Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-05-08
Singular but Successful Defence.

piiSouei hiSu aoi y hiSh"ay ioooSiy WIZ
we doubt not, interest our readers; but we
have no mode of ascertaining when it oc-
Cured. That it is not OF recent date iG GER
tain, because it appeared in work that
was presented to the late Sir John Conroy,
when officially connected with his Majesty,
the King Of the Belgians, in 1882:
A gentleman, followed by servant in
livery, rode into an inn in the West of Eng
land one evening, little before dusk. He
told the landlord that he should be detained
/ by business in that part Of the country for
a few days, and wished to know if there
were any amusements going on in town to
fill up the intervals of time. The landlord
replied that it was their race and assize
week, and that he would, therefore, be at no
loss to pass away his leisure hours. On the
gentleman's making answer that this was
fortunate, for he was fond of hearing trials,
The other said that a very interesting trial
for robbery W ould come on the next day, on
which the peples opinion was very much
divided, the evidence being very strong
against the prisoner; but the man persisted
resoutely in declaring that he was in a dis
tant part of the kingdom at the time the
robbery was committed.
d The guest manifested considerable anxi-
ETY. to hear the trial but as the court would
probably be crowded, expressed some doubt
of getting place. The landlord told him
Thai there could be no difficulty of a gentle
man of his appearance getting seat; but
hat, TO prevent any accident, he would him
self 60 with him, and speak 10 one OF the
beadles. Accordingly they went into court
next morning. and through the landlords
interest with the officers of the court, the
gentleman was shown to seat ON the bench
Presently after, the trial began.
1 While the evidence was proceeding
against him, the prisoner had remained with
his eyes fixed on the floor, seemingly very
much depressed; till being called on for his
defence. he looked up, and seeing the sran-
-lBer, ne suuueniy fssa,so. ...s SeNcie>es
some surprise; and it seemed at first like
trick to gain time. As soon as he came 10
himself, being asked by the Judge the canse
Of his behavior, he said:
"Oh, my loId, / see person who can
save my life; that gentleman pointing to
the stranger, /" can prove that am innocent,
might only have leave to put a few ques-
tons to him." ~ @
The eyes of the whole court were now
turned upon the gentleman, who said he felt
in very awkward situation TO be called
upon, as he did not remember ever TO have
seen the mau before, that he would answer
any questions that was asked him.
Swell, then,' said the man, "dont you
remember landing at Dover ut such a
time ?" .#as
To this the gentleman replied tLat he had
landed at Dover not long before, bu, that he
could not tell whether it was on the day he
mentioned or not
Well said he, . but don't you recollect
that person in a blue jacket and trousers
carried your trunk to the imp"
To this he answered that of course some
person had carried his trunk for him, but he
did not know what dress he wore.
But" said the prisoner, "can't you re-
member that the person who went with you
from the boat told you a story Of his being
in the service; that he thought himself an
ill-used man, and that he showed you scar
he had on one side of his forehead?'
During this question the conntenance Of
the stranger underwent considerable
change He said ne certainly did recollect
: such a circumstance. On the mans putting
the hair aside and showing the scar, he be-
came quite quite sure that he was the same
person. A buzz of satisfaction now ran
through the court; for the day on which,
according to the prisoners account, the gen
tleman had met him in Dover was the same
on which he was charged with the robbery
in distant part of the country. The stran-
; ger, however, could not be certain of the
time, but that he sometimes made a memo
randum of dates in his pocket-book, and
might possibly have done so on this occa-
sion. On turning to bis pocket-book, be
found memorandum of the time he landed,
; which corresponded with the prisoners as
sertion.
This being the only circumstance neces-
sary to prove the alibi, the prisoner was
Immediately acquitted, amidst the applause
and CONCENTRATIONS of the whole court.