The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-06-26
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| should have more patience With
the question, "Do you ever tbiak il
right 10 defend a man whom you be.
lieve TO be guilty - were It less fre-
ouoatly pat by people who spend SIX
days Of the week seeking to get the
upper hand Of their neigh5ors, and
the seventh in trying to circGmEent
their Maker. TO The honest inquirer,
I commend tie answer Dr.. John
son once gave TO Boswell, "Sir, the
LAWYER is rot tie judge"
Was it nv place, when George
Gilbert's little sorrow-wcrR wig
come. with tears g~listening in her
ewes. 10 beseech me to Go what | could
for her imprisoned husband, virtooas-
IL to turn my back, ard leave her
tried, struggling heart TO break or
not, as il might!
was neither Q priest nor 8 LeFite
70 fpd a ready excuse for passing by
Oh the other side. Yet what could
dog George Gilbert had been sent
or a collecting tour. and had gambled
away money received FOR bis emplo-
yers. 1t was . plain case Of embez-
Element, aud the penalty was 8 term
Of wears 10 the States prison.
Il am sure he never meant TO be
dishonest pleaded the loyal little
70 me was tempted by a crafty
aud designing man, but instead Of
runnirg away, IS others would have
done. be came back and confessed
his fault. Offering TO iet his whole
salary 70 towards ms king up The lost
money III every cent should be paid
NJ. Meek, the junior partner, was
willing to be mereiiui, bat Nc. Man
gle, the bead Of the house, who re-
turned ilss then, after a years ao-
ssuce. insisted that The law should
take its course"
/ gave her what poor consolation l
could for lawyers. like doctors, must
keep their patents courage up at
times.
In the FIRST place, in see Messrs.
Mangle d Meek" l said mir. Man
gle may be brought to hear reason,
after all-if be can only be made to
see bis interest in it."
The pale Respondent face cheered
Up q little. My words seemed 10
have inspired q sort Of underlined
hope which ! was far from feeling
myself.
Mr.. Maagle received me with stony
politeness.
Young man." his manner said,
don't waste time in appeals 10 sen
tirent you won't if you'll only just
look at me-"
/ took the hint, and came at once
to business, repeated Gilbert's offer,
and put it as strongly os possible
that more was to be gained by lem
iency than harshness-all Of which
Mr.. Mangle listened to with a con-
scientious scowl
II cannot be q party TO compound
ing a felony" he answered with q
solemn intonation.
Nor have | asked you," | replied,
not a little nettled. Il have merely
mentioned q plan Of paying back your
own, leaving it to your generosity
10 press or not to press this prosecu-
tom
"Obiil's all the same" was the
conteRptuous reioinder-"anybody
but q lawyer, with his 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 p~retence Of work
ing out the money he has stolen
with the opportunity Of flching twice
as much ia the meantime"
felt my temper rising, and no
caring to imperil my clients interests
by an outright quarrel, took a has.
" leave.
Had 1 been in the prisoners place
on the morning fixed for the trial,
could hardly haze ascended the cour
house steps with more reluctance thar
| did.
And when / entered the cur
room, and found Gilbert and his wife
already there, and noted the hopeful
look with which the latter greete'
my coming, my heart sickened at tn
thought of the bitter disappointment
coming.
"The people rs. Gilbert J" calleC
out the judge, after ~disposins Of som
formal matters.
4 jury was Immediately empanne.
ed, and the case opened by the Dis
trict Attorney.
Mr.. Meek was the first witness
The nervous, b~esitating manner il
which be gave his evidence woult
have greatly damaged its effect, has
it not evidently arisen from a dispC
sition to do the prisoner as little hur
as possible. But no %softeniDg coul
break the terrible force Of the facts b
was compelled to relate.
In his partners absence he ha0
employed George Gilbert as a clerk
had found him competent and trust
worthy; had sent him on q trip I
make collections; on his return b
had acknowledged that after receiy
ing a considerable sum, be was il
duced by a respectable looking ger
tleman, with whom be had casual
fallen in, to Join q social game {
cards al first they played for amus'
ment, then for money, and, afler loi
ing oil his own, 10 the hope Of retrie'
ing his loss, with the fatal iufataatio
which attends the first infection G
that dreadful vice whose end is swi
destruction. be had hazsrded aud los
the last dollar OF the money he ha
held in trust for his employers.
Mr.. Meek's voice faltered as b
closed his narrative. lie vas goin
on to volunteer something about th
prisoners previous good characte
when a Disappearing glance from NJ
Mangle brought him to c halt.
Just then the prisoner CHANGED I
turn bis head, and catching a Gimp;
of the senior partner, who had jus
entered and was standing among th
crowd, be started quickly, then VIII
pered hurriedly in my ear.
"Turn aside your face" | whispe
ed back. And the case fer the pros
cution being closed
"Have you any witnesses for Ii
defence ~ inquired tine Judge.
- Il - ALL !.