The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-12-30
a STRANGER WITNESS.

A gentleman followed by servant in
livery, rode into an inn in the West of
England one evening little after dusk,
He told the landlord that he should be
detained in that part of the country for a
few DAYS, and wished to know if there
were any amusements going on in the
town to occupy the time he was not busy,
He was informed by the landlords it was
their race and assize week, and chat he
therefore would have plenty to occupy
his his leisure moments. On the gen.
tlemans making answer that this was
fortunate, as he was very fond of hear
ing trials, the host informed him that a
very interesting robbery trial was to
come on the next day. That heevidence
was very strong against the prisoner,
and the peoples opinion was greatly di-
vided, as the man insisted that he was in
another part of the kingdom when the
robbery was committed.
The gentleman expressed considerable
anxiety to witness the trial. Accordingly
the next morning the host procured him
good location through his influence
with the court officers.
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 tainted away. At first this
was supposed to be trick to gain time,
but being questioned on his recovery. he
asserted that that gentleman could save
his life, if he might put few question to
him.
The eyes of the whole court were now
turned upon the stranger, who seemed
somewhat embarrassed, but stated that
although he could not remember the
prisoner he was willing to answer any
question that might be proposed. The
court granted the prisoners request, and
he asked the stranger if he remembered
being at Dover on a certain date. 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.
Don't you remember that man in a
blue jacket and trowsers carried your
trunk to the inn ?" asked the prisoner.
II remember that man did carry my
trunk but do not remember his dress"
But" asked the prisoner, anxiously,
"don't you remember that the man who
carried your trunk told you story about
his being in the service, that he thought
himself an ill-used man, and that he
showed you scar he had on one side OF
his forehead?"
During the last part of the speech the
strangers face changed, and he said that
he did remember the scar. The prisoner
pushed aside his hair displaying scar
on his forehead, and the witness affirm
ed positively, with great emotion, that he
was the very man.
A 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
certain of the time, but stated that he
sometimes made memorandum of dates
in his pocket-book, and turning to that
found that the date of his landing corres-
punded with the prisoners assertion.
this being the only circumstance neces-
sary to prove an abb, the prisoLer was
Immediately acquitted amid great ap-
plause and congratulations.
The above trial occurred in 1882, and
in less than a month the gentlemanly
witness who came to the inn attended by
a servant in livery, the servant who fol
lowed him, and the prisoner, were all
three brought back to the same Jail for
robbing the mail. 1T turned out that the
clever defense at the last trial was a skill
fully arranged plot of the confedates to
release their accompliCe.