The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-03-03
CircumstanCial Evidence.

for defending people whom they have
reason to believe guilty
Did it ever occur to these critics that it is
no more the lawyers province than it is
theirs to pass Judgment on accused personsP
That duty is confined to legally constituted
tribunals, bound to hear both sides and
so important is it deemed that none shall
be condemned unheard, that if prisoner
be too poor to mploy counsel, the court
must assign it to him, and he upon whom
the burden is laid is not at liberty to de-
cline it. What lawyer may thus rightly
be compelled to do, it scarcely is wrong
for him to do voluntarily.
So, at any rate, reasoned on undertake
ing the defence of Walter Warren, against
whom two indictments were pending, one
for theft, the other for attempting to put
off counterfeit bank notes.
The proofs against him left scarce
loop hole of doubt He had worked his
way to be Mr.. Vests chief clerk, and had
completely won the confidence of his en-
ployer. The latter having occasion to for
ward large sum to place of some dis
tance, selected young Warren to carry it.
When ready for his journey, the money,
inclosed in an envelope directed to the
person to whom it was sent was handed
to Warren, and placed by him in an inside
pocket of his coat, where, he insisted, he
had found the package safe on reaching
his destination, when he Immediately de-
livered it to the proper person.
On being opened, the envelope was found
to contain the correct amount, but made
up entirely of forged bank notes.
Mr.. West was positive that the bills he
had inclosed were genuine-a point on
which man of his experience could hard
ly be mistaken. Besides they were on
different bank from that by which the
counterfets purporte6 to be issued. He
further remembered that, before inclosing
the bills, he had, in Warren's presence,
written the address of the gentleman to
velope in which he had intended to place
them, but having laid it aside temporarily,
he was unable to find it afterward, and used
another. The inference was that Warren
having secretly possessed himself of the
mislaid envelope, after sealing it up with
the counterfeit notes in it, had substituted
it for the genuine packet, whose contents
he had appropriated.
Mr.. Vests statement was fully corrob-
grated by that of gentleman present at
the time of the delivery of the money to
Warren, and who had seen it counted.
In my conferences with tho prisoner, he
strongly asserted his innocence but could
give no explanation of the mysterious
transformation which the money had un-
dergone, from good to bad, while in his
possession. He had gone, he said, directly
from MIR. Vests Office to the railway sta
tion, whittier he had been accompanied by
the gentleman who had seen him receive
the money, who had occasion to go short
distance by the same train. Mr.. Allgood,
the gentleman in question, had for short
time, occupied the same seat with my client,
conversing with him on different topics.
With that exception, Warren had had the
seat to himself during the entire journey
and he assured me that he had not, at any
time, suffered half an hour to pass without
ascertaining that his charge was safe.
Mr.. Allgood was person beyond sus-
picion. True he had lived but a few
months in the town, but he was man who
carried certificate of character in his face
1t was long thin and melancholy. 1t wore
an expression Of satisfied sadness, often OBJ
servable in those having no faults of their
own TO be sorry for, overlowing with sorrow
for the sins of others. He lived in small
house by himself; led retired, exemplary
life; was devoted to his books taught in
two Sunday Schools and was candidate
for the next vacant deacon ship. Warren
himself would have scorned to hint at the
possibility of the contents of his pocket
having been tampered with by such man
as Mr.. Allgood
At last the case came ON. IL was called
late in the afternoon, and when jury had
been obtained, the court adjourned until
next morning.
The county scat at which the trial was
held being several miles from the town at
which Mr.. West and Mr.. Allgood, principal
witnesses of the prosecution, resided, they
were obliged to remain over night.
OF course l had no hope Of successful
result. believed my client guilty, and
that he simply lied when he said he was
not. fa at
was vending my way to the court