The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-08-04

make 1t. Hallway up the walls was a
wooden wainscotting, and round two
sides could dimly see low bench
barely two feet from floor which was
inch deep in sawdust. The iron door
of this delightful apartment was Of great
thickness, disclosing-about FIVE feet
from the ground--a small grating of
round holes. By pressing my face
against this grating, could see into
the corridor without. But the only
view obtainable was a ground glass
window opposite, illuminated by the
last lingering rays of the setting sun.
1t was altogether most depressing
place. The flavor suggested to me was
combined one, made up of the con-
demned cell in Newgate, the dungeons
of the Bastile, and the Spanish Inqui-
sition. Occasional grufF voices and
heavy footsteps in the corridor deepened
the impression. A mouse in trap was
a king to me.
Then / began to think seriously of
my situation. That l had committed
felony there could not be the least
doubt, though with no felonious inten-
tion. Would the magistrate believe
my explanation? Surely, my manner
and appearance were not those of a
! pick. But my heart sank within me
as remembered that the London SWELL
mob are known to be the cleverest ac-
tors in the world In fact, can initiate
to perfection any class of society. My
only hope was in Sprucington. He
would be of material assistance in clear
ing up the mystery. And yet, that
umbrella-I could have sworn it to be-
long to none other but he! However,
l had despatched messengers to him,
my employer, and my friends; there
fore, the only thing to be done was to
wait patiently till the morning.
Ispare you description OF that night
of horror, for such it was to one who
had never before suffered an hours de-
privation ofliberty, how the monotony
of the long, long hours was only bro
ken at intervals by the appearance at
the grating of stern helmeted visage,
demanding whether "alF' was "right,"
how at four o'clock A. NJ. two fellow
prisoners, in the shapes of a drunken
scavenger and deserter from the Roy
al Artillery, were thrust into the cell !;
or how in the morning all the cells were
emptied, and we, the occupants, with
aching bones, unwsshed and unkemt,
were paraded through the streets in a
melancholy string, to an adjacent po-
lice court.
Fortunately, my case came on early,
so that l had not long to wait among
the crowd of dirty, disreputable detenuS,
each guarded by constable, who filled
an outer room.
At the cry of "Charlss Blank !" Il
shuddered to hear my name in such a
place., l and my attendant policeman
marched into the court The jailer, a
big, burly, bald-headed, gilt-buttoned
person, placed me in the dock. At the
same moment the prosecutor entered
the witness-box to be sworn. He was
a priggish-looking man of about forty
five, and no more like Ned Sprucington
in front than | was like the Monument.
In few calm, well-chosen words, he
described the whole occurrence. When
he had finished, was told that l could
put any questions to him that l thought
proper. l declined to do so. Then,
after his evidence had been confirmed
by the constable who arrested me, the
magistrate-an amiable-looking old
gentleman-asked me, "Well, my
friend, what have you to say to this -
In reply, gave the same simple and
unvarnished statement which l had al
ready given at the police station.
"That is all very well as far as it
goes; but have you any witnesses to
character?"
eyes, sir, Mr.. Edward Sprucington.
"Call Edward Sprucington."
Then l could hear the crier shouting
the familiar name along the passages Of
the court.
After a few minutes suspense the
official returned, accompanied, to my
great delight, by Ned The good fel.
low looked so distressed to see me in
such predicament, that l felt convin-
ced he would have given dozen um-
brelas to have got me out of the scrape.
As soon as be made his appearance, ]
also noticed that while taking the oath,
Ned kept one hand behind his back, ]
could not have told you why, but
somehow derived encouragement from
both these trihing circumstances.
To shorten matters, l may say, that
ifI had been a seraph, l could not have
received better character than that
given me by Ned. At last came thc
question, "Then you think the prisoner
incapable of stealing this umbrella 2"
"Well, SIR" said Ned, who had re,
covered his self-possession, eff as
understand, stealing means taking prop
erty from the otcner, it is impossible tn,
prisoner could have committed tn,
theft"
What frst-class advocate Ned wa
becoming!
"Impossible! Why1"
1sBecause that umbrella was frs
stolen from me P'
alt is an infamous falsehood!" crie(
the prosecutor, starting up.
"Is t?" replied Ned. "That persol
need not be so particular about words
for this is all he left me in exchange -
at the Cigar Divan."