Litchfield enquirer., 1868-04-16

1 aho coots was opeHeu. tEe Jury empdu- nelled, the case called, Helen Montressor trict attorneys forcible, merciiess opening of the case completed. in what seemed to be a few minutes of time.
 l Helen seemed to look moro innocent than ever, and resolved that full justice should be done her, if my resources should com pass such result. In such an hour, a lawyer feels the honor and dignity Of his position--it is then that he also feels his responsibility.
 The first witness called was Charlotte Boyce. She had been called by her mis- tress to go up and see Ellen's trunk search ed; and she went up and saw the breast pin and money found in it--tucked away In one corner. By my cross examination, I elicited the fact that Helen had inst come home from an errand, lon which she had been gone for more than an hour) when her trunk was searched, and that she had on her bonnet and shawl; that she looked Innocent and unconcerned until the things were found, and then she seemed aston ished.
 l On dismissing the witness, 1 gazed at the jury, but they sat with stern faces, as though resolved that nothing could make them clear the cul prit. called Miss Boyce back, saying that l had neglected q very important point. This excited some nt- ] tention, and when I asked her if Mrs. i Wesley was ill the habit of ili-treatinc the pylsoner, everybody pricied up their ears. The girl hesituted, and stammereI, and finally said that she was
 An why do yon think sop asked. Because Mrs. Wesley beat her once with a large club and threatened to kill her, and was always seoding her. But don't ask me any more questions, she said suddenly, or shall lose my place.
 1 l glanced at Mrs. Wesley, and saw that she was regarding her servant with 8 look of intense malignity, and to annoy her, I appealed to the court to protect the wit ness against tue threatening looks of her mistress.
 This brought all eyes to d focus on Mrs. 1 Wesley,s ugly looking countenance, and she turned fairly white with indignation.
 The judge told the witness to speak with out fear, and if sle lost her place for tell ing the truth, she would find better ones l told the witness she might 20, and the district attorney permitted her to pass without questioning.
 The next witness was Miss Brown, the seamstress, Tat-eyed, hatchet faced, dap per little creature. She Was at work at Mrs. Wesleys at the time the theft was dis covered. She met Helen the day before the trunk was searched, coming out of her mistress room, and she looked so guilty, she suspected she had been doing some. thing wrong. The same day Mrs. Wesley spoke about the things being gone and she told her suspicious. Thereupon she thought 1t would be 8 good plan to search Helens trunk; proposed to do it at once, but Mrs. Wesley preferred to wait When the trunk was searched, the things were found inst as she expected.
 When the witness was passed over to me, asked i'll q careless tone, how she knew the money was in Mrs. Wesley's room the day she met Helen coming thence. She knew 1t was because Mrs. Wesley had told her. Couldn't be mistaken, for Mrs. Wesley had spoken about the half eagle with a hole in it, which she was going to present to the minister's boy. l This l made her say over and over again until there could be no mistake about it, and then asked her if she knew who made the hole i'll the half eagle.
 Yes; Mir. Munch the jeweler.
 'Is he in the room? asked.
 Yes, there he js, said she pointing.
 I told Miss Brown she conld go, and the district attorney requested that Mr. Munch be sworn. The attorney handed to Mr. NIunch the identical half eagle, and asked if he recognized it. He said he did; that the magistrate who committed the prison CT had made 8 mark on it.
 That's all; the witness is yours, MT. l RemSen.'
 Do you remember, MT. Munch, on what day of the month you made the hole in the eagle?' I asked.
 It was on the Eth of March, said he ! Why, that was on the very day the prisoners trunk was searched, was 1t not?' said l, turning to the district attorney
 This Is the day mentioned in the in- dictment, he replied.
 Turning again to the witness, I said, Mr. Munch, please recollect with precis- ion; you heard the witness that preceded you swear that Mrs. Wesley told her that the identical half eagle, with the hole then made in it, was in her husband 5 trunk on or before the 18th of March?' l Yes said Munch, 1 heard ier swear to that, and was astonished, for Mrs. Wesley brought me the coin the afternoon of the 18th, and told mo to have 1t done by noon the next day; at eleven on the 17th, she came for 1t, and at one that afternoon 1t was found in Miss Montressor's trunk
 The district attorney turned sharply | fouhti, tnu gave tue WeSieyS it plefcluS look. Mrs. Wesley was immovable, but Wesley turned pale and fairly covered be- heath the gaze of the attorney, who was convinced of the true facts of the case; and judge and jury seemed to be Of the same mind. I felt certain, then, of the verdict in my clients favor, but how was I to crush the Wesleys, and how win back her estate? 1 decided on my own course i Hannegan was called, and l showed by him that Mrs, Wesley had persecuted the prisoner in the most outrageous manner beating her, and threatening to kill her and ruin her reputation, and treating her shamefuily. His testimony excited so much indignation, that I longed for the moment when Mir. James Wesley should take the stand. Wien Hannegan retired, Mrs. Wesley whispered to her husband, and he whispered to the attorney. ! The latter seemed surprised, but amour ced that the prosecution would rest the case.
 Every body was surprised that the Wes- leys were not called. and my plans were all disarranged divined at once that Mrs. Wesley had suggested this course to shield herself and her husband from cross-exami- | nation IT Had tha instinct of Salf-nresarva-