The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-10-22

Importance 81 81 .si
"Come forward, if you please. I beg
that the gentlemen of the jury will re-
sumo 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 cry-whether of joy
or despair it was impossible to decide
and tainted. She soon regained con-
sciousness, however, and listened, with
clasped hands and downcast eyes, to my
statement.
/ entered the witness box, took the
oath, and proceeded.
"Your Honor will allow me-" 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. rs the governess of his
motherless children. For two years she
discharged the duties Of her position
with rare devotion, and to the entire
satisfaction Of her employer. On the
9TH of April, 1871, she obtained leave of
absence for the day, to visit some rela-
1t was about noon when she left the
chateau. At four O'Clock, or thereabouts,
Herr Won G. took IL 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 120 florins, had
been taken from one of the drawers
The search that was Immediately insti-
tuted was extended to the room of the
governess, where, at the bottom 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 the
accused returned in cab. When she
was questioned with regard to her sup
posed crime she denied it positively
and in court she still persisted in assert
| ing her innocence. She stated that her
! employer had on more than one occasion
| sought her injury, and she had already
notified him that she would leave at th
| end of the month. The charge of theft,
| she believed, was made for the purpose of
getting her in his power.
Herr Won G., who was certainly
not I"ni,aa upon as being a n,nn or me
strictest morality, denied the charge in
dignantly. Every other circumstance
seemed to point to her as being the guilty
person. She was driven from the chateau
| to the city where she was to take rail
road. In the evening at eight o'clock she
was again in the city, where she took a
cab to bring her home. Her story, that
she had spent the afternoon with rela-
tions, proved untrue. The theory was
| that she had returned to the chateau and
committed the theft. No one could be
| found who had seen her between the
hours of one and eight The abb she
sought to esta blish failed, and she was
! convicted.
"Now, gentlemen, come to my share
in the matter. 1t was a bright spring
| day. was returning to the city from a
long walk, and was unusually happy.
That day, for the first time, l had ven
tured to give young girl whom | loved
trihing proof of my affection openly
before her parents. 1t was her birthday,
and had presented her with bunch of
flowers and copy of Heine's Book Of
Songs
81 passed the church-yard, and, joy
Gus a frame of mind as was in, never
theless felt an irresistible desire to enter
1t seemed to be entirely deserted, and it
was not until l had walked about for
some time that discovered in Il remote
corner the figure of a woman. She was
kneeling, with her head bent very low.
l approached her and found that she had
tainted. / fastened to find some water,
but when l returned she had already re-
| gained consciousness. | will not under
take to repeat our entire conversation
suffice it to say that told her of my JOY
Without mentioning names, she told me
that she had been attached to young
merchant, and that she hoped some day
to become his wife, This young man had
rejected the dogma of the Pope's infalli-
bility, and in consequence had become
Objectionable to the young lady's family
A few months after he died.
"'To-day, said the lady, /, too, cele-
brate birthday, that of my betrothed
l could not let it pass without laying a
wreath on his grave. My relations, the
only friends have, must know nothing
Of it-they would cast me off if they
knew of my love for him. For that rea-
son l came here secretly; avoided the
high-road, and think no one but you
has seen me-
al have not the right" l said, in con
clusion, to disclose more Of the secrets
of another than is absolutely necessary
This meeting and conversation took place
fully nine miles from the chateau of Herr
Won G.. The young lady OF whom
have spoken was the one see here be
fore me; the day and hour, the 9Th ol
April. 1871, afternoon, about -four
o'clock"
The lady remained calm and attentive
during my recital, but when ended she
burst into tears.
"You are sure that you recognize the
lady?" asked the Judge.
I sYes. You can convince yourself
The lady in the church yard had mole
about as large as pea directly under
her right ear"
4 The judge and the prosecuting attor
ney made the necessary examination and
nodded an affirmative.
From the papers it appears that thu
lady," said the Judge, after much hesita
ton, made statement which corrobo
rates with your own, and that the un
known gentleman whom she met in th'
cemetery was invited in the public prints
to present himself. May ask why yot
did not respond to this calls"
"A few days after | met the lady
was taken very sick, and for weeks m.
recovery was doubtful; For at least tw'
months never saw q newspaper"
The prosecuting attorney arose ant
said:
"Ilesve it TO the Judgment VI the jur,