Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-01-14
SELECTED STORY.
JOHN HENTHORN'S TRIAL.

One by one the charges were READ over
He, John Henthorn, stood charged with hav
ing stolen a handsome gold watch, four 9th
er articles Of jewelry, and some bank notes
fromEbenezer Grant, commercial traveller
and he was charged on the second coun
with having the aforementioned articles il
his possession, knowing them to have beer
stolen. He was only lad-just eighteen
he had no friends in the great city, which
seemed to him so hard hearted, at that mo
ment, to be continuing its business with the
sane eager roaras ever, while he stood OF
his trial. He, had no friends Yes, he hat
dear little friend, his sister Lucy She
was standing by, listening to the person who
read over these charges in a hard, dry, mat
ter-of-fact style, and then asked her brother
yes, though she could 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 moi
guilty
She listened eagerly for Johns reply
She saw his mouth open and make az inef-
fectual effort to form the words. At length
it came with gasp. ''Not guilty"
Little Lucy breathed more freely. Hel
little finger was laid upon her lips her thin
face was paler than ever, but her eyes were
bright and anxous-no, not so much anxious
as watchful and eager. She knew now-fol
she had heard her brother speak-that John
was innocent; and though she knew-fol
she was nearly famished- sorely John
might have been tempted by necessity, yet
Johns words had been passed, and John
was innocent
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 J ohr
had stolen nothing; so she slipped daWr
from the crowd among which she was stand
ing, and, being SO small, she passed unob-
served to the corner of the lawyers seats
she watched all their faces for long time
Some Of them were busiIy engaged turning
over great masses Of paper and parchment
others were sitting modify, with their hands
upon their foreheads, brlefess barristers
who were meditating on the inequalities O
the world, and how it was that that dense
ly stupid Fumbletrump has his hands full o
cases. and they, "who could beat his hea(
off at billiards, or any other gentlemanly
employment" were left briehess. Amon2
these unhappy and involuntarily idle harris
tiers, was one who had for fourteen year
frequented the courts, and never met witt
that treasure-a brief He had no connec
tion-no one to give him start. His lit
tie fortune was ebbing slowly away. He hat
managed to pick up a few pounds in a varie
ty Of ways. He had sometimes communi
Gated the first intelligence Of an appalling
accident, which he had been fortunate
enough to witness, to some CT the daily pa
pers, and had received few shillings 70
his trouble. But bit by bit his little capita
the careful, hard earned savings Of a low
ing father, the vicar OF a little country liv
ing-dwindled away. He was thinking
with his head between his hands-thinkin!
bitterly of his Improbable life /; he contras
ted his own position of compulsory idlenes
and unavoidable gentility with the industri
GUS and grateful toll of the day laborer =
He pictured the rough handed man return
ing from his work-tired, but not exhaust
ed-the merry faces and the hearty greet
ing-the growing children and the radiant
faced wife. He then thought of himself
Edmund CareW, returning to his lionel
chamber with pale face and detected spirit
and Edmund Carew was about to curse tn
day of his birth, when light finger was lai
upon his elbow, and face paler and saddle
than his own looked up at him.
"Will you make the Judge let my broth
err off ?"
"Who is your brother, little woman z
Little Lucy pointed to the dock.
/ Now, by some means or other, tdmun
Carew's ears had heard The charges again
the lad in the dock, and his memory had r.
tanned the outline of the case, though HI
mind had been occupied bemoaning his oW
unhappy lot. He looked up at the lad, an
saw fine, manly looking young fellow col
fronting the whole court In an instant
lesson was taught to the young lawyer
Here was youth, friendless in great cit
and yet boldly keeping good heart IN tt
presence of a most crushing and cruel trla
The sight lent fresh courage to the bIlehe
barrister's heart. -.---
The judge spoke
Have you any counsel =
s'No, my lord,' said John. ;,
'Ihen, Mr.. Fumblctrump, thing
pardon me, my lord" SAID Edmun'
rising "the prisoner was not aware pu1
an Instructed by his friends to undersal
the Defence II
His friends John looks around IN amaz
ment His friends! yes, the barrster hs
said his friends but he could not unde
stand it, for be could not see his little Luz
standing by the barrister's slds,,
ILL., Goo than commenced. The c0une