The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-07-08
ALBUM DEDICATION.
An 9mtrrrstino Story,
THE CRIMINAL WITNESS.

In the spring of lS4S ! was called to
Jackson to attend court, having been ell
gagged to defend young man accused of
robbng the mail. | had a long conference
| with my client, and he acknowledged TO me
that on the night when the mail was robbed
he had been with Il party of dissipated
companions over to Topham, and that ON
returning they met the mail-carrer ON
horseback, coming from Jackson. Some Of
his companions were very drunk, and they
proposed 10 stop the carrier and overhaul
the bag. The roads were very muddy at
the time. and the coach could not run. My
client assured me that he not only had no
hand i'll robbing the mail, but tried TO dis
suade his companions. But they would
not listen to him. One of them slipped up
behind the carrier, and knocked him from
his horse. Then they bound and blind
folded him, and having tied him to tree,
they took the mail bag and made off to Il
neighboring field where they cverhauled
it, and found some five hundred dollars in
various letters. Those who did it fed, and
as the carrier had recognized him IN the
party, he had been arrested
The mail had been found, as well as the
letters. Those letters from which money
had been taken, were kept, by order of the
officers, and duplicates sent to the various
persons to whom they were directed
These letters had been given to me for
examination, and ] had returned them to
the prosecuting attorney.
got through with my private preimi-
naries about noon, and as the case would
not come up before the next day went
into the court to Gee what was going on.
The first case that came up was one of
theft, and the prisoner was young girl,
not over seventeen years of age-Elizabeth
Madworth. She was very pretty, and bore
that mild, innocent look which we seldom
find in culprit. She was pale and fright
ened. and the moment my eyes rested upon
her. pitied her. She had been weeping
profusely. for her bosom was wet. but az
she found so many eyes upon her, she was
TOO much frightened to weep more.
The complaint against her set forth that
she had stolen one hundred dollars from
Mrs. Nasehy; and as the case went on,
found that Mrs. Naseby was her mistress,
wealthy widow living in town. The poor
girl declared her innocence in the widest
terms, and called ON God TO witness that
she would rather die than steal. But cir
cumstances were hard against her \ hun
dred dollars in bank notes had been stolen
from her mistress room, and she was the
OllN OIc WHO Iuu dSCeSS lnCIc.
At this iuncture, while the mistress was
upon the witness stand, a young man came
and caught me by the arm He was a fine
looking fellow, and big tears stood in his
eyes
"They tell me You are a good lawyer" "
he whispered.
" | am a lawyer" | answered.
Then-Oh save her. You can GER
tainlV do il for she is innocent
" Is she your sister,"
The youth hesitatcd and cOlored.
" No, sir he said BGt-but-"
Here he hesi.ated again.
" Has she no counsel? | asked.
" None that's good for anything nobody
that will do anything for her. Oh, save
her. aud I'll pay You all I've got, can't
pay you much, but | can raise something"
reflected for moment. | cast my eyes
toward the prisoner, and she was at that
moment looking toward me- She caught
my eye, and the volume of humble, prayer
ful entreaty | read in those large fearful
orbs resolved me in II moment In my soul
| knew that the girl was innocent or at
least, firmly believed so--aud perhaps |
could help her. arose and went to the
girl, and asked her if she wished me to de-
fend her. She said, yes. Then informed
the court that | was ready to enter into the
case, and was admitted at once. The loud
murmur of satisfaction which ran through
the room, soon told me where the sympa-
thes of the people We're.
] asked for a moments cessation, that |
might speak to my client. ! sat down by
her side, and asked her TO state TO me cam
didly the whole case She told me she had
lived with Mrs. Naseby nearly two years,
and that during all that time she had never
had any trouble before. About two weeks
before, she said, her mistress lost hun
dred dollars.