The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-05-24
Tried for Forgery.


had by industry and economy amassed q
large competence, sustaining in all the
work Of life a character above suspicion.
He was the head of a fine family, and no.
ted for his eccentricties and his peculiar
style Of dress. He was stopped shoul-
dered, limped little, and for ten years
previous to the time of the scene about to
be narrated, wore coat that had turned
red with age.
Twas the middle Of the afternoon of
a cloudy dismal day in March, when an
old man entered one Of the banks in the
city named, and presented check for
payment The cashier took it and paid
over to the man $4,000, and he descend
ed the steps into the street.
In less than five minutes after he had
left, the check was discovered to be for
gerry. The proper authorities were immo-
diatoly notified by the cashier, who gave
them description Of the person, and rig
id search was Immediately commenced.-
In about half an hour afterwards, an
officer entered the bank with man an
swering to the description, and, present
ing him to the cashier, asked him if that
was the man.
"That is the man; I cannot be mista-
KEN" he replied. lie eyed him little
closer, being near-sighted and throwing
up his hands, he exclaimed:
"Mr Rawling (thc gentleman alluded
to in the opening Of the narrative,) can
it be possible that you have committed
this forgery"
The old man protested his innocence,
but of no avail for he was led away to
prison to await the sitting of the court.
His friends wished to go his bail, but
he obstinatcly refused to accept release,
and lay in Jail three months.
The day OF trial came on, and, although
defended by the best legal talent the evil
dence against him was conclusive, and he
was convicted.
1t was sentence day. The court room
was filed with spectators and the friends
and relatives of the prisoner. 1t was a
Sorrowful scene, and among the partici-
pants were the wife and two lovely daugh-
ters Of Mr. Rawling their beautiful faces
swollen with weeping over the sad fate Of
their father. One by one the prisoners
descended from the box and received their
sentences.
Rawling was next in turn. There was
an awful silence for some moments when
the Judge, in a choking, trembling voice,
for he was an intimate friend Of the con-
demned man, said:
Mr.. RawlingW
He arose and took a stand before the
Judge
The judge proceeded
Have you or any one in the room Il
reason why the sentence of the law should
not be passed against you ?"
Here terrible silence cnsued, almost
paralyzing the hearts of many anxious
friends when, all at once prisoner in
the boX-a young man arose and said,
81 have"
"Your reason" said the judge.
"Because he is not guilty. | will ex-
plain"
What mountains weight of sorrow
was lifted from the hearts of some by the
pronunciation Of these words not guilty.
" Proceed Proceed !" cried a hun
dred voices.
Il will IF you will send some relia-
bic man-an officer or two-with me to
a certain point on the main highway lead
ing out of the city, under fiat stone of
peculiar shape, you will find $4,000 of
the money the balance lost at faro.
They started, followed by crowd. In
an hour an hour Of anxiety and excite
ment-they returned and produced the
money in court,
Now" said the prisoner, "send to
room No. Il, at the Linden House, on
A street, and you will find a hair
trunk, which you will bring to me"
In due time the trunk was brought in
court, and at the previous secret request of
the judge, through the sheriff, he and the
trunk were placed in one ante-room and
Mr.. Rawling in another.
In few minutes he or Rawling, no
one knew which it was, took his place in
the box, and the judge ordered the Sher-
iff, to summon the Cashier, which he