The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-02-02

now called Nancy Luther back, and
she began to tremble little, though her
look was as bold and defiant as ever.
Miss Luther I said, why did you not
inform your mistress at once of what you
had seen, without waiting for her to ask
about the lost money!
Because l could not at once make up
my mind to expose the poor GIRL she an
swered promptly.
=. You say you looked through the key
hole and saw her take the money!
Yes, sir ~
Where did she place the lamp when
she did so p
'On the bureau
In your testimony you said she stopped
down when she picked it up. What do
you mean by that ?
The girl hesitated, and finally she said
she did not mean anything. only that she
picked up the lamp.
Very well, said Il; how long have you
been with Mrs. NasebyP
Not quite a year, sir
How much does she pay you u week ?
"A dollar and three quarters
Have you taken up any Of your pay
since you have been there?'
Yes, sir
How much p
L don't know, SIR
Why don't you knowP
How should I? l have taken it at diff
ferent times, just as 1 wanted it, and kept
no account
'Now,if you had wished to harm the
prisoner, could you have raised twenty
five dollars to put in her trunk?
No, SIR she replied with vlrtuous IN
dignation- ... ..a .--r. "a .
Then you have not laid up any money
since you have been there?
No, sir, only what Mrs. Naseby may
owe me- ~. -
Then you did not have twenty-five
dollars when you came thereY -.
No, sir; and what's more, the money
found in the girls trunk was the money
Mrs. Naseby lost You might have known
that if you'd remember what you asked
her This was said very saroastically,
and was intended as a crusher upon the
idea that she should have put the money
IN the prisoners trunk. However, i was
not overcome entirely.
Slater
4 do, SIR ...' -.. -.
In what town.
A@AAO ACSAtdlNh, anu lOI III 1HSldAb GllC
bold look forseok her. But she finally
answered. next turned to Mrs. Nase-
by. t~
DO you ever take receipt from the
girls when you pay themY
Always --
Can You send and get one of them for
me p
She has told you the truth, sir, about
the payment said Mrs. Naseby.
'Oh, l don't doubt it, replied; but
particular proof is the thing for the court
rooL., So, if you can, l wish you would
procure the receipt i.-
She said she would willingly go if the
Court said So The Court did say so, and
she went. Her dwelling was not far off,
and she soon returned and handed me four
receipts, which / took and examined
They We're signed in strange, staggering
hand by the witness. --.-
Now, Nancy Luther said, turning to
the witness, and speaking in quick,
startling tone, at the same time looking
her sternly in the eye, please tell the
Court and Jury, and me, where you got
the seventy five dollars you sent in your
letter to your sisterP
At this she started as though volcano
bursted at her feet. She turned pale as
death, and every limb shook violently. I
waited until the people could have an OPP
portun. y to see her emotion, and then
repeated the question. =.
1-never- sent-any,' she gasped.
You didP l thundered, for I was excl
ted now.
I'll didn't she family muttered, gras-
ping the railing by her side for support.
May 1t please your Honor and gentle
men of the jury 1 said, as soon as look
ed the witness out of countenance, I
came here to defend man who was ar
rested for robblng the mail, and in the
course o. my preliminary examinations
had access to the letters which had been
torn open and robbed for money. When
l entered upon this case, and heard the
name of this witness pronounced, went
out and got this letter which l now hold
for remember having seen one bearing
the signature of Nancy Luther. This let
ter was taken from the mail bag and il
contained seventy-fYe dollars, and by
looking at the post-mark you will observe
that 1t was mailed the day after the hun
dred dollars were taken from Mrs. Nase-
by'G drawer. will read it to you if you
please. .
The court nodded and l read the follow
ing, which was without date, save that
made by the postmaster upon the outside
l give 1t verbatim:
SISTER DoRCUS
4 cenc yu hear seventy-five dolers
which want yu to cepe for me til / cum
l cant cepe it cos I'm afreed twill git
stole, don't speek wun word TO liven sole
bout this don't want nobody to no i've
got eny mony, yu wont will you. am
fust rate only that guide for nothin snipe
Of liz madworth is hear yet-but 1 hop tc
git over her now, you no rote to yu bout
her give my love to all inquirin frens
this is from yur sister till deth.
.r#.- NANCY LUTHER
Now, your honor 1 said, as 1 gave
him the letter, and also the receipts, you
will, see that the letter is directed to Dor.
cas- Luther, Somers, Montgomery county
And you viii observe that one hand wrote
that letter and signed the receipt. and the
jury will also observe And now 1 will
only add, it is plain to see how the hun.
dred dollars were disposed Of Seventy.
five were sent off for safe keeping, while
the remaining twenty-five dollars were
placed IN the prisoners trunk, for the
purpose of covering the real criminal. o.
the tone of parts of the letter, you must
Judge. now leave my clients case IL
your hands
The case was given to the jury imme-
diately following their examination of the
letter. They had heard from the witness
own mouth that she had no money of hel
own, and withour leaving their seats they
-returned verdict of Not guilty
1 will not describe the scene that fol.
lowed: but if Nancy Luther had not beer
Immediately arrested for theft, she would
have been obliged to seek protection o.
the officers, or the excited people would
have manned her at least, if they had moi
done more. The next morning received
a note handsomely written, in which l was
told that the within was but slight toker
of the gratitude due me for my efforts in
behalf of the poor, defenceless maiden. Il
was signed Several Citizens, and contain.
| ed one hundred dollars Shortly after.
wards the youth, who first begged me t.
take up the case, called upon me with al
the money he could raise; but I showed
that had already been paid, and refused
his hard earnings. Before l left town
was guest at his wedding-rny fair clienr
being the happy bride.