New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-11-28
JOHN HENrnoAN,s rnIAL.
From the Culver tRnglish) Magazine.

from the Culver Rnglish) Magazine
One by one the charges were read over
He, John Henthorn, stood charged with
having stolen handsome gold watch, four
other articles OF jeWelry, and some bank
notes from Ebenezer Grant, commercial
traveller; and he was charged on the sec
ond count with having the aforementioned
articles in his possession, knowing them TO
have been stolen. He was only lad-just
eighteen; he mad no friends in the great
city, which seemed 10 him SO hard-hearted,
at that moment, to be continuing its bust
ness with the same eager roar as ever. while
he stood on bis trial. He had no friends
Yes, he had dear little fIiend-his little
sister Lucy. She was standing by, listen
ing to the person who read over these
charges in hard, dry, matter-of-faet style.
and then asked her brother-yes, though
she could not hardly believe it, it was her
own brother John who stood there in the
dock, between two policemen--asked her
brother whether he was guilty or not guilty.
She listened eagerly for johns reply.
She saw bis mouth open and make an in
effectual effort 10 form the words; at length.
with great gasp, 1t came" Not guilty"
Little Lucy breathed more freely. Her
little finger was laid upon her lips; her
thin face was psler than ever, but her eyes
were bright and anxiOus-no. not so much
anxious as wAfchful and eager. She knew
now--for she had heard her brother speak
that John was innocent, and though she
knew -ior she was nearly tamished-how
sorely John might have been tempted by
necessity, yet Johns word was passed and
John was innocent tF aF
John Was Innocent; but John must be
proved innocent, She knew that the gen.
tlemen ranged in rows before the Judge
were all clever lawyers, who could prove
that John had stolen nothing; so she slipped
down from the crowd among which she
was standing, and being so small, she
passed unohserved to the corner of the
lawyers seats. She watched all their faces
for long time. Some of them were busily
engaged farming over great masses of pa
per and parchment, others were sitting
moodily with their hands pressed upon
their fort heads, briefsss barristers. who
were meditating en- the Inequalities Of
the world, and how it was that .tbat
densely stupid Fumblefrump has his
hands full oil cases" and they, s'who could
beat his head of at billiards, or any other
gentlemaAly employment" were len brief
tariIy idle barristefs, was one who had for
fourteen years freqnented the courts, and
never met with thai ireasure-a brief. He
had no eonnection-no one TO give him a
start His little fortune was ebbing slowly
away. He hsd nanaged 10 pick up a few
pounds in variety Of ways. He had some
times communicated the nrst intelligence Of
an appalling accident, which be had been
fortunate enough to witness, 10 some Of
ihe daily papers, and bad received few
hiilinga for AS trouble. But bit By bit his
l!..k.s aanitRlzAlhe careful. hard-earaed sav-
a. 4 lovin9 ialhrF The vicar Of little
dif9 living -dvindIed away. He was
'ng. N'lt8 his head between bis hands.
b!terty Of h. Improbable lie
sisd IL own position Of compul-
rs and .a4Eoidable eentIiiig
'aairioln an 8fsteful ioA q