The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-11-07
a LAWYERS ADVENTURE.

flee by very pretty woman, who not
without tears, told Inc that her husband
had been arrested for lorse-stealing. She
wished TO retain me for the defence |
asked why she did not 60 to Judge r.
=, an ex-senator of the United States,
whose office was in town. ! told her that
| was a young man at the bar, &c She
mournfully said that he had asked a re-
tanning fee beyond her means besides he
did not want to touch the case, for her
husband was suspected of belonging to an
extensive band of horse thieves and coun-
terfeiters whose headquarters were then at
Moore's prairie. l asked her to tell me
the whole truth of the matter, and if it
was true that her husband did belong to
such band.
"Ah, sir" said she, ga better man at
heart than my George never lived, but he
likes cards and drink, and / am afraid
they made him do what he never would
have done if he had not drank. l fear it
can be proved that he had the horse; he
didn't steal it; another stole it and passed
il TO him.
l didn't like the case. l knew there
was great dislike to the gang located
where she named, and feared to risk the
case before the jury. She seemed to OBJ
serve my intention to refuse the case, and
burst into tears.
never could see a woman weep with
out feeling like weak fool myself If
it hadn't been for eyes frightened with
''pearly tears I'd never been caught in
| the lasso of matrimony. My would be
client was pretty. The handkerchief that
hid her streaming eyes didn't hide her
red lips and her snowy bosom rose and
fell like white gull in gale of wind at
sea. ! took the case, and she gave me
| the particulars.
The gang of which he was not a mem
Der had persuaded him to take the horse
! He knew it was stolen, and like fool.
acknowledged it when arrested. Worse
still, he had trimmed the horses name and
tail so as to alter its appearance, and the
opposite party could prove it, The trial
came on. | worked TO get a jury of igno-
rant men, who had more heart than
brains who, If they could not fathon the
depths of an argument or follow the laby-
-rinthian mazes OF law, could feel for
young fellow in bad fix and weeping,
pretty wife, nearly heart-brokcn and quite
distracted.
Knowing the use Of 'felfect," tod her
to dress in deep mourning and bring her lit
lie cherub Of boy, only three years old,
INTO court, and sit as near to her husband
as the officers would let her ! tried the
game once IN a murder case, and weep
ing wife and sister made a'jury render a
verdict against law, evidence, and the
Judges charge, and saved q fellow that
ought TO have been hung as high az Ha-
man.
The prosecution opened very bitterly,
and inveighed againrt ,hieves and counter
feiters, who had made the land terror
to strangers and travellers, and who had
robbed every farmer in the region of his
finest horses. 1t introduced witnesses,
and il proved all and more than l feared
it would. The time came for me to rise
for defence. Witness / had none But
| bad to make an effort, only hoping SO
20 interest the jury as to secure a recon-
mendation 10 GubernatoriaI clemency and
light sentence.
So l painted his picture. A young
man entering into life, welded to an ange
beautiful in person, possessing every
; noble attribute. Temptation lay befor,
: and around him. He kept tavern
, There were many guests. 1t was no
2 for him TO inquire their business the,
: dressed well, made large bills and pait
3 promptly. At an ungarded hour, whel
f he was insane with liquor, they ureet
crime upon him; he deviated from tn
path of rectitude. The demon alcoho
reigned in his brain, and it was his first OF
n fence. Mercy pleaded for another chanc
Y to save him from ruin. Justice did no
e require that his young wife should go dow
: sorrowing to the grave, and that the shad
ow and taunt of a felon father 5 ould eros
: the path Of that sweet child. Oh, hoy
It earnestly did l plead for them Th
woman wept; the husband did the same
e the jury looked melting. If could hav
d had the closing speech he would hav
been cleared; but the prosecution had th
a close and threw ice on the fire l kindIed
y But did not quite put it out
The Judge charged according to laI
and evidence, but evidently leaned on th
e side Of mercy. The jury found verdit
g of guilty. but unanimously recommende
the prisoner 10 Inc mercy OF lne cOur
My client was sentenced to the shorte,
l. imprisonment the court was empowere
:. to give, and both jury and court signed
if petition TO the Governor for an uncond
If tional pardon, which has since been kinC
1T ly granted, but not before the followir
pc Interesting incident occurred:
s. Some three months after this, receive
n an account for collection from wholesa
i~ house in New York. The parties tc co
e, lect from were hard ones; h;lt thev b,
le property, and before they he, an idea
the trap ia:11, | had ,,ue property, viii,
they were cpout to assign. before th