The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-11-07
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL
A True Story of the Albany Bar.

A LII lawyers of much practice have
IN more or less singular cases brought
to their knowledge, and probably no attor-
ney ever had more such cases than George
P. Barker at one time noted practitioner
in the State of New York.
The following is one of the many cir
cumstances which occurred in his profess
sional life, which indeed renders truth
stranger than fiction, and which exhibits
the generosity of his nature.
In October, 1882, Mr.. Barker was detain-
ed at Albany for a few days awaiting the
arrival of certain persons with whom he
had important business. At this time
court of Oyer and Terminer was in session
it that city, at which the late James Van
derpool presided. The next morning after
the arrival of the young lawyer, he sought
the court room for the purpose of Willing
away the time in observing the proceedings
of the court His route led him by the
old Albany Jail. The morning sun shone
sadly on its dismal front and CLEANED
playfully through its iron-grated windows.
Just before reaching the front door of that
grim receptacle of crime and misery, it
opened and two officers having pale
young man apparently about twenty-one
years of age, in charge, issued from it, and
stepped upon the walk directly before the
lawyer. The officers with their prisoner,
for such the young man was, moved in the
same direction he was going. The prison
er was middling size, slender in form, with
pleasant and attractive face. AS he reach
ed the street, the beautiful sunlight, the
pure, soft air of that October morning,
seemed to exhilerate him, and his dark
eyes glanced with something like happi-
ness, as he lifted them to the clear sky,
"where all things are free" The three
persons walked with rapid pace toward the
court house, Mr.. Barker following; they
had proceeded but q short distance, when
they were met by respectable, appearing
ly, decently clad woman, about forty years
of age. The moment her eyes fell upon
the prisoner, she sprang forward and clasp
ed him in her arms, exclaiming:
80, George George My son! My
son p The sudden appearance of the wo-
man caused the officers to halt.
"Mother, why did you not wait for me
at the court house?" said the prisoner, en-
deavoring to conceal his emotions.
because l did not see you there, my
son, and I thought perhaps you might
not have your trial here today, after all,
and so started to see you at the Jail, for
could wait no longer My only hope My
darling - said the poor woman, her voice
broken with sobs "are they going 10 try
you now?"
"Yes, mother, am TO be tried to-day /;
but calm yourself, trust all will be well
with me, for God above US knows that am
not guilty." said the young man.
"You guilty, George You guilty o,
no, no, no You are not guilty You can
not be guilty, you were always sogood, so
true so kind" said she, taking off his hat
and pushing his hair from his forehead
"There, there" she continued, "you look
just as you used to when on your knees
taught you your first little prayer, in our
dear old"
"Come, come, woman, stand aside, and
don't hinder us any longer the young man
is wanted up yonder," said one of the Off
GERS, pointing toward the court house.
80, sir" said the woman, turning to the
speaker, edo see that he is not injured, for
he is good-O, so good, he Is innocent ]
know he is." -f
How do you know that woman T'
grufiiy asked the officer, " may be You can
swear for him."
"Becausc-because | am his mother,
and--and yes can swear for him, because