Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-08-02
AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL.

Many years ago, a gentleman, followed
| by a servantin livery, rode into an inn,
in the west Of England, one evening a
+ little before dark. He told the landlord
that he should be detained by business,
in that part Of the country for few
days, and wished to know if there were
any amusements going on in the town to
fill up the intervals of time. The land
sord replied that it was their race and
assize week, and that he would, there.
| fore, be at no loss to pass away the time.
On the gentleman making answer that
this was lucky, for he was fond Of see
ing trials, the other said that very in
teresting trial for robbery would come
on the next day, on which the peoples
opinions were much divided, the evi-
dence being very strong against the pris-
oner; but he himself persisted resolutely
in declaring that he was in distant part
of the country at the time the robbery
was committed. His guest manifested
considerable anxiety to hear the trial.
but, as the court would probably be
crowded, expressed some doubt of get
ting a place The landlord told him
there could be no difficulty in gentle
man of his appearance getting place,
but that to prevent any accident, he
would himself 60 with him, and speak to
the sheriff 9t
Accordingly, they went into court the
next morning, and the gentleman was
shown to seat on the bench. Presently
after, the trial commenced, While the
evidence was given against him, the
prisoner had remained with his eyes
fixed on the ground, seemingly very
much depressed, till being called on for
his defense, he looked up, and seeing
the stranger he suddenly tainted away.
This excited some surprise, and it
seemed at first like trick to gain time.
As soon as he came to himself, on being
asked by the Judge the cause of his be-
havior, he said;
"Oh, my lord, l see a person who can
save my lifel That gentleman" point
ing 10 the stranger, can prove / am in
nocent, might | only have leave to put a
few questions to him."
The eyes of the court were now turned
on the gentleman, who said he felt in a
very awkard situation to be called upon,
as he did not remember ever to have
seen the man before, but that he would
answer any question he would ask him.
well, then" said the man, don't
you remember landing at Dover at such
time2"
To this the gentleman added, "That
he had landed at Dover not long before,
but that he could not tell whether it was
on the day he mentioned or not.
Well, said the prisoner, but don't
you recollect that person in a blue
jacket and trousers carried your trunk
TO the inn f
To this he answered, that, of course,
some person had carried his trunk for
him, but that he did not know what dress
he wore.
But, said the prisoner, don't you
remember that the person who went with
you from the packet told you a story Of
bis being in the service, that he thought
himself an ill-used man, and that he
showed you scar he had on one side Of
his forehead.
During this last question the counte-
nance of the stranger underwent con-
siderable change He said he certainly
did recollect such circumstance; and
on the man putting his hair aside, aud
showing the scar, he became quite sure
be was the same person.
A buzz Of satisfaction now ran through
the court, for the day on which, accord
ing to the prisoners account, this gen
tleman had him with him at Dover, was
the same on which he was charged with
the robbery in a remote county. The