The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-05-18
A Lawyers Story.

IN the room OF one OF our NUMBER.
''By the way said one, "Does not
Morton's trial come Oh this spring? That
murder trial. Who is on his deicnsc?'
No one is appointed as vet" said Wal
lace, the resident lawyer of the place,
''IIe has no friends nor money
s''Twas !; very mysterious case" said
another. GLOW was it? l remember
reading of it at the time but have almost
| forgotten the circumstances"
"Old Leroy, the murdered man." re-
piled Wallace. ''w;,s one Of the wealthiest
and most influential citizens. He had
not many very warm friends, for he was
rather stern, pompous and purse-proud,
| but still he had no enemies"
1T was in the evening. before nine
o'clock. he was alone in the house, except
Young Morton. his wife was gone out to
a neighbours Morton was his conlidcn-
tial servant. had lived with him tor years,
travelled with him, and they had always
been an the best terms.
! .IIe is mild. inolensivc young man.
rather prepossessing, but delicate, not
calculated for hard work, and the place
was one that iust suited him. He testified
at the inquest, that Leroy was not well
| that night. and rs soon rs his wife left
| he called Morton to assist him to bed :;
| that he did 50, and then retired I'M
| mcdatclv to his room to bed, for he was
very tired, having been up late the night
before that he Slept soundly and heard
| no NOISE on disturbance until he was
| awakened by the screams of Mrs. Leroy,
| who returned and found him murdered
| 'There were several stabs, any one of
which was sufficient TO cause death. He
| was evidently attacked first in bed, and
| started up and made n desperate struggle.
| His hand was cut inside across the fingers,
| as if he had grasped hcknilc, il chair was
| overthrown, blood WAS spattcred over the
| floor and walls. there was every evidence
| of II desperate resistance, but he was quite
dead and cold
| young Morton was arrested. Circum-
| stances seemed to point at him us the only
! one who could have committed the deed :;
but the strangcst thing to account for was
| the possible motive 1t could not have been
| robbery. for nothing of value was taken.
| and he had considerable money on him
They could not have quarreled, for they
never had any difficulty, and the death of
| his employer YVES the loss of an easy and
agreeable situation. Aud then his pre-
NlDuS tlal;ttltl, 50 llllitt ftllt Nol!ltilllh',
he would not hurt Il fly, besides his
straightforward story at the inquest, from
| which he never varied, altogether make
it u very perpleXing case"
at is singular,' said the one who had
| first spoken and then ensucd some
dcsultory conversation on the subject of
mysterious crimes and the laws of evil
dence until we retired.
4
| long time, with my eyes fixed on the de
clinng wood fire, musing on the case
which, for some reason, made II strong
| impression on my mind.
| The young man is the guilty party
| was the conclusion to which ! at length
| arrived 1T could not have been other
wise, and the question to discover the
| motive"
| At this moment u card was brought to
| me on which was traced: "a lady wishes
| to speak with you-alone.n | told the
servant to show her up Immediately, and
| it was but 4 moment until she entered the
| ROOM A heavy water proof cloak shroud-
| ed her figure from head to foot; the hood
was drawn over her head, and 4 green
| veil covered her face. 1t was evidently
stormy without, for drops Of rain clung
to her cloak and veil.
''Will you please secure the door, -
| said she, in low sweet voice, but rather
breathlessly, either from hurry or excite
ment Il do not wish to be disturbed,
| or have it known that have called upon
you"
| | bolted the Goor and she advanced to
| the fire, and drawing Il chair forward,
urged her to be seated.
She took the chair, put ont her damp
gathered foot into the warmth of the fire
light, and began to remove her veil.
noticed that the small, ungoved hand
was as white as ivory, and Il cluster
diamond ring sparkled on one of her
slender fingers.
She took of her veil and pushed the
hood back from her head disclosing u pale
face, with bright, sparkling eyes, and
masses of dark hair combed away from
her forehead, and falling in careless,
partially curled locks, around it.
II know you by reputation, Mr. Ne
villc," said she, turning to me with 9
slight smile, cas- one of the most eloquent
and successful lawyers in this district =
| bowed. "And | have called to retail
your services"
She unclaspcd Il little porta-mone o
pearl and silver, and laid a roll of bills or
the table between us.
at is the case of young Norton" sal,
she. 81 wish you to defend him. | know
he has no lawyer us yet; he IS not able to
tee one, and one will be appointed to de
fend him, Of no skill or reputation, who
will not care whether he gains the cast
or not, thinking he has no friends, ant
: that public opinion is against him. Itis no
true" said she, changing her tone tt
deeper carnestness, raising her darl
thrilling eyes to mine, while the colo
: rose to her checks. ''lIe has friend
, wealthy and influential, if they dared t,
appear. | have unlimited wealth ut my
control. Money is no object. If yol
gain the case YOU may name your owl
I. price"
81 have just heard of the ease" said |
slowly and thoughtfully, wishing to gail
little time and information before | com
, mitted myself. 81 don't know that
? have heard sufficiently to enable me t.
t decide whether | could undertake it o
I not
7 .sHe is innocent, Mr. Neville" exclainl
, ed she eagerly. ''Do not hesitate on tha
l account. | am rs certain as my owl
life"
''Is that only your own conviction p
; inquired l, cor could you prove it ?''
Il could prove it if necessary, but thcr
I, are circumstances do not wish to ap
pear in the case at all, if it can be avoided.
81 think that he will require ever,
t evidence in his favor that can be brough
a forward, for it will be very likely to g
/, hard with him. Why do you not wish t
q be known? Who are you? What is h
: to you?' | could no longer avoid thi
/ abrupt questioning.
t ''Is it necessary? l would rather re
: main entirely unknown, even to you,
0 her eyes falling, her voice hcsitating
h "There is an old saying tell the trut
e to your physician and your lawyer j
: l am to move at all in this matter, re
J. quirc all the light possible" said I.
IL "Then, if you will assist Arthur-yeun
Morton-I will be frank with you, but
must be entirely confidential. do nc
care for myself, but it would be ruin t
, ! him and to his case if it were known ths
/, l of all the world interested myself in tn
saving of his life-I am Mrs. LerOV.'