Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-06-06

VERY dangerously So" suggest
ed the court, civilly.
81 admit that, your honor" l
said, frankly. "And though it is
scarcely within the ordinary rules of
courts at this late stlge cf the bust
ness, l pray the court to allow NE,
on this trembling boys behalf, to
ask the witnesses in this case a few
brief questions"
Certainly, there is no objections,
sir.''
And I had the loser Of the money
upon the stand again directly.
"You say you missed your poc&-
etbook after leaving the store, sir ?"
l inquired
Eyes, sir with seventy dollars in
it,"
"You are sure you didn't take it
with you when you went ?"
mo, sir. did not..''
[ou might have done so z"
"But l didn't, sir..''
"You couldn't have dropped it,
then, in your hurry as you went ?"
81 did not have it. I left it on
the counter near where the boy was
putting up the goods. and have no
question that he took it."
You came back /; how soon ?"
"Within FIVE minutes or so."
''And the boy was gone ?"
eyes, sir, aud the poc&etbook, "
added the witness sharply.
THAT s all, sir" remarked.
And the gentle man sat down. l
had not made much progress as vet,
but I next asked the lad to stand
up, when I spoke to him kindly,
and said /:
Johnny, why did you hurry out
that night as he says you did"
"Cause uother was dreadful
sick,'' said he tearfully:; San my
little Neddy was all that she had to
take care f her. An I went
straight home nd did't know moth
in bout no money no way"
"You went home tecause your
mother was sick. How long has
she been sick ?"
"a good while, sir"
''But why didn't you return to
your work Why were you absent
three days just then ?''
Mothers dead sir" said the boy,
sadly.
"When did she die ?"
"That night. sir. An I staid
away cause I had to go to her fun
era with Ne1dy, an he's all alone
now SIR"
"And you know nothing of this
lost pocketbook ?"
81 have never seen it in all nay
life, sir ; an I don't steal nothin7-
never, for poor mother allus said !
must be honest eff l starved and
God would know it if nobody else
foun d it out ; an at wicked bows
90 to the bad place, sir. I never
stole nothin', sir-never.
And here the little fellow burst
into tears, and could say no more,
while II confess twas wiping
my own eyes, briefly I observed that
liS honor was actually busily en-
gagged in the same occupation. But
ibis court room was close, and it
was warm day. Perhaps it was
"Your honor" ! said, after a
% oment of silence and clearing of
he throat, ''the prosecution haYe
surely DO cause for conviction. II
lon't believe this b oy knows any
more of this money than you or 1 |
10. 1t has not been found in his
possession lie h I'd no chance to |
pend it no one testifes that he |
'ver had 1t, save on suspicion ; and |
cannot think your honor will i'm
Prison this child, who has so touch
ngly though innocently explained
upon what is, as the most,
;ircumstantial evidence. He says
le is parentless and l think your
lonor will not doubt this assertion.
The dsad mother, whose form lie
las just laid under the sod, was
'lainly good, true woman, and
Ohm had not been taught at lone
o be thief, evidently. / crave the
eniency Of the court in this lads
ehalf, and ask that Johnny may
e discharged, since there is no di-
ect evidence pgainst him."
"You can go, Johnny" said the
Jerk, with unusual pleasantness for
i'm, a moment afterwards, as the
ldge said something briefly to his
ubordinate, and Immediately ad-
,urntd the court, to the evident
of the boys accuser.
/ shook the poor fellows hand,