Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-12-26
THE STRANGER WITNESS.

A gentleman. followed by a servant in
livery, rode into an inn in the west of Eng
land one evening a little after dusk. lie
told the landlord that he should be detained
in that part of the country for u few days,
and wished to know if there were any
amusements going on in the town to occupy
the time that he was not busy. He was in
formed by the landlord that it was their race
and a>szc week, and that he therefore
would have plenty to occupy his leisure mo-
mentS. On the gentleman max ing aaswer
that this was fortunate, as he was fond of
hearing trials, the host informed him that Il
very interesting robbery trial was to come
on the next day. That the evidence was
very strong against the prisoner, and the
peoples opinion was greatly divided, a> the
man insisted that he was in another part of
the kingdom when the robbery was COM
mitted.
The gentleman expressed considerable
anxiety to witne>, the trial accordingly
the next morning the host procured him
good location through hi. influence with the
court ufficcrs
While the evidence proceeded against him,
the prisoners eyes remained fixed on the
ground but on being called upon for his
defence he looked up, and seeing the stranger,
faintcd away. At first this was Supposed to
be a trick to gain time, but being questioned
on his recovery, he asserted that that gentle
man could save his life if he might put
few questions to him.
The eyes Of the whole court were now
turned upon the stranger, who-ccmcd somc-
what embarrassed, bur stated that although
he could not remember the prisoner he was
willing to answer any questions that light
be proposed The Court granted the prison.
cr'S rec l.,;s, and he asked the stranger if he
remcn.NGro1 being at Dover ON II certain
daSc. To which the gentleman answered
that he had landed at Dover shortly before,
but could not positively affirm that he was
there that exact day.
"D)n't you remember that q man in Il
blue JACKIE and trowseis carried your trunk
to the lnn,' asked the prisoner.
II remember that man did carry my
trunk but | do not remember hi, dress
"Hu:,' asked the prisoner, anxiously,
don't you remember that the man who
carried your trunk told You a story about
his being in the service, that he thought
himself an ill-uScl man, and that he showed
you scar he had on one side Of his fore
head?'
Daring the last part of the speech the
strangers face changed, and he said that he
didremember the scar. The prisoner pushed
aside his hair displaying Il scar on his fore
head, and the witness affirmed positively
with great emotion that he was the very
man.
y buzz of satisfaction ran through the
court, for the day on which the witness had
met the prisoner at Dover was the very day
of the robbery.
The stranger, however, could not be Ger.
tain of the time, but stated that he some.
times made memorandum of dates in his
picket book, and turning to that found ,!a,
the date Of his landing corrrsp,nlci with
the prisoners assertion. This being the on,y
circumstance necessary to prove an chLi.
the prisoner was Immediately acquitted amid
great applause and cong nsratuation-.
The ab We tria! occurred in 1892, and with
in less ts,an Il month the yei.tlenanly witnr,.
who came to the inn attended by Il servant
in livery, the servant who followed him, and
the pris ner, were all three brought back t.
the same jail for rob'ing the mai. |; tnrnen
on, that the clever defense at the last tr;,.
was Il skiitully arranged plot Of tie con,
federa,cs to release their acc'np!ice,