Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-07-06

the lad to stand up, when I spoke to hin
kindly, and said
Johnny, why did you hurry out that nigh
as soon as the gentleman left, as be says yor
didf
"Cause mother was dreadful SICK" he said
tearfully; "and me an my little brother
Neddy, was all that she had to take care o
her. An I went straight home, an didn'
know nothin' about no money of that mans
no way"
"You went home because your mother wa!
sick. How long has she been illr'
"A good while, sir"
"But why didn't you return to your work
Why were you absent three days just then ?
"Mother's dead, sir, said the boy, sadly.
"When did she die 7"
"That night, sir. An I stayed away cause
I had to 90 to her funeral with Neddy, an hi
is all alone, now, sir"
"And you know nothing of this lost pocket
book?
II have never seen it in all my life, sir f; an
don't steal nothin'-never for poor mother
alters said must be honest, eff I starved an
God would know it ef nobody else found il
out; an at wicked boys 90 to the bad place
sir. never stole nothin' sir-never."
And here the little fellow burst into tears
and could say no more. While-I confess
I was wiping my own eyes briefly, observed
that his honor was actually busily engaged il
the same occupation. But the court room
was close, and it was warm day. Perhaps
it was perspiration.
"Your honor" I said, after moment oi
silence and clearing of the throat, "the prose
cution here have surely no case for conviction
I don't believe this boy knows any more Of
this lost money than you or do. It has moi
been found in his possession ha has had nc
chance to spend it; nobody testi6es that be
ever had it, save on suspicion and I cannot
think your honor will imprison this child,
who has 80 touchingly, though innocently, ex.
planned, himself, what is, at the most, but cir.
cumstantial evidence. He says he is parent.
less, and I think your honor will not doubt
this assertion. The dead mother, whose form
he has just seen laid under the sod, was plain.
ly good, true woman, and Johnny has not
been taught at home to be thief, evidently.
I crave the leniency of the court in this lads
behalf, and I ask that Johnny may be dis.
charged, since there is no direct evidence
against him."
"You can 60, Johnny" said the clerk, with
unusual pleasantness for him, moment af:
forwards, as the judge said something briefly
to bis subordinate, and Immediately adjourn.
ed the court, to the evident sstonishment o1
the boys accusers.
I shook the poor fellows hand, took him
out of the courtroom with me, told him who
I was, at bis own request, and saw him run.
ming down the street as fast as his little legs
could carry him, soon after this reversed de-
cision of bis honor. The result of my volun.
tary effort in this little affair was very graft
flying to me, for I felt assured the boy was
innocent. But the most agreeable part of the
"case" was yet in store for me.
About month afterwards poorly dressed
lad entered my law Office one cold, raw morn
ing, cap in hand, whom I quickly recognized
as Johnny, who said
"Good mornin', Mr.. s.. You was kind
enough to help me out, in the court, t'other
day, sir"
"Yes, I remember you. Come to the fire.
JJsh.a55 . :
"Thank you, sir. It's pooty cold, sir"
"Very. Where's your overcoat?"
"A what, sir"
"Your cost-outside jacket" ......
"Bless you, sir, I hain't got none. But !
don't mind it. I'm used to it, sir. only
come to thank you, sir, an to say that it'a
all right about the pocket-book. The mans
found it"
"Where? Howw asked, with deep inter.
est.
"Well, did it up, in my hurry to get of
that night, in one Of his big bundles that he
bought. He didn't open the parcel at home
that it got worked into, somehow, I don't
know how.~But be went and told my mas.
ter about it-who- turned me of, you know,
for stealing it, when didn't kaoR nothin'
about it-and one O. the shop.boys told me OF
1t yesterday"
congratulated the lad, and then induced
him to give me his history.
He was now an orphsn-an intelligent but
uneducated boy, and one who had been bred
in poverty, but honestly. His good mothers
counsel and teachings had had salutary eff.
feet upon bis mind, and an influence which
was lasting, I conceived. He was out Of work.
and wanted employment. I recommended him
to neighbor, and secured him q good place
He was always very grateful
to me for the service I had 90 accidently rem.
dered him in court, and he proved thorough.
ly honest and good servant in the years that
followed that little incident.
This event is one which confirms me in my
opinion that it is unsafe to convict upon cir.
evidence only, however strong
that evidence may be.
THE ACE OF HEARTS.
Some years ago the Mississippi river was
famous for its floating palaces, as the large
steamers plying between New Orleans and the
ports above were called. Now the railroads
have driven nearly all the fine boats of the
river, and left the field to the freight boats,
whose accommodations for passengers are by
10 means palatial. The former class of steam
srs were, in many respects, delightful, but they
never ceased to be the objects of dread to
timid people, for if the racing, which on that
stream was reduced to system, did not result
in the loss Of the boat, there was sure to be
one or more encounters between the more law
less portion of the travellers, in which pistol
bullets would fly rather too thick for the COM
fort of steady going people The cause for
such disturbance was generally a quarrel over
the gaming table. The regulations of the
boat usually required that all such amuse-
ments should be conducted in q room provi-
1ed for that purpose in the officers cabin, Sit
uated on the hurricane deck, but the sporting
gentlemen were by no means careful to OBJ
'erve this rule, and the gaming was mostly
carried on at the dining table, in the main ga
oon Of the steamer, to the annoyance of two
thirds on board. MANY professional gamblers