Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-09-10
MISCELLANEOUS,
INNOCENT BY ACCIDENT.

$40 lawyer likes going into court with
- thoroughly bad case, yet how can he
help it sometimes " MOI. uasr..
should have more patience with the
question, ''Do you ever think it right to de-
tend man who you believe to be guilty z"
were 1t put less frequently by people who
spend six days each week seeking to get the
upper hand of their neighbors, and the
seventh IN trying TO circumvent their Maker.
10 the honest inquirer | commend the ans
swer Doctor johnson once gave to Boswell
''Sir, lawyer is not the judge" Sow
Was it my place, when George Gilbcrt's
little careworn vile came with tears glsten-
ing in her eyes, to beseech me to do what l
could for her imprisoned husband, virtually
to turn my back and leave her tired. troubled
hear. to break or not, as it might be 2"
/ was neither priest nor Levite to find
ready excuse for passing by on the other
side. Yet what could | do7 George Gill
bert had been sent on collecting tour and
had gambled away money received for his
employers. 1t was n clear case of embezzle-
ment, and the penalty was a term of years in
the States prison.
81 am sure he never meant to be dishon-
est, pleaded the loyal little woman; 'he
was tempted by crafty and designing man,
but, instead ofrunning away, as others would
have done, he came back and confessed his
fault, offering to let his whole salary go to-
ward making up the lost money till every
cent was paid. Mr.. Meek, the junior part,
ner, was willing to be mcrcifuI but Mr.. Mans
gle, the head of the firm, who returned just
then after years absence, insisted that the
law should take its course"
gave her what poor consolation | could,
for lawyers, like doctors. must keep their
q
"1n the first place I'll see Messers Man
gle & Meek" said. "Mr. Manglo may be
brought to hear reason after all-if he can
only be made to See his interest in
it."
The pale, despondent face checred up
little. My words seemed to have inspired a
sort of underlined hope that l was far from
feeling myself.
Mr. MaDgle relieved me with very stony
| politcness.
young man," his manner said, edo not
waste your time in appeals to sentiment /;
you wont if you'll jus, look at Inc.
l took the hint and came at once to busi>
ness, repeated Gilberts offer and put it as
strongly as possible, that more was to be
gained be leniency than harshness-all of
which Mr.. Maugle listened to with q con-
sciencious scowl.
Il cannot be party to compounding n
felony" he answered, with solemn intona.
| ton.
"Nor have asked you" replied, not
little nettled. Il have merely mentioned
plan of paying back your own, leaving it
to your generosity to press or not to press
this prosecution"
"Uh it's all the same" was the cortemp>
tuous rejoinder-'anyb body but a lawyer,
with his head full of quois and outlets, could
see that. Besides there is something rather
! cool in the proposal to retain your friend in
in our employ, under the pretense of working
out the money he had stolen, with the op>
portunity of flching twice as much in the
meantime.
felt my temper rising; and Eot to imperi
my clients interests by an out and out quar-
rel, took basty retreat.
Had been in the prisoners place on the
morning of the trial, 1 could hardly have
assembled the court-house steps with more re-
! luctance 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 com
ing, my heart sickened at the thought of
the bitter disappointment coming.
The People vs.. Gilbert !" called out the
judge after disposing of some formal mat
| ters.
Mr.. Meek was the first witness. The
nervous hesitating manner in which he gave
| his evidence would have greatly damaged
its effect, had it not evidently arisen from a
| disposition to do the prisoner as little hurt
as possible. But no softening could break
the terrible force of facts he was compelled
to relate.
| In his partners absence, he bad employed
| George Gilbert as clerk had found him
Competent and Trustworthy, and had sent him
| on trip to make collections. On his return
after receiving a considerable sum, he was
induced by respectable looking gentleman,
| with whom he had fallen in, to join in So