The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-12-10
The Criminal Witness.


son, Alabama, to attend court, having been
engaged to defend a young man who had
been accused of robbing the mail. | arrived
early in the morning. and Immediately had
n long conference with my client. The
stolen mail bag had been recovered, as well
as the letters from which the money had
been rifed These letters were given me
for examination, and returned them to the
prosecuting attorney. Having got through
my private prelminaries about noon, and as
the case would not come off before the next
dav, went into court in the afternoon TO
see what was going on. The first case that
came up was one of theft, and the prisoner
was young girl not more than seventeen
wears of age, named Elizabeth Madworh.
She was very pretty, and bore that mild,
innocent look which we seldom find in a
cuprit. She had been weeping profusely,
but as she found so many eyes upon her, she
became too frightened to weep more.
The complaint against her set forth that
she had stolen hundred dollars from Mrs.
Naseby, and as the case went on found that
this Mrs. Naseby, a wealthy widow living IN
the town, was the girl S mistress The poor
girl declared her Innocence in the widest
terms, hut circumstances were hard against
her. a hundred dollars in bank notes had
been stolen from her mistress room, and
she was the only one that had access there.
At this juncturc, when the mistress was
upon the witaess- stand, young man came
and caught ne by the arm. He was fine
looking man, and bigrears stood in his eyes
They tell rae you are good lawyer he
whispered.
Il am lawyer, answered.
"Then do save her. You certainly can
do it, for she Is innocent"
- Is she your sis,er?''
"No, sir, he. added "but, but
Here he hesitated.
Has she no counsel?'' asked.
None that's good for anything nobody
that will do anything for her. o, save her,
and I'll give you all I've got. | can't give
you much, but can raise something"
reflected for "a moment. | cast my eyes
towards the prisoner, and she was at that
moment looking at me. She caught my eye
and the volume of humble entreaty read
in her glance resolved me in moment.
arose and went to the girl, and asked if she
wished me to defend her? She said yes.
then informed the Court that | was ready to
enter the case, and was admitted at once. -
The loud murmur of satisfaction that rar
quickly through the room told me where TIL,
sympathies of the people were. | asked fol
a moments cessation that | might speal
with my client. went and sat down by hel
side. and asked her to state candidly the
whole case. She old me she had lived with
Mrs Naseby nearly two years, and hac
never any trouble before. About two week
ago. she said, her mistress lost hundred
dollars.
"She missed it from her drawer" the
girl said to me, and asked me about it.
said knev nothing about it. That evening
know Nancy Luther told Mrs. -Naseby tina
she saw me take the money from the drawe
that she watched me through the key hole
men lney "cHI W my u"'iN ohN io"''
tv-livc dollars of the missing none
there. But, sir, never took it, and some
body must have put it there"
then asked her if she suspected any one
81 don't know she said, who coul'
have done it but Nancy She has nevo
liked me because she thought was bette
treated than she. She is the cook. | wa
the chambermaid.'
She pointed Nancy Luther out to me-
She was stout, bold faced girl, somewher,
about FIVE and twenty years old, with Low
forehead small gray eyes, a pug nose ant
thick lips. l caught her glance at once, a
it rested on the fair young prisoner, aud tn
moment detected the look of hatred whicl
read there, was convinced that she wa
the rogue.
'Nancy Luther did you say that girl
name was?" asked, for a new light ha
broken in upon me-. ........- .,f
d" Yes, sir.
''Then rest easy; III try hard To saw
you" N.rt -ts3HG
/ left the court room and went to tn
prosecuting attorney and asked him for tn
letters had handed him-the ones that ha
been stolen from the Mail bag. He CAV
them to me, and having selected one, | re