The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-06-02

at this late stage Of business, l pray
the Court to allow me, on this trem-
bling, frightened boys behalf to ask
the last witness in this brief case a
few brief questions"
Certainly, there is no objection
sir"
And 1 had the loser Of the money
upon the stand again directly.
"You say you missed your pocket
book, after leaving the store sir?" I
inquired.
it."
"You are sure you didn't take it
out, when you went?"
'No, sir; I did not"
"You might have done SOP
"But 1 didn't sir.'
''You couldn't have dropped it.
then, in your hurry as you went?''
81 didn't have it. I left it on the
counter, near where this bov was
busy putting up goods. And I've
no question that he took it."
"You came back-how soon?"
"Within five minutes, or So"
"And the boy was gomez"
eyes, sir, and the pocket-book,"
added the witness sharply.
"Thats all, sir" I remarked.
And the gentlemen sat down.
1 had not made much progress vet
but Inext asked the lad to stand up
when 1 spoke to him kindly, and
said:
Johnny, why did you hurry out
that night as soon as the gentleman
left, as he says you did?
"Cause mother was deadly sick"
he said tearfully; "and me and nv
little brother Neddy was all she had
to take care of her. An 1 went
straight home, and didn't know
nothin' about no money of that
mans no way"
"You went home because your
mother was sick2 How long had she
been ill?'
"a good while, sir"
"But why didn't you return to
your work? Why were you absent
three days just then?
"Mothers dead, sir" said the boy
sadly.
"When did she dieP'
"That night, sir. An l staid
away, cause 1 had to 60 to her fu-
neral with Neddy, and he is all alone
now sir"
"And you know nothing Of this lost
pocket book2"
81 never have seen it in all nv.
life, sir; an 1 don't steal nothin'.
never; for poor mother alters said l
must be honest eff 1 starved; and
God would know it eff nobody else
found it out an at wicked boys 20
to the bad place, sir. never stole
nCthin', sir-neUer."
And here the little fellow burst
into tears, and could say no more.
While-I confess it, was wiping
my own eyes briefly, 1 observed
that his Honor was actually busiIy
engaged in the same occupation.
But the court room was close, and
it was warm day. Perhaps it was
perspiration.
"Your Honor" 1 said, after a mo-
ment of silence and clearing of the
throat, ''the prosecutors here have
surely no case for conviction. Il
don't believe this boy knows any
more of this lost money than you or
I do. 1t has not been found in his
possession; he has had no chance to
spend it; nobody testifes that he
ever had it, save on suspicion; and
1 cannot think your Honor will i'm
prison this child, who has so touch
ingly though innocently explained
himself, upon what is, at the most,
but circNn1StGntiaE evidence.
"He says he is parentless, and I
think your Honor will not doubt
this assertion. The dead mother,
whose form he has just seen laid
under the sod, was plainly a good,
true woman; and Johnny has not
been taught at home to be a thief,
evidently, 1 crave the leniency of the
Court in this lads behalf, and 1 ask
that Johnny may be discharged,
since there is no direct evidence here
against him."
"You can go, Johnny" said the
Clerk, with unusual pleasantness, for
him, moment afterward, as the
Judge said something briefly to his
subordinate, and Immediately ad-
joarned the court, to the evident as
tonishment of the boys accusers.
l shook the poor fellows hand,
took him out of the court room with
me, told him who l was, at his own
request, and saw him running down
street as fast as his little legs could
cary HIM, soon after this reversed
decision of his Homer.
The result of my voluntary effort
in this little affair was very gratify-
ing to me, for l felt assured the boy
was innocent. But the most agree
able part of this "case" was yet in
reserve for me.
About a month afterward, a poor
ly dressed lad entered my law Office
one cold, raw morning, cap in hand,
whom quickly recognized as "John-
ny" who said:
"Good-mornin,' Mr.. s.. You
was kind enough to help me out, in
the court, t'other day, sir"
"Yes," 1 said; 81 remember you.
Come to the fire, Johnny"
THANK you, sir. "It's pooty cold,
sir"
"Very. Where's your Overcoatr'
ga what, sir?"
"Your coat-outside jacket?"
''Bless yuu, sir, I ha'n't got none.
But 1 don't mind it. Pm used to it,
sir. on'y come to thank you, sir
AN to say that it's all right about
the pocket-book, The man found it"