Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-10-09

> brief questions"
Certainly; there is no objection,
sir
And had the loser of the money
on the stand again directly.
"You say you missed your pocket
+ book, after leaving the store, sir?' l
inquired.
Yes, sir-with seventy dollars in
it, sir"
"YOu are sure that you did not
take it out when you went?"
mo, sir; l did not"
":You might have done So"
"But | didn't sir"
"You could not have dropped it,
then, in your hurry as you went%
81 didn't hare it; | left it on the
counter, near where this boy vas
putting up the goods. And Eve the
opinion that he took it, sill"
You came back-how soon?'
"Witbiu FIVE minutes, or so.'
"And the boy was gou,?F
"Yes, sir, and the picket book, "
added the witness, sharply.
That is all, sir" / re rarked.
And the gentleman sat down.
had not made much progress, os
yet; but | then asked the lad to stand
up; when | spoke to him kindly, and
said:
johnny, Why did you hurry out
that night as soon as this gentleman
left, as be says you didr'
Cause mother was dreldful sick"
said he, tearfully; IAN" me an my
little brother Neddy was all t she
had to take care of her An | went
straight home, au' didn't know moth
in bout no money o that mans no
way
You went home because your
mother was sick? How long has she
been ill?"
"A good while, sir
"But why did you Tot return to
your Eo,k? Why were you absent
three days just t'.aoY
Mothers de1i, sir, said the boy,
sadly.
when did she die?'
"That night, sir. An | staid
away, 'casuse | had to 20 to her
fuueral with Neddy, and he's oil
alone now sir
"And you know nothing about this
lost pocket bOok|
IL never have seen i: 10 all my life,
sir! an | don't steal uothin -Dever;
for poor mother alters said | must be
honest, if starve; an God would
know it, even if nobody else found it
ou;; an at wicked boys 90 to the bad
place, sir. I've never stole uothin,'
sir-ncrer!"
H,re the little fellow burst into
tears. and could say no more.
While-I confess it was wiping
my own eyes briefly, | observed that
bis Honor was actually busily en-
gagged in the same occupation. But
the courtroom was close, and it Was
a warm day. Perhaps it was per
spiration.
"Your Honor l said, after mo-
meut of silence and clearing Of the
throat, "the prosecution here have
surely DO case for conviction. | don't
believe that this boy knows any more
of this lost money than you or | DO.
Ithas not been found in his possess
ion, be bad no chance to spend it;
nobody trstiGes that he ever had it,
save on suspicion. and | cannot
think that your Honor will imrrisoo
this child, who has 50 touchiogly,
though innocently, explained him
self, upon what Is, at the most, but
circumstanti0i evidence.
Gle says he is parentless, and |
think your Honor will not doubt this
assertion. The dead mother, whose
form be has just seen laid under the
sod, was plainly a good and true
woman; Johnny has not been taught
at home to be thief, evidently.-
crave the leniency ofthe Court in
this lads behalf, aud | ask that
Johnny may be discharged, siOce
there is no direct evidence here
against biu.."
You can 60, johnny" said the
Clerk with unusual pleasantness, for
, him, moment afterwards, as the
Judge said something briefly to bis
/ subordinate, and Immediately ad-
journed the court, to the evident as
tonishment of the boys accusers.
| shook the poor fellows hand,
took him ont of the courtroom With
me, tod him who | was-at his csn
! request-and saw him running down
the street as fast as his little legs
could carrybim, soon after this re-
: versed decision of his Honor,
r The scsult Of my voluntary effort
: in tins little affair was very gratlfy-
ing to me; for | felt assured that the
bOy vas inDosent.-Rut the most
{ agreeable part of this case vas ye'
: in reserve for me.
, Aboat a mCnth later, poorly
, dressed lad entered my law-othce, one
| cold, raw morning, cap In hand
e whom l quickly recognized j as John
n.y." who said:
e "Good mornin' Mr.. S. Yor
was kind enough to help me out, il
the conrt, t'otber day, sir"
}, Yes" l said, Il remember you
+ Come to the 6re, johnny.
/" Thank yOn. sir" lis pOOty cold
5 sir