The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-02-20

no" You hau better take burrows to the
nearest cottage and send at once for DR..
Harvey"
burrows does not want a surgeon" ="
whispered one of the game-keepers. The
poor fellows dead"
Luke Dalton was arrested on a charge
Of murder. 1t was his gun that was found
ou the night of the poaching afTray, and
It was his voice that was heard in reply to
the old Squire's summons. You may inl-
agine the despair of his wife, poor crea-
ture no words of mine can picture her
misery.
A few days after Dalton had been COM
mitted by the magistrates, and semitic the
town Jail, he received visitor in the per-
''This is a bad business, Dalton, but
must make the best of it for you"
81 am innocent, SIR" said Luke.
''Never mind whether you are innocent
or not, my man. The question is whether
l can save you from being hanged. What
evidence have you to offer ~
Then Luke told his story.
"Who was with you on the night Of the
difficulty ?" The lawyer avoided the word
murder in Difference to his clients feel
iugs. ''Can you tell me their names ~
Luke Dalton thought a moment, and
then repeated the names of the compan-
ions one by one. Before doing this, how
e er, he insisted that his list should be
considered confidential.
Everything you will tell me is confden-
tial, of course, my good fellow" said the
lawyer. The names you have given me
are, am afraid, of little value. l know
all the men, and they have been at work
every day since this unlucky affair. Was
there he one else ?''
''Ah to be sure replied Luke; 'there
was 'Sneaking Billy'-William Smith, you
know, SIR
''Come, that's better. Are you quite sure
that he was there ?''
Quite sure. How remember it is this {:
he and had a biz of quarrel before we
set OUT
''He quarreled with you, did he? Better
and better. Come, we will find what Mr.
Sneaking Billy has been doing since the
mur- mean the little irregularity."
ITS very kind of you to take all this
trouble about me, SIR
'.Not bi. of it, my good man. I am
: well paid for it,
''Paid for it. Then my wife sent you
and yet, how did she get the money!"
''No; Mrs. Dalton called upon me, but
there was no necessity. Your case was en-
trusted to me by some one else
Not my wife - said Luke slowly.
''Some one else Who was it, sir?"
You mustn't ask me. Were 1 to tell
you I should lose rich client, who has
bound me over to secrecy"
"But will know" cried Dalton, angIi-
ly. Il have right to know, and will
know"
''Come, no violence"
''Was it young Mr.. LAWS? 3? tell me that.
tell you l will know
cit can't do any HARM" unused the law
yer, and then he rep!ied-"W Well, if You
must know, it was young Mr.. LAWS"
81 thought 50 ~ murmured Luke, and,
white as ghost, he sank down upon the
bench and buried his face in his hands.
Nothing particular occurred between
this interview and the day Of the trial but
it was considered strange that the prisoner
refused TO see his wife. He sent no reply
to her affectionate letters, and she was be-
side herself with grief.
The day of the trial arrived, and the
prisoner was placed III the dock. His weep
ing wife stretched out her arms towal ds
hiD, but he would not see hcr-he would
not listen to her.
The jury were sworn in, and the judge
took his place. The clerk read the indict-
The counsel for the defence settled his
gown, and the counsel for the prosecution
settled his papers in front of him.
''Guilty or not guilty ?'' asked the clerk.
81 will not be saved with his money"
said the prisoner. 81 plead guilty -
There was sensation" in court. Be-
fore it had subsidized the judge had put on
his black cap prior to passing sentence of
death. His lordship had just commenced,
when little man hurried into court, and
cried out ''Stopr'
This is very Irregular" said the judge.
Il must commit you for contempt of court
if you persist
"Then you will commit murder by hang
ing an innocent man"
! ''This is most irregular" said the judge.
( ''Remove that man at once ~
81 won't be arrested, and he shan't be
: hanged. William Smith has confessed
! that he fired the gum
! The counsel for the defence was on his
/ legs in moment, and then the matter was
explained. ''Sneaking Billy in danger
of death from fever, had signed deposi-
! tion declaring himself guilty, and Luke
innocent. After some discussion, Lule
withdrew his plea, and was acquitted much
to the disgust of the judge, who consider
! ed the whole of the proceedings ''highly
! Irregular"
When Luke left the dock his wife rush
ed towards him, only to be turned back by
her husband.
~ : ~.