/ know Whatever more | can tell about the
garnet ring. | will, therefore, add that
soon after the trial have described, the
morning papers reported Mary Murray tc
| have been convicted OF stealing IA rIng ano
fined twenty dollars, failing 10 pay which
. she was sent 10 Jail.
And this. further No longer ago thar
last summer | met Miles Allen on = pleas
ant Sunday afternoon, leading fine lit;Ie
boy. who looked the very image of Selma
I White as when / first saw her Leaning
( on Miles right arm was Selma herself
and, what was curious, on her little left
hand which ciung to the strong muscula,
arm, was the identical garnet ring HAT
had proved her innocence Perhaps she
was proud Of il. and desirous of having il
seen and admired; perhaps it was so large
II might have torn or missha ped her glove
At any rate. whether her reason for 20
do;nk may have been, she wore it in plair
sight, and | knew it as we'll as Miles Allen
/ swor9 he did, long years before