Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1866-08-01
all g0rts of @OOo 8eaOing.
A Touching Scene in a Court ROOm--HOw
it Terminated.


THE Macon (Miss.) Beacon recites the
following interesting story. Its Incl
dents attest the worth and nobleness Of
a true woman's character and instincts
In the County Court last week, the
case Of the State against Sultana Alden
for slander, excited as much interest as
any that has ever originated in this
county. The defendant, Mrs. Allen, is
an old respectable widow lady; Miss
Eliza MCGOWAN, the lady against whose
character the slander was charged to
have been uttered, is a young lady Of
good family and unblemished character
an orphan residing with her sister. Mrs.
Aliens plea was not guilty, " and "justi-
ication." The examination of witnesses
assumed the broadest latitude. Miss
McGowan's conduct through life, from
childhood to the day Of the alleged
slander, was made the subject Of inquiry.
Nearly the entire neigbborhood in which
the parties reside were present as witnes-
ses for the one side or the other. The
case, without any charges from the Court,
was submitted to the jury, and the ques-
ton of the guilt or innocence of the de-
fendant left to their determination. In
short time they returned verdict Of
guilty" Five of the jury, on account
of the age and infrm condition Of Mrs
Allen, the defendant, recommended her
IN the mercv of the Court. After some
consultation on the bench Judge McLel-
land, the Chief Justice of the Court,
turned to the prisoner and in substance
said: Mrs. Allen, you have been pre-
sented before this Court on charge OF
slander, of willfully traducing the charac-
ter of an innocent, deienseless young
lady of your neighborhoOd. In your
defense, the Court perhaps erred in per-
mitting YOU the latitude Of investigation
into the character and conduct Of Miss
McGowan, which you, under the advice
of your counsel, thought necessary for
YOUR defense. If we erred in thislt was
on the side Of mercy and we are content.
The result of all your investigation has
been a full vindication Of the character
of the young lady whose conduct you
have impugned, and while this is most
happy result for her, it is most unlor-
tuna,e for you. The jury selected by
YOU to try your case have declared you
guiltv of the matters charged in the In
dictment, and it BOW becomes the un-
pleasant duty Of this Court to impose the
sentence Of the law upon you. In de-
termining the punishment to be inflicted
the Court has taken into consideration
your sex, your age, and the recommend
ton of a, portion Of the jury who sal
uuon your case, and we have, in conse'
quence Of these things, made your pun
ishment much lighter than under different
circumstances your crime deserves. The
sentence Of the Court is that you be fuec
in the sum of FIVE hundred dollars anc
be imprisoned in the county Jail for the
term of six months" "
When this sentence was pronounced
/ Miss MCGOWAN burst into tears. Sh'
asked her counsel if it was necessary 70
the complete viudication of her characte
that Mrs. Allen should be really and ac
tuallv imprisoned in the county jul; ant
when informed that the verdict of tn
iurv was full and complete vindicatiol
of her character she desired the Court T.
remit the punishment She said she hat
no vindictive feelings against her criml
nal accuser: that having no other pro
tector she had appealed to this Court
and that now by its judgment she wa
fully protected from all further calumny
she praved the Court, through her coun
sci. to have mercy upon the unfortunat
being who had just been sentenced
When Miss McGowan's request was mad
known to the Court, there was a stiffness
solemnity, depth of feeling seldom,
ever. witnessed in court of Justice
There sat the young innocent and IN
iured girl, pleading for mercy for tia
old woman who had sought, by her Sian
derous tongue az home, and the course
her defense in Court, to blacken end fol
ever ruin her reputation, the only patri
mony left her by her dead father an
mother. Such magnanimity is almos
beyond human conception. The Cour
the bar, the audience, were moved
silence, and not a few to tears-for som
moments the stiffness of death pervade
the assembly. The Judges were move
by the petition of the young lady, an
the fine and Imprisonment were RENTED