The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-07-19
ACCIDENTALLY INNOCENT,

/ should have more patience with the 1
question, DO you ever think it right to
defend a man whom you believe to be gull
ty ?" were it less frequently put by people /
who spend six days of the week seeking TO
get the upper hand of tbeir neighbors, and
the seventh in trying to circumyent their
Maker. To the honest inquirer, | COM
mend the answer DIR. johnson once gave to
Boswell, ''Sir, the la wyeT is not the Judge" (
Was 1t my place, when George Gilbert's
little soTrow-worn wife came, with tears
glistening iii her eyes, to beseech me to do
what could for her imprisoned husband,
virtuously TO turn my back, and leave her
tried, struggling heart to break or not, as
il might?
was neither priest nor a Levite to find
eady excuse for passing by on the other
side. 1et-what could l do? George Gil
bert had been sent on a collecting tour,
and had gRmbled away money received for
his employers. 1t was plain case Of en-
bezzlement, and the penalty was a term of
years in the States prison.
81 am sure he never meant to be dis
honest" pleaded the loyal little woman
''he was tempted by crafty and designing
man, but, instead of running away, as 9TH
els would have done, he came back and
confessed his fault, offering to let his
whole salary go towards making up the
lost money till every cent should be paid.
vi" -hCths tliG JAulpl- Jhl ltiltis WAS " tlslilS
to be merciful, but Mr.. Mangle, the head
of the house, who returned just then, after
years absence, insisted that the law
should take its course
l gave her what poor consolation could,
for lawyers, like doctors, must keep their
patients courage mp at times.
''ln the first place, I'll see Messrs. Man
gle & Meek" / said. "Mr, Mangle may
be brought to hear reason, after all-n he
Z lV ba u1aHa tf, his m ~
! The pale, despOndent face cheered up a
| little. My words seemed to have inspi ed
a sort of underlined hope which l was far
| from feeling myself
Mr.. Mangle received me with stony po-
liteness.
| young man." his manner said, ''don't
waste time in appeals to sentiment: you
won't if you'll only just look at me-
! l took the hint and came at once to
! business, repeated Gilberts offer, and put
| it as strongly as possible that more was to
| be gained 10y leniency than harshness-all
! of which Mr.. Mangle listened to with a
| conscientious scowl.
Il cannot be party to compounGing a
felony" he answered with a solemn into
nation.
''Nor have asked you," l replied, not
a little nettled. Il have merely mention
ed plan of paying back your own, leav-
ing it to your generosity to press or not to
| press this prosecution"
ooh it's all the same" was the con
! temptuous rejoinder-'' body but a law
yer with his head full of quips and outlets
could see that. Besides, there's something
| rather cool in the proposal to retain your
friend in our employment, under prctence
of working out the money he has stolen,
with the opportunity OF tilching twice as
much in the meantime
l felt my temper rising, and not caring
to imperil my clients interests by any out.
right quarrel. took hasty leave.
Had l been in the prisoners place on
the morning fixed for the trial, | could
hardly have ascended the court house steps
with more reluctance than / did.
And when | entered the court room, and
found Gilbert and his wife already there,
and noted the hopeful look with which
the latter greeted my coming. my heart
sickened at the thought of the bitter dis
, appointment coming.
''The People rs. Gilbert - called out
the Judge, after disposing Of some forma
matters.
4 jury was Immediately empanneled and
the case opened by the District Attorney.
I Mr. Meek was the fist witness. The
nervous, heSitating manner in which hC
( gave his evidence would have greatly
/ damaged its effect, had it not evidently
arisen from disposition to do the prison
er as lil.le hur. as possible. But no sof' en-
ing could break the terrible force Of tht
facts he was compelled to relate.
, In his partners absence he mad employ
ed George Gilbert as a clerk bad found
!, him competent and trustworthy; had sen
him on a trip TO make collections OH hi
return he bad acknowledged that, afie
, receiving considerable sum, he was in
duced by respectable looking gentleman
with whom he had casually fallen in, Il
I Il.
played for amusement, then for money
and. after losing all his own, in the hop,
of retrieving his loss, with the fatal iufat
uation which attends the first infection O
? J that dreadful vice whose end is swift des
tructiou, he had hazarded and lost th
{ last dollar of the money he had held il
, trust for his employers.
Mr. Meek's voice fal-ered as he CLOSED
his narrative. He was going on to voluntee
something about the prisoners previou
good character, when approving glauc
from Mr. Mangle brought him to a halt.
Just then the prisoner chanced to 'ur'
his head, and catching a glimpse Of tn
senior partner. who had Just entered au'
was standing among the crowd, be startei
quickly, then whispered hastily IN my ear
seTurn aside your face" whispered
back. And the case for the prosecution
/ being closed
inquired the judge.
, Il will call Hezekiah Mangle,' I re
piled.
A buzz of surprise greeted the announce
rneut. in the midst of which Mr.. Maug
steDpcd forward aud was sworn.
s'You have been absent FOR the last yeai
Mr.. Mangle ?'' l began.
81 have"
"Traveling in different parts p
, eyes, sir
sThe prisoner was employed by you
partner in your absence, and was arrested
about the time of your return P'
"Such was the case"
s'Have you ever seen him p
"Not to my knowledge
s'Nur met him in your travels ~
elf he will turn his face this way, | cal
tell better
At my bidding Gilbert turned and face
. | he witness.
The effect was electrical Mr.. Mangl
turned pale and red by turns.
zone other question, Mr.. Mangle,
! resumed. "Do you recognize IN the dc