Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-05-01
IRASBURGH, VERMONT FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1868

magnificent reasoning was Of course un
answerable and The rebuked petitioner
abandoned her bootess errand in des
pair. Messrs. Roberts, should hav,
mentioned, had by some accident discov
cred the nature of the misfortune which
had befallen their officer, and had already
made ugent application to the Admiral,
ty for his release.
The Old Bailey sessions did not come
on for some time /, however, took care
to secure at once, as l did not myself
practice in that court, the highest talen
which its bar afforded Willy, who has
been placed in a workhouse by the au
thorities, we had properly taken care ot
till he could be restored to his mother
or, in the event of her conviction, to bis
relatives in Devonshire.
The sessions were al last on " true
bili' against Esther Mason for shoplifi-
ing, as it was popularly termed, WAS un-
hesitatingly found, and with a heavy
heart l wended my way to the court To
watch the proceedings. A few minutes
after / entered, Mr.. Justice LIE Blanc
and Mr.. Baron Wood, who had assisted
at an important case ol stockjobbipg con-
spiracy, just over, left the bench the
learned recorder being doubtless CON
sidered quite equal to the trial of mere
capital charge of theft.
The prisoner was placed in the dock;
but try as | might, could not look al.
her. 1t happened to be calm bright
summer day the air, as if in mockery
of those death sessions, humming with
busy, lusty life; so that, sitting with my
back to the prisoner, | could, as it were.
read her demeanor in the shadow thrown
by her figure on the opposite sunlighted
wall. There she stood, during the brief
moments which sealed her earthly doom,
with downcast eyes and utterly detected
posture her thin fingers playing me-
with the flowers and sweet
scented herbs spread scantily before her
The trial was very brief: the evidence.
emphatically conclusive, was confidently
given, and vainly cross examined. Moth
ing remained but an elaborte ad miseri-
cordtom excusatiye defence, which had
been prepared by me, aud which the
prisoner begged her counsel might be
allowed to read. This was of course re-
used; the recorder remarking, t b Y
might as well allow counsel for felons TO
address iuries, as re d defences and
hat, as every practical man knew,
would be utterly subversive of the due
of justice. The clerk of
he court would read the paper, if the
'risoner felt too agitatsd to do so. This
7as done and very vilely dore. The
lerk, dare say, read as well as he was
BILE but old, near sighted, and possessed
t anything but a clear enunciation,
lhat could be expected The defence,
o read, produced not the slightest efFeci
ither on the court or jury. The record
+ briefly commented on the conclusive
ess of the evidence for the prosecution;
nd the jury, in the same brief, business
Ike manner, returned verdict of Guilty.
What have you to say" demanded
lie clerk, "why sentence of death sho''l
OF be pronounced upon you, according
, law p
The shadow started conYulsively as
he terrible words fell from the mans !
ps and ] saw that the suddenly up
lised eyes of the prisoner were fastened
n the face of the fearful questioner.- |
he lips, too, appeared to move; bu; no
,und reached my ears.
"Speak, woman" said the recorder
if you have anything to urge before a
ntence is pronounced"
/ started up, and turning to the pris
Ter, besought her in hurried accents to :
,eak Remind them of the infant at o
,ur breast-your husband" f
who is that comforting with the pris- a
ier?" demanded the judge 10 an angry I
,ice.
1 turned, and confronted him with a
ok as naughty and cold as his own. He r.
d not think proper to pursue the inqui- '
further; and after muttering some 81
ing about the necessity of not inter 81
pting the proceedings of the court, tC
ain asked the prisoner if she bad any O.
ing to urge. tC
F." Not for myself-not for my sake" tt
last family murmured the trembling Il
,man; I" but for that of my poor dear O
poor witless boy do not b
ink, sir, was in my right mind. ] al
IS starving. l was friendless. My e
sband, too, whom you have heard Il