Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-12-18

~ can say no more, gentlemen. l leave
the case in your hands, and / trust and
pray that you will give me verdict Of
Not guilty"
The old jurists plea was listened to with
breathless silence. 1t was short, but on
that account all the more effective. No
one seemed to be unmoved, and many of
the women present wept. l glanced to-
ward the accused she raised her eyes with
a look Of gratitude, and reached out her
hand to her aged counsel. Where had
seen this pale but beautiful face, this wealth
OF dark brown hair, and these large, hon
est eyes? 1t seemed to me as though those
very lips, at some time, had told me sto-
ry of bitter suffering; but when and
| where? l tried to awaken recollection,
but my efforts were fruitless.
The judge began the usual charge to the
| jury. While it was evident that he felt
deeply for the prisoner, he called the at
tention of the jury to the facts of the case,
which had been clearly proved, and which
alone, said he, should govern them in find
ing their verdict. In speaking of the life
of the accused, he said:
VI NhltO NNdAo hlAti hhb ciNhoN VI
which she was convicted, her conduct has
been thoroughly exemplary, for the theft
was committed on the 9Th of April, ISL
Al these words a flood Of recollections
came upon me, and with them came the
| joyous certainty that the young girl would
soon he frce-frce through me that it was
in my power TO save her from moral death.
90 ,.F. io
papers; before him lay brief account of
the girls previous life, and Of the principal
facts concerning the supposed theft.
asked to be allowed to look at the paper for
a moment and ran over the statement
with feversh haste, for the judge had end
ed his charge, and the jury were about to
retire.
l had found what ! sought, and arose
| from my seat. One Of the associate judges
saw me, and called the presiding judges
attention to me.
"What do you wish, sir?" he asked.
~ beg to be heard as witness in this
case, your honor. l have statement TO
make which will perhaps be deemed of
| importance.
"Come forward, if you please. 1 beg
that the gentlemen Of the jury will resume
their seats"
The sensation caused by my words was
greatly increased by another incident
When the accused saw me and heard my
| voice, she uttered a cry-whether of joy
or despair it was impossible to decide and
tainted. She soon regained consciousness,
however, and listened, with clasped hands
and downcast eyes, to my statement.
1 entered the wtness-box, took the oath,
and proceeded.
"Your honor will allow me-" l began,
"to rehearse briefly the leading circum-
stances that attended the theft of which the
young lady was convicted.
"In 1869, she entered the house of Herr
Won C. as the governess Of his mother
less children. For two years she discharg-
ed the duties of her position with rare de-
voton, and to the entire satisfaction of her
employer. On the 5th Of April 1871, she
obtained leave of absence for the day, 10
visit some relatives, who lived in a neigh
boring town. 1t was about noon when she
lett the chateau. AT four o'clock, or there
abouts, Herr Won c. took stroll in his
park for half an hour when he returned
he found the door of his secretary open
and that diamond ring and two rolls OF
money, each containing one hundred and
twenty forms, had been taken from one
of the drawers. The search that was i'm
mediately instituted was extended TO the
room of the governess, where, at the bot
tom of a basket filled with her underwear
the ring and one of the rolls of money
were found the other roll was wanting.
"About nine o'clock in the evening tn
accused returned in a cab. When she wa
questioned in regard to her supposed crime
she denied it positively; and, in court, sh
still persisted in asserting her innocence
She stated that more than once her EN-
ployer had made improper advances to her
in consequence of which she had notife
him that she would leave al the end of tn
month. The charge Of theft, she believed
was made for the purpose of getting her !
; his power. To the last moment, she sal
: he had offered not TO have her arrested
she would yield to his wishes.
"Herr Won G -, who was certainly NJ
looked upon as man of the strlctest me
rality, denied this charge Indignantly. EN
. cry other circumstance seemed to point
her as being the guilty person. She WI
driven from the chateau to the city, whel
+, she was to take the railroad. In the ev,
ming at eight o'clock she was again in tn
city, where she took a cab 70 bring he
home. Her story, that she had spent Il
: afternoon with her relatives, proved to
, untrue. The theory was that she had r
y turned to the chateau and committed Il
theft. No one could be found who h;
q seen her between the hours of one ar
y eight. The abb she sought TO establi'
q failed, and she was convicted.
A "Now, gentlemen, l come TO my sha
: in the matter. 1t was a bright spring da
= 1 was returning TO the city from a lol
e walk, and was unusually happy. Th
n day, for the first time, l had ventured
# give young girl whom loved triflil
proof of my affection, openly before h
10 parents. 1t was her birthday, and l b
m presented her with bunch of flowers a
n copy of Heine's Book Of Songs
g. ~ passed the church-yard, and, joyo
| a frame of mind as l was in, 1 neverlt
o. less felt an irresistible desire TO enter.
10 seemed to be entirely deserted, and it W
4 not until had walked about for some til
v that discovered in a remote corner
he figure of a woman. She was kneeliI
IN with her head bent very low. approac
8 ed her, and found that she had tainted.
ge hastened TO find some water, but, when
n returned, she had already regained &C
10, sclousness. 1 will not undertake to rept
IN. our entire Conversations suffice it TO S
~ that told her of my joy, and that she &C
u fided to me her sorrow. Without me
. . | flaming nnnnnu shn Told me- that she 1