The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-04-11

ana the door locked upon her.
"Sorry to see you here, my DEAR" said
a gaily dressed woman coming up to her,
as she stood bewildered in the middle Of
the cell.
"Egad though, Pm not, continued
drunken fellow, attempting to embrace
her.
"Leave her alone, " exclaimed the woman
thrusting the man away, and knocking him
down without much effort.
The rest now gathered around the widow
and her newly-found defender they offered
no interference, but gazed with sheepish
wonderment at what was going on.
"You're a nice one to protect the inno-
cent, Poll, you are,' said one of the prison
ers, jeeringly, to the woman who held the
widow in her arms.
81 shall protect who please" was the
out of place among us and will soon be re-
leased"
"No, no, let her stop here" stammered
the drunkard, lying where he had fallen,
"let us all stop here, it's very comfortable,
I'm sure"
The woman tried to soothe the widow,
and succeeded in preventing the others
from molesting her. 1t would indeed have
been useless for any of them to dispute the
authority of such protector, whose power
full arm kept them all at bay.
An hour-two hours elapsed in this ter
rible position-the prisoners, those to whom
the locality and circumstances were fa-
milliar, had settled themselves for the
night some stretching upon the floor,
others upon the benches. One or two nov
ices continued to pace the cell, occasionally
disturbing the sleepers, who protested
loudly and coarsely against the intrusion.
The widow regained her speech and con-
sciousness, and was still clnging to her
protector, when the door opened, and her
name was called.
Being led out, she was received at the
entrance by an old friend who had been
desired to come to her assistance by an
unknown visitor.
Without waiting to inquire into what
had happened, he offered to become secu-
rity for her.
"You are householder ?" said the con-
stable, interrogatively.
"I am not, but live in house belong
ing to my family, and am medical man
well-known in this neighborhood."
"Useless, sir, quite useless. If you are
a professional man, you, perhaps, know
our regulations in these cases, and how
strict they are"
The doctor endeavored to overrule the OBJ.
jections, but unsuccessfully-the police in
sisted upon the accused returning to the
cell, and were about removing her, when
Mr.. Williamson arrived, accompanied by
several other friends, to find whom, he had
been driving about town? Two responsible
householders satisfied the requirements of
the police, bail was accepted, and the
widow taken to her home, overcome with
excitement and distress of mind.
81 told them it was mistake" said the
conductor, as he opened the door Of the ON
nibus, but that old vixen wouldn't have it. ,
Having escorted the widow to her home,
Mr.. Williamson and those with him left
her to the care of the doctor and servant
1t was five o'clock in the morning before
the omnibus was dismissed, having been EN-
ployed all night by Mr.. Williamson in hi
endeavor to gather the Widows friends to
gether.
According to the directions given by thu
police, all concerned in the strange occur
renee assembled at the police court, at elev
en- o'clock the following day.
The night charges being disposed of {
short delay occurred before the more i'm
portant cases were called ON. The buzz o
conversation in the crowded court was sud
denly interrupted by constable making
his way towards the widow and her friends
and conducting them with much ceremon!
to the magistrates room.
What could have happened? Was tn
densely packed audience to be disappointe'
by the case being heard in private? Curl
osity was still more cruelty excited whei
the magistrate, returning to his seat on tn
bench, desired the clerk to proceed witt
case number two on the list, and passe,
over that Of the widow and the watch with
| out remark.
In the meantime, strange scene ha'
, been going on behind the legal curtain.
/ Upon entering the room, the widow wa
, met by her accuser who, in the most abjec
manner, implored forgiveness for what ha
, happened-she had come to confess he