, 1869-05-14
NUMBER 90.
The Lawyer and the Thief.

We have lately heard a capital story con>
nected with a prominent lawyer Of u neigh.
boring village, who distinguished bimself ia
the defence Of criminals, as we'll as in con-
nectlon with other trials, having frequently,
through bis skill, aided the most hardened
criminals TO escape justice. Some time ago,
while our tlend was attending court in an
adjoining county, he was applied to by
singular piece Of humanity, charged with
grand larceny, to defend him. Tue lawyer
very naturally inquired what crime be wa,
accused of. The party accused replied that
somebody had been mean enough 10 accuse
him Of stealing one hundred and ffty dol
lars IN bank notes, aud had got him indicted.
Are you guilty.! asked the lawyer.
That's none Of your business, replied
the accused. They say that makes no diff.
Terence with you, whether man is guilty or
not You will contrive to dig him out
some way. So don't talk any mors about
guilt I'LL you hear what the jury says
Well, what about the pay said the
lawyer.
You just hold on till the trial is over.
Tive (the compainant,) fits on the cross
examination, aud that other fellow he has
ct to back him up, and you'll have no
trouble about the pay
Inc trial Commenced, and proved to be a
somewhat prOlracted aud exciting one The
District Attorney proved that the money
was cnmposed OF two fifty dollar bills on Ger.
tain bank and the remainder in Ten dollar bills
all OF which were wrapped up in piece of
oil silk The jury, after listening to the
counsel in the case, and receiving the
charge of the judge, retired, and soon re,
turned with a verdict of not guilty. The
accused, who was greatly el4ted with tue re-
suit OF the trial aud the effort Of his counsel,
invited the latter into one Of the vacant iu.
~ rooms. AS soon as they were alone, he
slapped his counsel on the shoulder, aud ex-
claimed:
Free as water, aint 1? What's the use
OF trying a man for stealing when you're
around! Now suppose you want payP
Yes; have you got anything to pay withY
said the lawyer.
Lend me your knife and we'll see about
that
The lawyer, rather startled at such prop.
ositiou, rather reluctantly complied.
The accused Immediately commenced rip
SNSeHS o"oy oe ehS "oieh-OouN Va
his pantaloons, anu soon produced the roll of
bills for the stealing of which he had just
been tried, wrapped up in the identical piece
of oil silk described by the witness for the
prosecution, aud throwing it down on the ia
BILE before the astonished lawyer, exclaimed:
There, take your pay out of that, guess
there is enough to pay you tolerably WE'LL
Why, you villain, you stole that money
after all, said the lawyer. 'Do'yOu expect
l can take any of that money?
Stole that money why, what are you
talking about? Didn't them twelve men up
stairs say didn't steal it? What is the
use of your trying to raise a question of
conscience, after twelve respectable men have
given their opinion upon the subject Take
vour pas out of that and ask no questions.
Don't be modest in taking | got it easy
enough, and you've worked hard enough
for it,
Our informant did not state how much
the lawyer took, but We presume the chap
did not have much change left alter our
friend had satisfied his conscience in the
premises.