The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-07-16
The Widows Trial.

pehb people, anu It's numerous charitable I
institutions, established and endowed by /
benevolence centuries ago. 1t is also
adorned by many ancient and sacred edi- |
fices; it can also boast of being the birth |
place of the famous actor, David Garrick |
With what feelings of curiosity I gazed |
upon the house in which the great En-
glish Roscius first appeared on the stage
OF life. There lsa strange imaginary halo
which fancy weaves around even mani
mate objects, when connected with gen
ius.
| had just finished general survey of
the fine old cathedral-one of those mag
ni6cent, stupendous structures, which
stand as monuments of the architectural
skill of past ages-when | was informed
that the assize term had just commenced
in the County Court, so | concluded to
vary my recreation by passing an hour or
two there. To a student of human nature,
Criminal Court affords much matter for
refection-he can there mark the varied
shades of character. | entered the Court
aud took my place among the spectators.
The prelimlnaries incidental to the open
ing of the Court were passed through and
the first prisoner on the calendar was
called to appear at the bar. The portly
crier called in stentorian tones, Silence
in the Court !'' when poor, wretched-
looking woman appeared, moving toward
the rail, which her trembling hands
grasped for support. After few moments
she raised her head imploringly toward
the Judge-Baron Williams-and in
tremulous voice exclaimed:
"Ohi my lord, be merciful to me, for
the sake of my poor children"
Never have beheld more pitiful pic
ture of misery, poverty, and despair,
than that poor woman presented, as she
stood there, scantily attired in her worn
out widow habiliments. Sorrow had
plowed on her brow deep lines of care,
"sharp misery had worn her to the
bone" There she stood, arraigned be-
fore one Of the highest functionaries of
the crown, charged with the terrible
crime CD of taking milk to satisfy the
cravings of her starving children!
The prisoner, it appeared, was a poor
widow, with five children depending upon
her for bread, aided only by a small pit
tance allowed her by the parish. About
ten o'clock on certain night she was met
/ by the principal witness against her,
farm servant; she held in her hand small
pail containing milk, and was crossing
stile in close proximity to a field where
were a number of milch COWS belonging
i to the master of the servant referred to,
who concluded that she had been felon-
/ iously milking those cows, arrested her,
and in spite of all her entreaties and pray
/ ers, hurried her into the presence of the
i indignant farmer, who was deaf to all her
cries of mercy. In his opinion the majesty
| of the law should be vindicated! She was
soon ushered before " capon-lined'' JUS
1 tice of the Peace, to whom she made a
confession in the following words:
~ may, as well tell the truth I did
milk drop of milk for my children
/ Forgive me, and oh for Gods sake let
me go home to my poor hungry little
ones" But the farmer was inexorable,
and the poor creature was ruthlessly
dragged TO the village lookup, and on
the following morning was conveyed to
the County Jail, distance of 20 miles,
where she had lain for more than four
! been taken charge of by the parochial
been permitted to see them during the
| period of her confinement.
Her trial commenced, and notwith-
standing her confession before the
Justice, she pleaded s.Not guilty" The
first witness was the stolid, sleek looking
servant, who gave his evidence with as
much emphasis and air Of Importance as
if aiding in the conviction of some ter
rible desperate. Then followed the cor
| pulent, ruddy farmer, who had never felt
the pangs of hunger, and probably be-
lieved it to be fable and the word a mere
abstract term ''signifying nothing,
Next appeared the Justice with his
seifimportant gravity he testified to the
prisoners confession. The case seemed
to be clearly made out against the poor
woman, who stood trembling with fear
and dread of further imprisonment.
"Have you any counsel engaged ?"
asked the Judge, in a gentle tone.
/ "No, my lord" she replied sobbing /;
ri am poor and fricndless."
At that moment, noble looking man
-Sergent Godson-bless him rose up.
"My lord" said he, "I will undertake
the prisoners defense"
/ confess I was at a loss to conceive
how be could succeed in defending a
cause so clearly proven, coupled with the
confession But the shrewd sagacity of
the talented lawyer enabled him to pene-
trate deeper.
s14et the FIRST witness be called" he
said, with calm dignity
I The rustic soon appeared upon the
stand.
snow tell on your OATH" said the
counsel, '.were there not other mich
cows, the property of the other farmers,
/ in fields adjoining that belonging to your
master p
"There were, sir.
i "Can you swear the prisoner MIXED
yonr masters COW ?"
sI think she did"
"Can you swear she did 2"
/ 81 cannot, because did not see her
| 40 it,"
"That will do, said Tho lawyer, with a
/ smile. Then, turning to the jury, he
delivered one of the finest impromptu
forensic efforts / have ever heard What
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