The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-09-03

WuO WOulO now nu0 01m OfeA0J no We w
little to work, and among the crowd OF 10Y
who "shined and begged 1t the South End En- :
he had no chance OF pfokiAa up . coPper. !hi
| thought, and his own knowledge Of the Gan
The following day 2 note YEA laid upon e!
desk bearing the official blue stamp Of the
Central Police Court, calling my attention Il
sul.ss .n ai sSSs n sasis
who %i6 take cslS Of yoa now n The usassnt
ssisins sSs 81 lie arm il Tie most piteons ADD
entfeatiBk cores ssid, sob sir. viii syoa7wflI
yen losk aftsx nay little brpther Eddts. and
fss s asa uotfer ied ago. S Dc,
sir, if you please, take csce of Eddie" alta
Having heard his sad story, promised at
once to ind Eddie and place him in the Boys'
BAT THAT about this purae and the twenty
30 didn't steal it, sir, for never saw it, aud
what's more. know nothing of it,"
He was straightforward in his manner, with
an open, genuine disposition, and felt that he
was telling the truth. A lad at his age who
had been knocking about the streets so long,
and showing 90 much love and forethought for
his little orphan brother, could not be . liar
and q thief
determined to be present in court on the
day fixed for his further examination, When
simply replied, this boy does not look like q
thief. and from his disposition am quite con-
WINGED that he did not steal the purse.
"All very well, but the evidence is against
him. Are the witnesses in court.
eyes," replied the clerk.
The gentleman who lost the money was
again in the witness-box, and, having taken
the oath, proceeded to detail, as before, the
circumstances of the case.
Now. sir, You hear yourself what the gen.
tleman states. Do you any longer doubt the
Il admit that all the circumstances are
against him. Still, I believe him innocent.
Permit me, though know I have no right to
such privilege, to ask the witness question
You stated that yon missed your purse after
leaving Mr.. Browns shopw
EYES, sir-with over twenty pounds in it."
"Yon are quite positive that you didn't take
sS No, s M;i aid aid no NOT" you 'e
=" You might have done so !"
But am as certain as am standing here
that did not"
could you not have dropped it, then, in
your hurry I"
1T tell you, sir, I hadn't it to drop. placed
it upon the counter, near to where this boy
sir I am as certain that that young rascal took
my purse, as am sure that you are sitting next
to his lordship."
"You came back to the shop-how soonf~
"Within FIVE minutes OF So"
Il And the boy was gone :"
Yes. sir, and my purse, too" added the wit
ness very sharply.
case, aud the court believed that there was
another confrmatory proof that prison chap
1ains have more heart than head, and that
Lady Green" can always be gulled. Ny belief
in the lads innocence was still mistaken.
"May ask the prisoner question or two,
your worship Z" ~ ~e ~
Certainly, sir, certainly"
"Harry, did you steal that gentlen,ans
nnfS0
No, sir, never touched it, for I never saw
it,"
"Then why did you leave Mr. Browne shop
in such o dreadful hurry that night, as soon as
that gentleman left, as he says you did Z"
"Why, Sir, mother was sick and dying" he
said, the big tears streaming down his cheeks,
take care ov' her. I went straight home, for
abe told me in the morning that she was dying,
and that before many days We would be or
phans."
=" You went home, then, because your mother
WAS i'll. How long had she been i'll J"
good long time, SIR"
But why did you not go back to your place
Why were you away three days"
oh! sir, mother died that night, and there
was no one with her but poor little Eddie and
me-" -t
The poor little fellow wept bitterly as he
her hands and blessed us both, and prayed
that God would raise up n friend to protect her
two helpless orphans. Her last words, oh!
Harry, IN you lONc nc, Odke care auu tooh dttcE
Eddie my own darling child, keep away from
bad boys-rather starve than steal or tell a
lie.' am q poor orphan boy, but never stole
the purse, and Pm telling no lie about it,"
There were few dry eyes in the Police Court
when the stern police officer wiped bis face
with the cuff of his blue uniform, and the re-
porters' notes were bleared with tears.
"Your Worship" said, after a moments
silence, and gaining mastery overy my feel
ings there is no evidence to convict this
boy. My firm conviction Is that he knows
nothing of the purse, and everything against
him rests upon circumstantial evidence. He
has no friends in the world, no prospects now,
to his former occupation, Is shoeblacking in the
Streets" This is beset with danger. His little
brother Eddie has now a home in the Boys
Refuge. Discharge him, and promise to find
him shelter in the same establishment"
The worthy magistrate at once ordered the
boy to be discharged.
Harry and Eddie are now together, both re-
ceiving q solid and useful education, combined
with an industrial training which will fit them
to gain hereafter an honest and respectable
living.
Some months afterwards was much gra-
titled by receiving a note from Mr.. Browne,
saying that the purse, with it's contents, over