The Van Buren press., 1878-05-14
MISCELLANY.
Who Stole the Money !?

dence alone is dangerous theory upon
which to base conviction in criminal Ca
SEES. have known several cases in
which the innocent have been grossly
wronged through this means, very
plausible instance, remember, being in
substance as follows:
A pale, scared boy, some fourteen
years old vas brought into the municipal
court, in neighboring city, one morning,
evidently in great tribulation, who was
arraigned npon charge of theft in his
employers store.
what is your name ?" asked the judge,
quietly.
Johnny Briggs" said the boy, hum
bly,.
"Where do you live?'
"Down't North End, SIR
"Now, Mr.. Clerk, what is the case p
said the judge, with some interest.
"The old story, your honor" replied
the clerk famliarly Thieveing. He's
stolen pocketbook, and won't give any
account of it."
"Where are the witnesses
"Here, your honor. The loser of
the money, and the boys late en-
ployer."
"Has he no counsel-no friend in
court 2"
IL haven't seen any, your honor; and
he don't look as if he were overburden.
ed in that way" replied the clerk, sarcas
tcally.
Proceed with the evidence
| Tho obi11'o opor1pvor tooly tho atand
first, and stated the case.
He was well dressed man, but had
hard features--a worldly minded. sell
appearing person, and thus testi
fed:
"A stranger came into my store, your
honor and made purchase. He paid
me thirty dollars, ordered his goods sent
home, and went out, but returned in a
short time for his pocketbook, which he
missed directly, and was certain he had
left it ON the counter, carelessly The
boy, Johnny, yondar, had been with me
but few weeks, and l noticed that he
hurried away out Of the shop immedi
ately, and l did not see him for three
days afterward. There was nobody in
the store at the time but Johnny and l..
The money was gone, and l did not
steal it. He had been able to give no
account of it, or rather refused to do so,
and there can be no doubt that he is the
thief. | took him out Of the street, and
set him to work out of charity, and
this is the return he makes me. He
was poor vagrant, and has deceived
! me-"
"!s that ALL sir I. .---..----.-a-- 49,.
The owner ofthe money stated that
the merchants testimony was correct
He had lost seventy dollars in the man
ncr described -thst he saw no one in the
store but this boy and his master, and
he disappeared Immediately on my return
to the store, upon discovering his loss.
He was very positive he had not taken
' the wallet with him, but remembered just
where he had leJtit upon the counter
' near where this johnny was engaged
! putting np the goods. He had no shad
ow of doubt that he had puroined it and
got away with 1t during his brief absence.
for he had not been seen about his bust
ness for three days afterwards by any
body, and he noticed that the boy seem
ed uneasy and restless during his stay
there. He could not afford to lose this
money, and thought such young rogues
should be made an example of.
Now. my boy" said the judge,
Have you anything to say? You have
heard the testimony of your former en-
ployer, and the person who had lost the
money and the case is very much against
you Do you wish to say anything, OF
explain, ell p
The little fellow was so much alarmed
at the apparent severity of his honor,
though he was a just man, and a good
Judge, and did not intend to intimidate
the culprit at all, as knew from long
acquaintance with his grave but g erlng
characteristic boy was 80 confused that
he said:
"No, sir; l can't"
"It is a kind of CASE" said his honor,
"that is getting lamentably common
among, us, and we must do our duty, in
the endeavoring to check the growth OF
evil Mr. Clerk, l shall commit this
hoy to the House OF Correction for one
year"
And the Judge arose to adjourn the
court.
MAY it please your honor" l said
respectfully, "will you allow me, before
this sentence is officially recorded. to ad
dress the court briefly ?"
Certainly. Mr.. S." replied his
honor, pleasantly. "Do you know any
thing about this case ?"
; "No, your honor. ! have never seen
any of these parties until this hour. But
the lad does not look like thief to my
vision, and he has no fridnds to say a
word for him here. have listened to
the testimony. and with the utmost de-
ference to your honor's judgement in
the case, respectfully suggest that the
evidence against the boy, though very
plausible aud connecting, is but circum-
stantisl"
"very dangerously so,' suggested the
court, civily
81 admit that, your honor" l said
frankly "And though it is scarcely
within the ordinary rules of court at this
late stage Of the business, pray the
court to allow me on this trembling boy s
behalf, to ask the last witness in this case
few brief questions"
.Certainly: there are no objections