The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-05-25
LEAD US not into Temptation.
A COURT INCIDEN r


cation frequently defeats the object which it was
intended to sustain. We have, however, nu
" rnerous incidents wherein honest juries have
gwen their yrticts conformably to the prompt
ings or justice and, happily when such deci-
sions have not been too widely different from
The expressed rule, they have escaped from the
appeal.
We take pleasure in relating incident,
which greatly enlisted our sympathes; hell us
spell bound by it's interest; and finally made
our heart leap with joy at it, happy termina-
..sa.
In the spring of Is4- we CHANGED to be
spending few days ia beautiful inland coun-
try town in Pennsylvania. It was court week !;
and to relieve US frcta the somewhat monoton-
incidents Of village life, we stepped into the
room where court had convened.
Among the prisoners in the box, we saw
lad but ten years Of age, whose sad and pensiTe
countenAnce, his young and innocent appear
ance, caused him to look sadly out Of place
among the hardened criminals by whom he was
surrounded. Close by he box, and manfesting
the greatest interest in the proceedings. sat
beautiful woman, whose anxious glance from tho
JV1ss 10 Niit wy 4tih W. NO AOdph Nitas SHO was
his mother. We turned with sadness from the
scene, to enquire Of the offence OF the prisoner
and learned that 10 was accused OF stealing
money.
The case was soon summoned, AMI by the in
tere.t manifested by that large crowd, we found
that our heart was not the only one in which
sympathy for the lad existed. How ptied
him The bright smile OF youth had vanished
from his face. and now it more expressed the
cares Of the aged His young sister-a bright
eyed grl-had gained admission to his side, and
checrcd him with the whispering of hope. But
that sweet voice, which before caused his heart
to bound with happiness added only to the grief
his shame had brought upon him.
The progress Of the acquainted MS with
the circumstances Of the loss, the extent Ct
which was but a dime more
The lad employer, wealthy, misery and un :
principlcd manufacturer, had made use OF il, for I
the purpose Of what he called testing the boys
honesty 1t was placed, where from its very
position the lad would oftencst see it, aud least
suspect the trap. day passed, and the mag
ter to his modification, not pleasure found the
coin untouched. Another day passed and yet
his object was not gained. lie was, however,
determined that the boy should take it and SO
let it remain.
This continued temptation was too much for
the lads resistance. The dime was taken. A .
simple present for that little sister purchas-
ed by it, But while returning home to gladden. /
her heart, his own made heavy by being .
arrested for theft "A crime, the nature OF which
he little knew. These circumstances were sub
stAntiated by several of his employers work
men. who were also parties to the plot. An at
torney urged upon the jury the necessity Of
making this "little rogue example to others,
by punishment His address had great effect
upon all that heard it. Before. | could
many tears Of sympathy for the lad his widow
e! mother and faithful sister. But their eyes
were all dry now, and none looked as if they
cared for or expected ought else but convict
ion.
The accuser sat in conspicuous place, sml
ing as if in fend like exultation over the mis-
cry he had brought upon that poor, bat on-e
happy trio.
We felt that there was but little hope for the
boy and the youthful appearance Of the attor-
ney, who had volunteered has defence, gave no
acknowledgements as We csEDcN tAAt IL " az tllt
young mans maiden plea-his first address,
lie appeared greatly confused and reached TO n
desk near him, from which he took the Bible
that had been used to solemaxs the testimony.
This movement was received with general
laughter. and haunting remarks-among which
we heard harsh fellow close by us cry out
lie forgets where he is. Thinking to take hold
OF some ponderous law book, he has made
mistake, and got the Bible
The remark made the young attorney flush
with anger, and turning his flushing eyes upon
take. saying
Justice needs no other book"
His confusion was gene and INSTANTLY he was
calm as the sober judge upon the bench
The Bible WAS opened, and every eye was up
on him he quietly and leasurely turned over
the leaves. Amidst GREATNESS silence, he read
to the jury this sentence
"IxAp Us NOT INTO LIMITATION"
We felt our heart throb at the sound Of those
words. The audience looked at each other
without speaking-and tho jurym men mutely ex-
changed glances; the appropriate quotation car
ried its moral to their hearts Then followed
an address which, for its pathetic eloquenee, we
have never heard exeelled. Its influence was
like magic. We saw the guilty accuser leave
the room in fear Of personal violence. The pris-
oner looked hopeful-the mother smiled again,
and, before its conclusion, there not an eye
in the court that was not moist. The speech,
affecting to that degree which causes tears-it
held its hearers spell bound.
The little time that necessary TO tran
spire before the verdict Of the jury could be
learned, was period OF great ar1iety and sus-
pense. But when their whispering consultation
ceased and those happy words, Not guilty"
came from the foreman, they passed like thrill
Of electricity from lip to lip-the au.tere dignity
of the court was forgotten, and not voice WAS
there, that did not join the Acclamattons that
hailed the lads release
The lawyers first plea was successful one.
He WAS soon a fayortte and now represents his