The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-07-26
@isftllauenas.
ALAWYfR's ADVENTURE.

'~S~r foss6 '~-'' IS s'''s.o'Sl 80 -
pretty large circuit. ! was called upon IN
my Office in tho town Of &C., by q
very pretty woman, who, not without tears,
told mo her husband had been arrested for
horse stealing. She wished to retain me
on tho defence. lssked her why she did
not 20 to Judge B, an ex-senator Of the
United States, whose Office was in the
same town. told her was young man
at tho bar, &c. She mournfally said he
had asked q retaining fee above her means,
and besides did no, want to touch the case,
for her husband was suspected as belong.
ing to an extensive hand Of horss thieves
and counterheters. whose headquarters was
on Moore's prairie. @ ....
lssksd her to tell mo the whole truth Of
tho matter. and if Il was true her husband
did belong to such a band? ~.
"Ah, sir" said she, ga better man at
heart than my George never lived: but he
liked cards and drink, and am afraid they
have made him do wha. no never would
have done if he lrad not drank. fear that
Il csn bo proved that he had the horse |; he
didn't steal Ii; another did, and passed il
to him." ........ .......
didn't like the case. knew that there
was great dislike to tho gang located
whcrc she named, and feared to risk the
case bcfaro q jury. She seemed to observe
my intention to refuse the case, and hurst
into tears. s"r.
never could sec woman weep with
out feeling like weak fool myself lit
hadn't been for eyes frightened by "peariy
tears" (blsss the poets thnt made them come
in fashion by praising 'm,) Id never been
caught in tho lasso OF .ma,rimony. And
my would.be client was pretty. The hand
kerchisf TINT hid her ripe lips and her
snowy bosom rose and fell like a wtito gull
In gale Of wind al sea. took tho case
and abe gave mo the particulars. p $50
The gang Of which he was not men,
Der, had persuaded him to take the horse.
He knew the horse was stolen, and like a
fool acknowledged II when he was arrested.
Worse s,ill-he had trimmed the horses
tail and mane to alter his appearance, and
the opposition could prove it. u.
The trial came on. l worked hard to get
ajury ofignonnt men, who had more
heart than brain. Who if they could not
fathom the depth Of argument, or follow
the labyrinthine mcshes ofthe law, could
feel for young fellow in bad fix, weep.
ing, pretty wife, nearly brokcn.hearted
nnd quite distracted. Knowing tho use Of
seflect," told her to dress in deep mourn.
ing, and bring her little cherub ofa boy,
only three years old, into court, and to si,
US near her husband Us officers would lot
her. I tried that game once In murder
case, and weeping wife and sister made
jury render verdict against law, eyi-
deuce and the judges charge, and saved q
man that ought TO have been hung as high
as Hanan.
The prosecution opened very bitterly {;
inveighed against ,hcivcs.and conntsrfsi,ors,
who made the land tsrror to strangers
and travellers. and who had robbed every
farmer in Me region Of their finest horses
1t introduced witnesses and proved all and
moro than had feared It would. Il '
Tho time came for mo to rise. for dc,
fence. Witncsses-l had none. But ]
determined to make an cffort-only hoping
50 to interest the judge and iuryas tn Sc
cure recommendation to gubenntorial
clsmency and light sentence. So paint.
cd this picture. A young IMAM ontered In.
to life welded to an angel beautiful in
person, possessing every gentle and noble
attribute. Temptation was before snd
around him. lie kept tavern. Guess
there were many II: wus not for him to en-
quirc into their business; they wcrc all
we'll dressed made large hills and paid
promptly. At an ung,Iarded hour, when
he was insane with the liquor they urged
upon him. he had deviaied from tho path
Of rocitude. The demon Of alobol rcign.
cd in his brain; and Il was his first offence.
Mercy pleaded for another chance TO save,
him from ruin. Justice did not require
that his young wife should 60 down sor-
rowing to the grave, and that the shadow
Of disgrace and taunt Of 4 felon father
should cross the path Of that sweet child,
o, how earnestly did plead for them.
The woman wept; tho husband did the
samc; F; the judge 6dgctcd and rubbed his
eyes the jury looked melted. i'll oould
have had tho closing speech hc would have
been cleared but the prosecution had tho
close, aud threw ice on to tho fire that had
kindled. But they did not quito put 1t
The judge charged according to law
and evidence. hut evidently leaned on tho
side Of mercy. The jury found a verdict Of
guilty, but unanimously recommended the
prisoner to the mercy Of the ecut. My
client was sentenced to the shortest Inn
prisonmcnt tho court was. empowered
to give, and both jury and court signed /"
petition 10 the Governor for nm uncondi-
iional parlon, which has since been grsn..
ed, bu, not before the following incident
occurred.
Some thrsc months ailcr ,hiA ! received
nm account ior ealectios, ffon, . wholesale
bouse in'New York. The parties to col.
lect wcrep bad ones, bu, they hud prop
city. which they were aboui to assign be.
fore they broke, under attachment. Find.