The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-12-03


Of going, and Jack could not leave his
correspondence. l had never taken a
hand at trial in my life, but the
Dutchman was so pathetic IN his earn
estness To have some one accompany
him, that put on my overcoat, picked
up a couple of law-books, and took my
place i'm the sleigh.
The sleghing was splendid, the horses
strong and spirited, and we flew over
that 8 miles like the wind. My Jehu
could not talk much English, and all |
could understand from him of the case
was, that his friend. Peter Stuben, was
charged with stealing some hams be-
longing to a neighbor; that the hams
had been found in the possession of he
accused; and that a jury mad already
been impaneled for his trial--a brief in
terval only having AT last been granted
TO enable him 10 send to town for "a
lyar.n
Arriving AT our point of destination,
we drew up before the hotel of the little
village-a two-story frame structure
fringed all around, just then. with horses
and sleighs, which Were hitched there
in large numbers, while the owners
thereof were upstairs. at the trial For
the case had elected such general in
terest throughout the township that the
Justice had convened his Court in the
large dancinghall or ballroom of the
tavern, in order 10 accommodate the ex-
traordinarv numbers who werein attend
ance. lfthere is any thing that ordina-
~ rural Germans delight in, il is the ex-
element ~f civil or criminal trial. where
their countrymen are parties. W neither
ii is through patriotic and neighborly
sympathy, or owing to a mania for the
I dramatic display Of courtroom, |
know not; but these people will flock
10 trial from far and near, leaving all
their occupations for DAYS, TO witness
the settlement of dispute which does
no; perhaps involve the price of bushel
of potatoes. The Germans are strong
partisans, and very administrative in
their feelings. The contending litigants
form around themselves separate par
ties of sympathizerS, and, Of course,
treat their adherents freely with the
foaming seidelS-so that an exciting
trial i the signal for holiday 10 this
holiday-loving people.
found at once that my client, Stu
ben, was "hail fellow well metz
among his comrades, and very popular
generally among his countrymen. This,
too, was shown by the general buzz
and stamping with which my entrance
upon the scene was greeted.
Pressing our way through the mass
of standing people, which nearly filled
the hall, we reached the august inner
circle Of seats that surrounded the mag
istrate, and were occupied by the jury
and the more influential of the village
burghers. Here | was introduced To
German, whose broad, good-humored
face and mild blue eye betokened any
thing but a thief
Not moment was allowed me for
consultation with him. Not the least
opportunity was vouchsafed me TO as
certain the line of defense necessary 10
be adopted, or the character Of the tes-
timony which could be produced TO sus-
tain il. My appearance was the signal
for the first witness for the prosecution
TO take the stand.
This witness sworc that he was the
owner Of the hams in question, and
identified the property; for there the
swine-tlesh lay--two hams and two
shoulders-on cable, in all their
smoky and unctuous reality-the verita-
bic :" corpus delicti'' itself in Court.
He also testified to finding the same in /
the cellar Of the prisoners house. On
cross-examination, he said he knew the /,
hams by certain discoorations, which /
he pointed out, and which, he claimed. I
had been produced by his own process
of curing
Other witnesses swore TO seeing the \
prisoner in the vicinity of the first wit I
ness smoke-house after dark; and still I
another TO meeting him later during the \
same evening, on the highway, at which I
time he was going from the direction of \
said smokehouse towards his own home, \
and was carrying bag that appeared \
TO contain hams.
Nv client listened to all this with a \
sort of stolid interest, making no COM \
ment or protest upon or against any 4
thing that was said.
To me the chain of evidence seemed \
simply appalling, and looked upon \
my clients Indifference a but the be- 4
wildered despair of the OK in the sham \
bes, as he waits for the az to fall. The /
entire assemblage-f as they were
Of the accused-evidently was pervaded
with the same conviction; for, as the /
prosecution rested, ghastly silence I
reigned throughout the room, broken /
only by here and there deep-drawn 1
sigh, or half-suppressed "Oh! mein |
Gott." or " All Himmell" from the I
agitated sympathizcrs with the prisoner.
1t was now our turn, and directed 7
Stuben to point out his witnesses. The /
first one called knew nothing about the !
case. He only could say that Stuben I
was friend OF his. and 81 schwear he
no steal. | take mine oat on a tousand |
million Pinles he no took dot hams y |