The Morning herald., 1878-12-13

the witness-box, and facing the prisoner.
The examination commenced.
Counsel for Prosecutions: "Mrs. Sarah
Clayton, you were the wife Of the late John
ClaytonP"
Witness: II was" f5
Counsel for Prosecution: 'Do you know
the prisoner at the bar2''
/ Witness: "Have known him for over
twenty years"
Counsel for Prosecution: "Under what
circumstances did you make his acquaint-
ance?"
Witness: "My deceased brother intro
duced him to me at musicale"
Counsel for Prosecution: proceed, mad
am, and tell what you know of the pris-
oner."
Witness: "After this introduction, Jared
Clark paid me every attention, and finally
proposed marriage Not wishing to en-
courage one for whom had no affection, I
at once, as / thought, put an end to the
matter. Still he persisted, and it became
necessary for me to forbid him to speak OF it
again. He swore to be revenged for what
lie termed an insult, and plainly told me
that my money was all he desired. After
my marriage, he presented his forged certifi-
cate and took oath that had been privately
married to him."
Counsel for Prosecution Ito the prisoners
counseD: ''Do you wish to question the wit
ness?"
Counsel for Defense with peculiar
SMILEY: II waive the right, sir
The learned counsel for the defense had
decided on this course some days back.
Miss Cecil Clayton was called.
Summoning her courage, the heiress took
her place and was sworn.
She looked the prisoner fearlessly in the
face as she testified.
Counsel for the Prosecution: "Miss Clay
ton, had your father any connection with
the prisoner"
Witness: considerable; but only through
force I first knew of it from father, who
cautioned me against him after he had left
the house one morning. Pointing him out
to me, my father said: That man has me in
his power, child, and cannot escape. Be-
ware of him! A few years after. he again
almonished me, telling me that Clark knew
the whole history OF our family, and, every
time he called, he would threaten to expose
it unless he were paid, as he was very poor.
| That villain there"
Here the counsel for the defense, rising,
interrupted the proceedings by requesting
the Judge to remind the witness that the
dignity of the Court must be sustained, and
his client protected from useless adjectives.
The Judge: Witness will conhne herself
to facts"
Counsel for Prosecution: "Did your father
ever mention your mother to your"
Witness: "Seldom. He seemed panied
whenever I spoke of her, and generally
refrained from questioning"
Her voice trembled as she made this hu-
initiating acknowledgment She detailed
Clarks persecution Of herself, and as she
went on, and no Tom Black appeared, her
heart sunk within her.
LAWYER Boorum's confident look had van
ished, and he asked many frivolous ques-
tions for the sake of gaining time.
He could neither understand the absence
of his important witness, nor the unac-
countable action of the defense in allowing
the prosecution such liberty.
The willy Clark had prepared for every
emergency.
His lawyer got upon his feet with solemn,
severe countenance.
"Your Honor, I move to have this case
dismissed as a conspiracy against my client.
The testimony is unsupported by proof and
| of no avail. 1t has come to point where
most convincing evidence is needed, and yet
| nlgnt ne walked out to get the air. and ON
| this particular night went downtown on
| message for friend, and in getting back to
| The car took the darkest streets, to avoid ac-
,idents. His mind became SLIGHTLY affected
and laid him up for time, bu ....,ne3S has
killed his pride, and brought him back.
81 will try to be father to you, my child,
and hope to atone for my hasty, unteellng
conduct to my wife :,
That was all John Clayton's tears would
allow him to say.
Mrs. Clayton, bending over his chair
whispered: :,
"Forget the past, John; the future is full
of ioy We can now live right, and
it will render us all the happier that we
have come up out of much tribulation.
Their trials were indeed at an end. The
whole secret had been revealed and could
not now be recalled. Nor would the old
man have wished it otherwise
Being questioned as to how he had sus-
tained his disguise, and how he came to as
sumo it, Ned replied that, on reaching New
York, he got in with q rough lot of fellows
who were about leaving the city. This was
Sam Nevins' gang, One of them, by name
| Tom Black, he noted particularly
speech, looks, dress, etc., he copied TOR the
| filrtherance of his own ends.
Through the combined efforts of friends,
a pardon was secured for the indefatigable,
truly repentant Ned, and he disappeared
soon after. Two years later, Mrs. Clayton
received letter, post-marked Galveston,
| Texas. Ned had become thrifty farmer
Philip and Cecil were privately married,
and the former entered upon his ministerial
duties at once, while the Clayton homestead
passed into other hands, for John Clayton
and his wife went with their son-in-law.
Another marriage, as quiet as Cecils, not