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

X.
permitted the prisoner to elicit these facts
without interruption, and l must acknow,
ledge she did it with tact which surpris.
ed me, and which l could ascribe only to
strong woman wit, quickened and urged
on by the extremity of her circumstances |
Mary Murray was leaving when detained
her for further examination
Have you any employment en-
quired.
She answered in the affirmative.
"What is itY'
"Cap making"
Who Is your employer
This she told.
Do you work at the shop, or or at your
own lodgings
Sometimes at the shop, and sometimes |
at my lodgings"
"Where have you worked during the |
last week p
AT my lodgings"
What is the work upon which you
have been ep,ployed?'
Making caps"
:. Yes; but what kind Of capsg'
Plush"
"Of what color p
Mostly brown"
Was that bit of brown plush now
from the caps?
The witness did not answer, but irnpa. !
tiently catching up the end of the shawl,
shook oil the shred
turned to the judge. "Will your honor
direct that that shred be secured ? l shall
have something TO do with it,
II was picked up and handed to the
clerk
Mary Murray was still on the stand. i
resumed my questions to her Y ou board
in the same house with Selma White2'
Yes"
u Is your room near hers Z?
No, hers is IN the attic, and mine Is
chamber over back tea room"
" Was Selma ever in your room p
had learned one or two facts from Sc
lima before | put the las, question
4" No she never was never had any.
thing to do with her
Were you ever in Seiina's room? ??
a. Not while she had it; except the day
the policemen searched il.
"a Did you then handle the clothe. found
IN the carpet bag
"Ne; the policeman allowed no one to
touch them
"When did you last see Mrs. Wilson
wear the delaine dress that has been shown
here?'
- can't tell exactly; not for some
months"
" Has it been ir- your room ameng the
plush caps, to your knowledge?'
NO, Sir"
Mary Murray was dismissed.
l now called Miles Allen. At the men
ton of this name, the little girl at my
side started forwardas if she had received
an electric shock, then sank back and
held her hands tightly together as if she
was struggling with some powerful feeling
She looked steadily at this witness, as she
had done az those who preeAde6 him, bat
her color kept coming and going, and she
was excited and anxious. Miles Allen
answered to his name and employment;
he was a carpenter; came frorl New Jer-
sey; had been here about six months
DO you know the prisoner?' asked
The girls eyes were full of tears, but
there Wa a look of hope, almost of triumph,
en her lace, as he bfuntiy answered, y es,
sir do
where did you know her?'
"Where We both came from, in New
Jersey"
4" How long have you known Ler?'
Ever since shew born. And know
her too well TO believe myself, or let any
body else believe shes thief
Never mind your opinion of her cha.
racter now, said the Judge. DO you
know anything about the present case q
Il know as much as this: that there's
| the same fuzz on the clothes they say Sc
/ lima stole, as was hanging on that gay girl 5
shawl"
do you know the witness, Mary Muir
ray?. asked
No. hope not"
! Do you know the ring she wore on her
| finger this morning.
Yes, sir" with an emphasis, was the
answer
"What do you know about it?''
II owned that ring once myself, and
Selma White owns it now. for gave it to
her, and she amt the girl to give it away ~
How did you recognize itY'
"Because | did. Id know it anywhere
as soon as I'd set my eyes ont; but, If
you re mind to, III tell you how anybody
may know that it don't belong to the girl
that's got it. Inside ont you'll find my
name, Miles Allen pretty plain, and a
little something else besides, per'aps'
Have you anything further to tell US
with regard to this case p
"Only that the gay girl proved plain
that she never know'd or loved Selma
enough to make her give her the ring, and
SO I'd like TO ask how'd she got it? and
then who's thief after all 2
i These points will be settled at the
proper time" said the judge, At my re-
quest, he ordered Mary Murray to be re-
called. Sheappeared quite red with anger
| examined her as to where she obtained
the garnet ring, and, as anticipated. re,
ceived only unsatisfactory and contradic
tory answers. The judge requested he,
to remove it from her finger. She refused
An officer in attendance soon relieved hel
Of the ornament, which he handed up te
the bench. The judge looked at it care
fully, and then read from the inside
miles Allen. TO the girl love best"
There was a general litter through the
court room. l glanced at Miles. He wa
Smiling and blushing, but showed no sham,
!. or embarrassment. TWAS plain he though
it no unmanly thing to give ring to tn,
girl he loved the best, and he was not un
willing to have it known that the pretty
understanding Selma White was tina
girl, though she was now in the prisoner
| dock on trial as a clearinghouse thief
Now" said the judge, turning to th
clerk, Il think we will look at those sto
len clothes again" They were produced
and on being examined, there was fount
f fastened to some bead trimming whicl
t ornamented the dress bit of brown plush
the same in shade and fabric with tha
] the clerk had secured. In the meantim
8 an officer had returned from Mary Mul
rays lodgings (where he had gone at m
suggestion) with a brown plush cap, whicl
she had lately finished, and, on compar
son, it was found that its material was tn
!. same with the shreds before in court.
The testimony was now all in, and
arose to make the defence. [ went owe
the evidence and showed there was moth
}. ing against the prisoner but the one fact c
possession, always strong one, admitted
bnt in this case on.weiohed by the to