The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-01-03
The Criminal witness.

the mail. arrived early In nthe morn
inc. and Immediately had a long con-
ference with my client. The stolen
mailbag had been recovered. as wen
rs the letters from which the money
had been ritled. These letters were
qiyen to me for examinations. ana |
returned them to the pro eenting at
torney Having got through may pre-
liminarieS about noon. and as the case
would not come off before the next
dav. | went into court ntheaffernoott
to see What was going on. The first
case that came up was one OF theit,
and the prisoner was Il young girl not
more than seventeen years of age.
named Elizabeth Madworth. She was
very pretty. and bore that mild, limo
cent look which we seldom find in a
culprit. She had heen weeping pro-
filscly. but as she found 50 many eyes
upon her. she became too frightened to
weep more.
The complaint against her set forth
that she had stolen hundred dollars
from a Mrs. Naseby. and as the case
vent on, | found that this Mrs. Nastby,
wealthy widow living in the town,
was the girls mistress. The poor
Girl declared her Innocence III the
widest terms, but circumstances were
hard against her. A hnndred dollars
IN bank notes had been stolen from her
nistedk' room. and She was the only
person that had access there.
At this isncture, when the mistress
was upon the wituess' stand, . young
man came and caught me by the arm.
He was Il tine looking man, and big
tears stood IN his ewes.
"They tell me you are good law
YER" he whispered.
II am Il lawyer" | answered.
"T'hen do save her. You certainly
can do it. for she i innocent.
SIS she your si,ter:"
"No sir, he added. "but-but--"
Here he heSitated.
"lIas she no comSel?" | asked.
",None that Is good for ANYTHING
nohotly teat'll Id ANYTHING for her.
y. save fief and III give yoi all I've
got. ftan't give you much, but ! can
raise something"
reflected 4 moment. | cast my
ewes towards the prisoner, and she was
ut that moment looking at me. She
caught my eve, and the volume of en-
treaty read in her glance resolved
me in moment. arose and went
to the girl, and asked if she wished
me to defend her, She said yes. |
then informed the Court that was
ready to cnter into the case, and was
admitted at once, The loud murmnr
of satisfaction that lan through the
room told me where the sympathies OF
the people were. asked for 4 mo-
lnellt'S cessation, that | might speak
TO my client. | went and sat down
bv her side. and asked her to state
tandilly the whole case. She told nc
she had lived with Mrs. Naseby nearly
two wears. and lad never had any
trouble before. Abouttwo weeks ago.
she >aid, her mistress lost a hundred
dollars.
.Sha missed it from her drawer, "
the girl said to me. "and asked me
about it. | said knew nothing about
it. That evening, | know Nancy
Luther told Mrs. Naseby that she saw
me take the money from the drawer
that she watched me through the key
hole. Then they Went to my trunk
and found twenty-five dollars OF the
missing money tll2ir. But, sir. ! never
took it, and somebody must have put
it there" i,
then asked her il She suspected
any one.
~ don't know she said, "who
could have done it but Nancy. She
has never liked me. because She thought
was better treated than she. Size Is
the cook I was clMmbernmid.
~ 5oiuted Nancy Luther ont to
She was d stout. bold-taced girl,
awherealmut ilve-and-twenty years
i, with Il low forehead, Snlall gray
ycs, u pug llose and thick lips. |
caught her glance Mt once, rs 1t rested
on the fair Young prisoner, aud tue
moment detected the look Of lmtlctl
there. | was convinced that she was
the rogue.
Nancy Luther did yon say tlnt
girls II me was;n Iasketl, for i new
light Ind broken IN upon me.
YES. sir.'
letl the court room and went to the
prosecuting attorney and asked him
for the etteFs ha,l lmi,lel liim--the
ones that hal been stolen f0m the
mailbag lie gave them to ille, aid.
having selected ane, | returned the
restaad tod him | wonld see he had the
one kept before night. | then re-
turned to the court room. ansl the ease
went OH.
Mrs. Naseby resumed ller Testimony,
She slid She llitrusted The room to the
prisoners care, and that no oale else