The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-09-14

next to his lOrdSnlp.
"Yon came back to the shop-how
soon 2"
Within five minutes or so'
land the boy was gone"
"Yes, sir, and my purse, too" added
the witness very sharply.
| The witness seemed to have the best
of the case, and the court believed
that here was another confirmatory
proof that prison chaplains have more
heart than head, and that " Lady Green
can always be gulled. My belief in
the lads innocence was still mistaken.
MAY ask the prisoner question
or two, you worship 7"
Certainly, sir, certainly
"Harry, did you steal that gentle
mans pursew
"No, sir, I never touched it, for
never saw it."
"rhen why did you leave Mr.. Browns
shop in such dreadful hurry that
night, as soon as that gentleman left,
as he says you did ~
"Why, sir, mother was sick and dy-
ing" he said, the big tears streaming
down his cheeks, "and me and our lit
tie Eddie was all she had to take care
.ov' her. | went straight home, for she
told me in the morning that she was
dying. and that before many days we
would be orphans"
You went home, then, because your
mother was i'll? How long had she
been i'll Z"
"A good long time, sir"
"But why did you not 60 back to
your place? Why were you away
three days /"
"Oh! sir, mother died that night,
and there was no one with her then
but poor little Eddie and me"
The poor little fellow wept bitterly
as he sad, Yes, sir, just as she WAS
dying she raised her hands and blessed
Us both, and prayed that God would
raise up u friend to protect her two
helpless orphans. Her last words,
81 Oh, Harry, as You love me, take care
and look after Eddie; my own darling
child keep away from bad b,ys-rather
starve than steal or tell lie 81 am
Il poor orphan boy. but never stole
the purse, and l'n telling no lie about
it,"
There were few dry eyes in the Po.
lice Court, when the stern police officer
wiped his face with the cnil' of his blue
uniform, and the reporters notes were
blearcd with tears
Your worship" | said, after a mo-
ment's silence, aud gaining mastery
over my feelings, there is III evidence
To Convict this boy. Ny firm conv.c-
ton il that he knows nothing of the
purse, and anything against HIM rests
upon circUmAantiaL evidc'ce. lie has
10 friends in the world, no prospects
now, with suspicion resting upon him,
but To turn To his former occupation,
" shncblacking in the streets" Tins is
hesct with danger His little brother
Eddie has now home in the Boys
Refuge. Discharge him, and promise
t. find shelter for him in the same rs.
tablishmcut."
The worthy magistrate at once order
cd the boy to be discharged
Harry and Eddie are now together,
both receiving solid and useful cdu-
,ntinn c,uhiunj With M industrial
training which will fit them to gain
hereafter an honest and respectable
wing.
Some mouths afterwards | was
gratiIicd by receiving a
note from Mr. Brown, saying that the
purse, with its contents, over twenty
pounds, had been found Ivy his customer. |
1t turned out that Mr.. Brown him
self in the hurry "f making up the
PARCELS, had rolled it up along with the
goods, and that all the while it was Sc
;retly in the possession Of it's owner.
This case, along with others, which are
constantly occurring, show how dan
serous it is to c,nv.ctupJn circunastan-
tal euIdence only, however strong that
evidence may be. Many an honest
Door boy has grown into a confirmed
criminal through the demoralizing in
luences of prison life. 1t was mere
nance Harry Esmonle escaped. How
many bright, intelligent orphan boys
low wander in our streets, uncducated