Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-22

rne English Law Concerning Debtors

fhe English Law Concerning Debtors
The London Telegraph has the fol-
lowing story:
s.In the old days of lifelong incarce-
ration for debt, they used to affix a
plaeard on the outside of some of the
prisons. with the inscription, ''pity the
moor debtorsp There is no good rea-
son nowadays to say pity the poor
debtors' So long as nothing fraudu-
lent is proved against the unfortunate,
the process of whitewashing is easy
and gentle, and the distanced horse
gets another fair start IN the race Of
life. But a debtor appeared in the
Chelmsford County Court on Saturday
last. on whose behalf the old placard
might we'll be displayed again, and the
melancholy little bell might tinkle for
pity. The bankrupt was no other than
Miss Matilda Griggs, who was pricked
so fnll of holes with dagger by her
affectionate lover, Frederic Watkins,
at Buckhurst Hill.
The public is well acquainted with
the facts of this extraordinary case.
The lovers, all will recolieet, were to
be married; but they had anticipated
the duties and rights of the welded
state. Walking together, they quar-
relied upon some trivial matter, and, IN
a sudden fit of eauseless jealousy, the
Young man plunged the weapon
no less than thirteen times Ito
the body of the poor girl. The
sheath was left sticking n the
last and most serious wound, and, but
for this circumstance, she would have
died at once from loss of blood. She
would have died, as it was, from cold
and syncope, but for most curious
occurrence. The wounded girl stag
gering over the path, IN the attempt to
get ont of the field. was followed by
two calves, grazing there, and when
she fell upon the grass in a swoon,
these amiable young cattle disposed
themselves on each side of her; and
living down close to the bleeding body,
they kept il warm and partly sheltered
il from the biting cold and from the
driving rain. The cold staunched the
hemorrhage, and the calves kept the
poor creature from dying outright
She was found, carried home, and pro-
uounced to be mOribund, and her
! diving dispositions were taken.
s'Bnt she did not die. Thanks to
the Essex calves, to the dagger she8t d,
and TO a physique which must be as
vigorous as the British constitution it
self. she recovered completely; and
with her strength came back all the
force of her first love. The prisoner 5
friends found it easy to keep her out
of the way at the trial. In the hope
that her non-apperrance would stop the
case against the savage sweetheart, she
forfeited her recognizance aud was sent
abroad. This available evidence was,
however, sufficient, and Watkins was
sentenced to twenty years penal servi,
tude. There upon Miss Griggs return
ed to England; but 'recOgnizaDce5'
are awful things, and knowing nothing
about tender passions or the divine
commisseration OF the feminine heart,
the Exchequer clapped the soft
hearted victim into the county goal
for the sum of e40, under which she
had bound herself to prosecute.
"Had she been rich, instead of poor,
we feel certain that we should have
seen ere now one OF those mysterious
little financial paragraphs in which Mr..
Disraeli would have acknowledged the
receipt of forty pounds sterling for
unpaid re2ognizances from NJ. g., and
NJ. G. would have gone free to heal
the thrice thirteen wounds ia her poor
heart. if possible. But her parents are
quite poor; they could not help her;
aud she appeared on Saturday, there
fore, as q bankrupt, praying her dis
charge. IL was refused, and she must
accordingly lie il Chelmsford Jail till
next March, the prisoner of the sheriff,
at the suit of the Chancellor OF the Ex-
chequer.
eft is clear that the
hearts and brains of our great lawyers
never provided for the contingency of
: Matilda Griggs. Turning the other
cheek YVES, they probably felt, ali very
well for the Lord Bishops assize ser
mon on Sundays; out the statutes
we're compiled for working days, and
Littletop, and Coke upon Littleton,
and ali the rest of them, never took the
idea under their wigs that a girl could
he almost murdered by her sweetheart,
aud yet go on loving her ferocions
swain. What would become of courts,
cases, and lawyers fees, if there were
many plaintiffs and prosecutors of Ma
tilda's stamp? No wonder the Ex-
chequer is stern, the county court rig
orous, and the sheriff hard as the
neither milestone; for this kind of pas
sionate Christianity would undo us all
Iesl we must keep the false Matilda
false TO 'recognizances, that is to say,
not to anything else--under bolt and
bari There is not more dangerous
bankrupt in custody; she let's her
debtors off without a penny, and pays
her creditors nothing 5ut tear in the
pound. Only we SHOULD like to ask a
question before we once more hide
away the old placard, pity the poor
bankrupt
A STANCE accident.
Two weeks ago in England an En-
u. -