The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-01-08
TnE sTRANaER wiTNEss.

A gentleman, followed by servant in
livery, rode into an inn in the west of Eng
land one evening, little after dusk He
told the landlord that he should be detained
in that part Of the country for 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. lie was in
formed by the landlord that it was their race
and assize week, and that he therefore
would have plenty to occupy his leisure mo-
ments. On the gentleman's S making answer
that this was fortunate, as he was fond of
hearing trials, the host informed him that a
Very interesting robbery trial was to come
on the next day. That the evidence was
very strong agaiust the prisoner, and the
peoples opinion was greatly divided, as The
man insisted that he was in another part of
the kingdom when the robbery was COM
mitted I...t ts
The gentleman expressed considerable
anxiety to witness the trial Accordingly
the next morning the host procured him a
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 gentle
man could save his life if he might put
few questions to him. .ts
The eyes of the whole court were now
turned upon the stranger, who seemed some
what embarrassed, but stated that although
he could not remember the prisoner he was
willing to answer any questions that might
be proposed. The court granted the prison
er's 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
blue JACKIE and trowsers carried your trunk
to the inn, asked the prisoner
81 remember thata man did carry my
trunk but l 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 a scar he had on one side of his fore
headY'
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 fore
head, and the wines affirmed 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 GER.
tain Of the time, but stated that he some
times made memorandum of dates in his
lpocket-book, and turning to that found that
the date of his landing corresponded with
the prisoners assertion. This being the only
circumstance necessary to prove an abb,
the prisoner was Immediately acquitted amid
great applause and congratulations.
The above trial occurred in 1892, and with
in less than month the gentlemanly witness
who came to the inn attended by servant
in livery, the servant who followed 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 skifully arranged plot of the con-
federates to release their accomplice