The Placer herald., 1870-04-23
Arraigned for forgery-A Thrilling Court
Scene.

shady side Il sixty, who, ty industry ahd
economy. had amassed a large compstsuee.
sustaining in all the work OF life q character
above suspicion. lie was ,bs head Of Ase
family, and noted for bis sccentri~itiss sad
bis peculiar style Of dress. lie was s,oop-
shouIdered, limped little, and for ten ysass
previous to the time Of the scene about 70
be narrated wore a coat that had turned red
with age.
1t WAS in the middle Of the afternoos ~
a cloudy, dismal day in March lS-, who's
an oil man entered one OF the banks in he
ciy named and presen cd cheek for<psA
ment. rhe Cashier took it and paiA ovsQ
to the man $50, 600, aud lie descended sth6
steps into the street.
Ia I-ss than five minutes after he had 1sh.
the check was discovered to be forgevv.
The proper authorities we're Immediately
notified hy the Cashier, who gave them .
escrip,ion OF the person. and rigid search
Immediately commenced. In about half aa
hour af,erward an officer entered The back
with a man bearing The description, asd
presenting him TO the Cashier, asked II thss
was the man.
That is the man !; I cannot he mistaken
he replied. He eyed him little closer (bs.
ing near sghled) aud throwing up bis hasda
he exclaimed, "Mr Rawlins (,he gent leman
alluded TO in the opening of the navasivs)
ran it be possible that you have committed
this forgery" ?"
The old man protested his innocence. bot
to nc avail; for he was led away to prisos to
await lbe sitting Of the court.
His friends wished to 90 his ball. but he
obs,inatey refused release, and Law 10 Jail
| three months.
The dav of trial came, and although de-
Tended 10y the best of legal talent, the svi-
dence against him wa conclusive, and he
was convicted. 10 that State a day waa set
apart in which lhs condemned received
| their sentences.
1t was sentence day. The court room
was filed with spectators. and the friends
and relatives Of tho prisoner. 1t was sor-
rowiu scene. and among the participants,
the wife and two lovely daughters Of
Mr.. Rawlins. their beautiful faces swollen
with weeping over the sad fate Of their n.
'ber. One 10y one the prisoners descended !
from the box and received their sentences.
Raw'lns was next in turn. There is an
awful silence for some moments when the
Judge, in choking, trembling voice, for he
was an in.,mate freod Of the condemned.
said
"Mr. Rawlins T.
He arose and took a stand before tie
Judge.
The Judge proceeded: "h@ve YOU or any
one in the room reason why the sentence
OF the law should not be passed against youi"
Here terrible silence ensued, almost par.
a'yzng the hearts of many anxious friends /;
when, all at ooce prisoner in the box
young mau-arose and said. Il bave!'
"Your reason" said the Judge
because he is not guilty. will explain"
What mountains weight of sorrow WA
lifted from the hearts OF some bv the pro-
nunciaion Of these words not guilty."
Proceed! proceed cried a hundred voices.
Il will. you will send some reilabls
man-an officer or two-with me to a cor.
tain point on the main highway leading out
of the city, under fiat stone OF peculiar
shape you will find $40 900 Of the money;
the balance | have lost at faro"
They started, followed by crowd. In
an hour-An hour Of anxiety and excite.
ment-lbey returned, and produced tho
money in court.
room
No. Is, at the Linden House, on A.
street. and you will find hair trunk, which
you will bring to me-"
In due time the trunk was brought into
court, and at the previous secret request Of
the Judge, through the Sheriff. he and the
truck MAS placed in one ante room and Mr..
Raw iins in another.
In a few minutes he or Mr.. Rawlins. no
one knew which it was, took bis place in
the box, and the Judge ordered The Sheriff
TO summon the Cashier, which he did.
lie now came in.
Are you the Cashier Of the bank in
which that check was forged for $4,000 I"
Il am, SIR"
Before passing sentence upon this man
| would have you look at him and toll tho .
Court that he is The man" said the Judge.
"lle is the man | cannot be mistaken.
although am sorry to say it,"
Here the prisoner suddenly twi,ched tho
wiskers from his face, threw of his hat and
coat, and stood in his shirt sleeves a mere
boy. The Cashier swooned, fell upon the
floor, and was carried out of the courtroom.
IL am the man. said the prisoner. who
did the forging of tbst check came from
England few months ago, determined to
make raise. knew the man called Raw.
Inns, and, knowing that he bore q good rep
u'a'on, morally and financially. | deter
mined to personate him il possible, knowing
that the man wei uld be looked at and not
the check. How well did it you all know:
ut could not see an innocent man suffer
for crime that had committed"
Ra" lins WAS discharged and borne OF tri.
ompbanly on the shoulders of his friends.
and 10 consideration of the honesty Of heart
OF the youtg man, the Governor commutsd
his sentence from twenty to two wears, bs
baving been convicted on another charge.
EDucATIoN is compulsory in the Russian
army. The instruction is carried. on by The =
officers Of the regiment.