The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-02-15
A LAWYERS Adventure.

L "
I had accented the place at the earnest
solicitation of the judges of our supreme
court. because they feared if l did not
man would get it who was in no way
qualified to perform the duties thereto
appertaining; and, having allowed my
self to be placed in charge of the legal
interests of our section of New Hamp-
shire, I resolved TO perform the duties
without fear or favor, trusting that right
and justice would bear me out.
l had been in the Office about six
months, and had succeeded in convinc-
ing few, at least, OF our good people,
that they had prosecuting officer who
could not be easily corrupted, when
man named Mario Cropt was arrested for
horse stealing, and one of whose first
moves, sitter being arrested, was to SEND
for me. | went, and found him in Jail,
one OF the most sinister-looking fellows ]
had ever seen. He was, as l afterward
learned, a hali-breed, his mother having
been a Mohawk Indian, and his father
Virginia slave driver. Mario was born
in a wigwam somewhere among the wilds
of the Alleghsnies, and had been brought
up TO manhood by men and women who
lived by plumber and begging.
At the age of one and twenty, or there
abouts hes5eft the tribe and since then,
now some ten years, he had lived by his
wits, in the exercise of which he had
stolen horses and sheep and other four
legged things. In short, ho was a villain
OF the very deepest dye-so born, bred
maturtd. He was rather short of stature,
but compact, broad shouldered, heavy
limbed AID muscular, presentinga figure
of brute strength such as is not often
seen. His face bore very strongly the
Mohawk stamp, the Indian standing out
above all else; but there was a certain
cast of broad, grasping shrewdness
which betrayed the admixture of white
blood.
Mario Cropt, knew me for when the
officer who was to present his case to the
grand jury, and who was also to appear
against him in court, assumed a very
confidential manner, and commenced by
intimating that ne could give me a
chance TO make a pretty good thing"
II 1 would use my influence in his favor,
he was sure he should get clear This
was the first time he had ever been
arrested in that part of the country, and
he did not exactly understand our
method of doing business. But of one
thing he could assure me, if would like
1000. he could get it for me.
asked him what he meant
Bah !" said he, pOking his finger into
my breast--and the end of that single
iorefnger came with force equal to a
blow of fist from SEINE men " don't
90 for to be backish wi me- I know,
and'we both know moneys money; and
you may as well have it as anybody. Let
it Oft easy, and I'll say thousand dol
lars. I've got it, misterj and I can fetch
it in no time, too. Now, what d ye say
Is it a go?"
l looked at the rascal, and he must
have discovered from that single glance
that he had approached the wrong man,
for his countenance fell, and fierce light
/ flashed in his eye.
7 You'd better do 90 he whispered.
ButI only sought to make him under
stand that / would sooner sell my life
than my honor and without waiting to
listen to his treaty lett him.
/ Within week from that time Cropt
was brought before the grand jury, and
as he came into the jury room he found
an opportunity to speak privately with
me.
Look here, mister" he whispered;
"Pu make it two thousand. You'd
better think ont %
l made motion 10 push him away,
when he grasped my arm, and pressed
his lips close to my ear.
Mister Leverett," he hissed--and l
could feel his words burn" with me,
it's liberty or prison. With you, it's my
liberty or your deathr'
He looked at me with look that was
more potent than a score of oaths, and
then turned away with the sheriff.
The business before the grand jury
was very quietly done. The prisoners
foul threat had excited me, and
brought forward the witnesses against
him, and questioned them promptly and
to the point. The evidence was of
character that admitted OF no doubt or
, argument, and bill was found. and
Mario Cropt was duly indicted of the
crimes which had been alleged against
him, and in a few days he would appear
for trial.
had three cases for the commence
ment on my docket before that of Mario
Cropt; and, az there were several other
matters that engaged the attentio4 of
the court, it was week before he was
brought up. But he came at length, and
once more be approached me.
This time he said, "Three thousand %
If / would make the case break down
against him.
imam 40 nc "hcg Will HdIQ
and wicked as could be, had never seen
a man who SO dreaded imprisonment.
Never before had he been in prison. He
had been often apprehended, and had
been frequently fined; but never had
been restrained of his liberty for any
great length of time. His Indian in
stincts were strong and he felt, he told
me. that he would rather die than to be |
shat up in q close prison where there /
could be no more roaming forests and |
green wales.
Cropt had secured one of the most able
LAWYERS in the state, and the government |
witnesses were cross-questioned and
brow-beaten numerically; and, in addi-
ton to this, the prisoner brought forward
witnesses who had been paid and
prompted for the occasion. But the
mans guilt was too evident. In my plea
| presented the case as it appeared to me,
and. as l believed it must appear to
every reasoning man. And / presented
to the jury the man they were to pass
upon, asking them to look at
him as he sat before them.