Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-01-06
I'M UhkmDcfs JOURNAL.
TWENTY MINUTES TOO LATE.

am an Ola uial now, ana nave rctireu
from the profession but at the time when
the incident | arm about to relate occurred, !
had just entefed it, and was going o, circuit
for the sccoad time. Through the Kindness
Of well known member OF tae circuit, who
had taken liking TO me, was intrusted
with two or three briefs on my first journey;
and III one of these, | became known 10 an
old gentleman named Dowding, living In
Gloucester The case Ia which was con-
ccrned Tor him was q suit TO recover 4 debt
contracted by his sen, who was then uId r
age and though the amount sought to b.
recovered was rot large, yet, i he had been
condemned TO pay it, it would have led TO
the prosecution OF similar claims by ether
tradesmen, which would have ruined him.
Though there is always natural tendency
ON the part of a jury Of tradesmen 10 give
effect TO the claim OF brother sra,lesmap, !
was Fortunate enough to g,sa verdict in IA
voc Of my client.
A case Of this kind is not to bcrcmember-
cd long, even bysa newly Hcdged barrister,
though accompanied as il was by the kindly
congratulations of some Of the members ol
the circuit on my speech and until re.
turned 10 Glosoester, | had forgotten all
about Dir Dowdins. Having relative al
Lonehope, | went there the day before thl
assizcs began, and did not reach Gloucc- tie,
til late, and being tired | went straight &c
the lodgings had engaged, with the inten,
ton Of going to bed early. My lodgings
were the same had occupied at the preyI
aus assizcs and when had reached them
| found white haired Old man waiting fol
me thcre, whom had some difficulty at tir,t
in recognizing rs my old client, Mr.. Dowd
ing. The poor old gentleman began 10 cIy
rs soon as he saw me, and this, with bis ey
ident fcebleness - for he failed in the scvcra
attempts he made to rise from the Chair &c
greet me--excited my sympathy for lis dis
lress so strongly, that my fatigue was forgot
ten, and fcit eager 70 hear whet had caused
it. Wishing to come to the point as soon as
possible. said, I'm afraid your son is in
some way the cause of your distress"
Z" Yes. my dear young friend, he is, but
my poor boy is innocent Of the crime they
charge him with | am sure he is; truss
in God he is"
" You seem to have doubt yourself or
this point. What is the charger Is he ir
prison ?and Go you want me to tefent
him ~
That is what have come here to ash
you to do"
Very well what is he charged with 2"
" A most dreadful crime; for which, if h,
is convicted he will certainly be executed.
Here he broke down again, and burst int
a terrible fiji of crying and sobbinS, durin!
which could understand little OF what h,
tried to say beyond tho words mother, sister
broken hearted, shame, dis giace, and so OH
Seeing that he held in his hand a roll Of pa
per, thought it probable that this woult
give the information wanted; therefore
took it fr m HIM and opened it.
Yes" said he. you will find it all there
! made him write it, and give it to me, thn
it might be ready for you when you arrived
Here il also au order which win admit yOC
to his cell as early as you like in the morn
ing"
Thank YOU. How do you propose t.
get homel'
" l shall walk. feel better now that
have seen You"
went with him to the street door, shool
hands, and then went back to my room Il
read his sons statement. Thus il ran:
'On the evening Of the 2ist met Esthe
Levcrsedge, at the corner of Coptey's Lane
and we walked down by the frm and across
the field, to her house. had often met bel
before. but had never gof hoine with he,
on accaupt Of her father. who had ha;
nume in the neighborhood, owing to his idle
ness and savage disposition Till this even
ing, | had resoTntoly refused her invitation!
to set foot 10 her house; but when we reach
ed i, she assured me so positively that hel
C.tI \ IL 4
to 60 II, and sit down little while
When entered, | fully intended to STAY
only few minutes but the time flew S,
rapidly that il was between ten and clever
O'Clock when got up to 60 ] was saying
good by to Esther when we heard the gaIdei
woke. fall to, and she directly said it wa,
her father. She was fearful OF the consc
quences il be saw me there rs was or n
least seemed to be. There was no way o
leaving the house without meeting him, anc
II ] had had time to think, should hav,
left by this way, and met h.ia in the oper
air, bat before could think for myself, Es
ther opened the back door and pushed M
into the woodhouse, telling me that her ia
tber was sure to 90 to bed directly, and ther
she would let me out As COON as wa.
left alone, felt angry and vexcd that has
suffered myself to DC shut IN, but being ther,
| thought il would only be staying q few
minutes, and then could get away withou
exposing her to her fathers anger.
" There was heap Of faggots in the shed
and got on the top Of these to be more ou
Of the way, in case he should come there fol
anything A minute or two afterwards hs
came in with light. pulled tub from on,
corner. and then took pail and went out
side and brought il back fui Of water HI
had a smock frock on, very ahite and clean
which he stripped off and laid on the wood
and under meath this he wore dsfil fustar
coat He first poured tire water into th,
tub, and then drew ont Of his coat pocket .
hammer, the barrel Of gun and the stock
The gun and stock he laid on one side; the
BANNER he threw into the tub, and then ru,
TINT tlIp wafpr frn ar1 t,nr., T., :, -.