The Portland daily press., 1864-10-14
Friday Morning, Oct. "A, 1854.
A Lawyers Adventure.

About three or iour years ago, more or less
was practicing law In Illinois, in pretty
large circuit. was called on one day in my
office, in the town of c., by q very pretty
woman, who, not without tears, told me her
husband had been arrested ior horse stealing.
She wished to retain me on the defence 1
asked her why she did not go to Judge B., an
ex-senator OF the United States, whose office
was in the same town. told her that was
young man at the bar, &c. She mournfully
said that he had asked a retaining fee above
her means, and besides, did not want to touch
the case, for her husband was suspected of be-
longing to an extensive band OF horse thieves
and counterieiters, whose headquarters were
on Moore's prairie.
asked her to tell me the whole truth of the
matter, and If it was true that her husband
did belong to such band. t
Ah, sir" said she, "a better man at heart
than my George never lived; but he liked
cards and drink, and am afraid they made
him do what he never would have done II be
hRd not drank. l fear that it can be proved
that he had the horsei he didn't steal it; an
other did, and passed ii TO him."
didn't like the case. knew that there
was great dislike 10 the gang located where
she named, aud feared 10 risk the case be-
fore jury, She seemed 10 observe my in
tention 10 refuse. the ease, and burst into
tears. ~
4 never could see q womad weep without
feeling like a weak fool myself II hsdn't
been Tor eyes frightened by epearly tears"
lblast the poets that made them TO come In
fashion by praising emil I'D never have been
caught in the lasso OF matrimony. And my
wond-be client was pretty. the handkeI-
chief that hid her streaming eyes didn't hide
her ripe lips, aud her snowy bosom rose and
fell like white gull In gale Of wind at ses
4 ha ~ and ha waw me he. al.
iArs,
The gang, of which he was not a member
bad persuaded him TO take the horse. BE
knew the horse was stolen, and like tool ac-
knowledged Ii when he was arrested, Worte
still-he had trimmed the horses name ard
tail 20 alter his appearance, and the opposition
gould prove IT,
The trial came on. worked hard to get
jury Of ignorant men, who had more heart
than brain who u they could not Iathom the
depths OF argument, or follow the labyrinthine
mazes OF the Law, could feel for young fellow
10 bad fix, weeping, pretty wife, nearly
broken hearted aud quite distracted. Know
ing the use OF "effect,n told her 70 dress Ia
deep mourning, and bring her little cherub OF
boy, only three years Old, into court, and to
cit as pear her husband as the officer would let
her. tried that game once in a murder case,
and weeping wife and sister made jury
render verdict against law, evidence ana the
judges charge and save a fellow that ought 10
have been hung as high as Haman.
tine prosecution opened very bitterly: in
Weighed against thieves and counterieiters,
who had made the land terror to strangers
and travellers, and who had robbed every Iar-
mer In the region OF their finest horses. 1t
introduced witnesses, and proved all and more
than feared 1t would.
The time came Tor me to rise for defense
Witness had none. But ! determined to
make an effort, only hoping SO to interest the
Judge and iary Is to secure recommendation
70 gubernatoriaI clemency and ligut SEN
tence. So painted this picture "A young
man entered into life, welded to an angel;
beautiful in person, possessing every gentle and
noble attribute. Temptation was before and
all around him. He kept q tavern. Guests
there were many lit was not for him to enquire
into their business; they were well dressed
made large bills and paid promptly. At an
unguarded hour, when he was insane with the
liquor they had urged upon him, he had devil
ated from the path of recdtude. The demon
OF alcohol had reigned in his brain and it was
his arst oaense. Mercy pleaded for another
chance TO save hun from ruin. Justice did
rot require that his young wife should go
down sorFoWing to the grave, and that the
shadow of disgrace and the taunt of father
should cross the path of that sweet child. o,
how earnestly did plead for them. The wo-
man wept; the husband did the same; the
Judge ddgetted and rubbed his eyes; the jury.
looked melting. Ii could have had the clos
ing speech he would have been cleared; but
The prosecutor had the close, and threw ice on
the fire had kindled. But that did not quite
put ii out. ~
The Judge charged according to law and
evidence. but evidently leaned on the side of
mercy. The jury found a verdict of guilty, but
unanimously recommended the prisoner to
the mercy OF the court. My client was SEN
tenced TO the shortest Imprisonment that the
court was empowered to give, and both Jury
and court signed q petition to the governor
for an unconditional pardon, which has since
been granted, but not before the following in
cident occurred: @ ~ rH
Some three months after received an ac-
count for collection from a wholesale house
In New York. The parties to collect from
were hard ones, but had property, and before
they had an idea of the trap laid, had the
property, which they were about to assign be-
fore they broke under attachment. Finding
was neck ahead and bound to win u they "caved
IMP and sinrked oVern three thousand seven
hundred and ninety-four dollars and eighteen
cents (per memorandum book in good mon
ey. They lived in Shawneetown, about thir-
~ Ave or forty miles southeast OF Moore's
prairie. | received the funds jnst after bank
onenino. but other business detained me till
alter dinner. / then started for c., in
tending to go as far as the village OF mount
Vernon that night
/ had gone along ten or tWelve miles, when
noticed splendid double team OF horses at,
tached to light wagon, in which were seated
four men, evidently of the high-strung order.
They swept past as ii to show how easily they
could 90 1t. They shortened in and allowed
ne 70 come up with them, and haiiing me,
eskea Me tp NWeti or IN Qtner words dinln
lsh tne eohten@ et Jug Of old rye they had
aboar1,; hut excused myself with the plea
that had plenty ou Saard. They asked me
bow far ! was going. ! told them as far as
Mount vernon, II my horse didn't tire out.
They mentioned pleasant tavern ten or
and then drove on, sff'-s p'"os'
did not like the looks Of those fellows nor
their actions. But had a brace of revo var. ar.
and a nice knife; my money was not in NV vs !.
lise or my sulky, but In belt around myb ody
drove slow, in hopes that they would 90 on
hnd could see them no more, It was 1earl,
dark when saw tavern sign ahead. At tht
same time saw wagon standing before this
door, could have pressed on but nv hors,
needed rest. / hauled up and woman cam,
to the door. She turned as pale as shee
when she saw me she did not speak. Tut Wit
meaning look she put her finger on her lin
and beckoned me in; she was the wife of m
late client. q ait E
When l entered the party recognized me
and hailed me as an old travelling friend, an
asked me to drink. respectfully, but firmly
declined to do so.