Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-03-10


for robbery; and while he was thinking
what small chance there was for him
to escape, a cunning friend (also in
trouble) offered to help him for reward.
81 have two hundred pounds" said
the robber; zone hundred of which if
you save me, shall be yours
"Agreed," said the other. " And
now all you have to dois to tell me every
particular, word, etc., that passed at the
time you committed the robbery; and
when you are brought to the bar, plead
not guilty, and leave the rest to me-"
| Then the highwayran related every
word and circumstance that he could
recollect as having passed between the
gentleman he robbed and himself.
AT the trial, when the robber was
brought to the bar, he pleaded not
guilty. Just at this time there was
heard great hustle among the priso-
ners, whi h being loud enough to dis
turb the court, the usher was called up
on to explain the disturbance; he re-
ported that one of the prisoners said he
had something of the utmost Importance
to say to the judge, who Immediately
ordered him to the bar, and asked him
why he disturbed the court. He then,
assuming piteous countenance, told
the judge that, though he had been a
wicked fellow, his conscience would not
permit him to let an innocent man suf-
fer for crime that he himself had COM
mitted; upon which the gentleman
who was the prosecutor seemed greatly
disconnected. The fellow then addressed
himself to that gentleman and repeated
every word that had passed between
them at the time he had robbed him,
and had the impudence to exhort him
to take care, for the future, how he
swore away an innocent mans life. The
gentleman stood reproved. The real
culprit was now acquitted and the other
remanded back to prison, till bill of
Indictment was found against him. The
real criminal was faithful to his prom
ise to his preserver, and then made off
at full speed.
When the supposed culprit's trial
came on, and he was at the bar, to the
astonishment of the whole court he
pleaded not guilty, for which he was
severely reproved by the judge, who
asked him how he dare have the efFron-
terry 70 deny a fact which he had pleaded
guilty at the bar? To which he, with
great Icomposure, replied, that he not
only denied the fact, but could imme-
diately prove his innocence, not only to
the satisfaction of the judge, but of the
whole court, adding that he could prove
an dlibi at the time of the robbery"
Chow will you prove this ?" said the
judge.
"The goaler shall prove it for me-
If you will be pleased to order him to-
look over his list of prisoners, he will
ind that was in prison at the time
the robbery was committed"
On the goaler's examining his books,
he found to his small satisfaction, that
this fellow was brought into prison the
day before the robbery was committed.
For his neglect in not examining his
books he was very near losing his posi-
ton, for both rascals escaped.
MILIrARy.-The Secretary of War,
in compliance with Senate resolution,
gives information of the officers and
men of the Regular Army, how many,
and where stationed, with a similar list
of general officers of Volunteers. 1t
seems that there are yet in the Volunteer
service At Major Generals and 141
Brigadier Generals Of the former,
are commanding districts, II command
ing departments, are on special duty,
l is on leave, and Fl are ordered to be
mustered out. Of the latter, % are
commanding districts and departments,
6 are on courts-ma tial, 6 are Assistant
in the Freedmen's Bu-
reau, 10 are on special duty, 4 are on
leave, 102 are ordered to be mustered
out. This leaves in the service 26
Major Generals and 40 Brigadier Gen
erals. The total number Of officers and
men in the Regular Army is 1,124 Off
GERS and 23,795 men, an aggregate of
24,0I9.