The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-09-29
A Singular Defense.

a pluS VIA oUlousus
A gentleman, followed by o servant 10 iv.
cry, rode into an inn in the west OF England
one evening, a little before dusk. He told
tho landlord that be should be detained by
business In that part Of the country for Q
few days, and wished to know II tbero we're
any amusements going on In tho town 10
eli up the intervals OF limo. The landlord
replied that it was their race and assize
week, and that he would be at no loss to
pass away his leisure hours. On the gon-
tloman's making answer that this was for!
tonnte. that he was fond of hearing trials,
tho other said that n very interesting trial
for robbery would como on the next day,
on which peoples opinions wore much d..
yded, tho evJenco being very strong
against the prisoner; but tho man himself
persisted resolutely in declaring that no
was 10 distant part OF the kingdom at tho
time tho robbery was committed.
The guest manifested considerable ankle.
ty to hear the trial; but, 10 the court would
probably be crowded. expressed somo doubt
Of getting a place. The landlord told him
that there could be no difficulty in gentle;
man of his appearance getting a seat; but
that, to prevent any accident, ,ho would him.
self go with him. and spcak to ono of the
beadles. Accordingly, they went into court
the next morning, and, through the land
lords interest with the officers of the court,
the gentleman was shown to seat on the
bonch. Presently after. the trial began. IA
While tho evidence was proceeding against
him, tho prisoner had remained with his
eyes fixed on the ground, seemingly very
much depressed; till, on boibg called on for
his defonse, he looked up, aud, seeing tho
stranger, he suddenly tainted. This excited
some surprise, and it seemed, at frat, like a
trick to gain time. AS soon as he camc to
himsolf, being asked by tho judge the cause
of bis behavior, ho said: n.
"Oh, my lord, l sec pereon who can
savo my life; that gentleman" pointing to
the stranger, ''can prove am Innocent,
might I only have leave to pu. few ques
tions to him. 49,.
The eyes of the whole court wero now
turned upon tho gen,lemnn. who said he
folt 10 very awkward situation to be called
upon, as he did not remember ever to have
seen tho man before, but that no would an
swer any question that was asked him.
"WelI, then." said the man, "don't you 70.
member landing at Dover, At such time:"
To this the gontleman answered that be
had landed at Dover not long before. but
| that he could not tell whether it was on the
day mentioned or not. .. m.l r'Ha
"Wcll," ,"suid he, "but don't you recolocs
that q person, in blue jacket and trowsors,
carried your trunk 10 tho in" :" --4---s.-- --.l--
| To this he answered. that of course some
person had carried his trunk for him; but
that he did not know what dress ho wore.
"But," said tho prisoner. "don't you 70.
member that the porson who wont with you
ho shNa en n NJ hrin
in tho service. that no thought himself an
i'll. used man, and that he sho we'd you scar
no had on ono side of his foreaoad:' , .I+
During the last question, the counte-
nance OF the stranger Underwent consider.
ablo change. He said he certainly did rec
ollect such circumstance, and on the man
putting bis hair aside, and showing tho scar
ho became quito suro that ho saw tho same
person. A buzz of satisfaction now rang
through tho Court; for tho day on which,
according to the pris0nor's account, the
gentleman had met him at Dover, was tho
tamo on which bo was charged with the
robbery In a. distant part of the country
Tho stranger, howevor, could not be Ger.
tain of the time, but said that be sometimes
made memorandum of datOs in his pocket
book, and might possibly have done 80 on
this occasion. On Turning to bis pocket.
book, he found memorandum of the time
be landed, which corresponded with the
prisoners assertion. This being the only
circumstance necessary to prove the abb
the prisoner was Immediately acquitted,
amidst tho applause and congratulations Of
tho whole court. Within less than month
af.or this, the gentleman who camo to the
inn attended by Q servant In livery. tho ser
want who followed him, and tho prisoner
who had been acquitted. toere all hret
brought back together to tho same jail, Jo'
robbipg the matt 1t turned out that thii
clever defence at tho trial wss scheme
skillfuily arranged by the thiefs oonfoder
ates to obtain tho roleaso of their accom-
, piice. .'...'.'" II