The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-04-18


And | had the loser of the money
upon the stand again directly.
"YOu sayyou missed your pocketbOok
after leaving the store, sirP" l in
quired.
eyes, sir-with seventy dollars in
it."
"You are sure you didn't take IL with
you when you went?"
"NO sir, did not"
"YOu might have done sO."
"But didn't, sir"
"You couldn't have dropped it, then,
in your hurry as you went?"
81 didn't have it. left it on the
counter, near where the boy was put
ting up the goods, and I've no question
that he took it,"
"You came back; how soor ?"
"Within five minutes or so."
"And the boy was gomez"
eyes, sir, and the pocketboOk, "
added the witness sharply.
''That's all, sir" l remarked.
And the gentleman sat down. | had
not made much progress as yet, but L
next asked the lad to stand up, when |
spoke to him kindly. and said:
Johnny, why did you hurry out
that night as he says you did?"
"Cause mother was dreadful sick" !"
said he tearfully; "an' me an my little
Neddy was all that she had to take
care of her. An went straight home
and did mt know nothin' bout no money
no way"
"You went home because your
mother was sick. How long has she
been sick?"
ga good while, sir"
"But why didn't you return to your
work2 Why were you absent three
days just them"
Mothers dead, SIR" said the boy,
sadly.
"When did she die"
"That night, sir. An l staid away
cause had to 60 to her funeral with
Neddy, an he's all alone now sir?"
"And you know nothing of this lost
pocketbOok?"
81 have never seen it in all my life,
sir; an | don't steal nothin'-never,
for poor mother allus said | must be
honest eff / starved; and God would
know it eff nobody else found it out; an
'at wicked boys go to the bad place, sir.
never stole nothin', sir-never."
And here the little fellow burst into
tears, and could say no more. While
i confess twas wiping my own
eyes, briefly, observed that his honor
was actually busily engaged in the same
occupation But the court room was
close, and it was warm day. Perhaps
it was perspiration.
"Your honor" l said, after moment
of silence and clearing of the throat.
"the prosecution here have surely no
cause for conviction. l don't believe
this boy knows any more of. this lost
money than you or do. 1t has not
been found iu his possession; he had no
chance to spend it; no one testifies thai
he ever had it, save on suspicion; and |
cannot think your honor will imprison
this child, who has so touchingly though
innocently explained himself, upon
what is, at the most, but circumstan-
tial evidence. He says he is parentless
and | think your honor will not doubt
this assertion. The dead mother, whose
form he mas just laid Under the sod, was
plainly good, true woman, and John
had not been taught at home to be "a
thief, evidently. crave the leniency
of the court in this lads behalf, and |
ask that Johnny may be discharged,
since there is no direct evidence against
him."
"You can go, Johnny" said the
clerk, with unusual pleasantness for
him, moment afterwards, as the judge
said something briefly to his subordi-
nate, and Immediately adjourned the
court, to the evident astOnishment of
the boys accuser.
shook the poor fellows hand, took
him out of the court room with we, told
him who was, at his own request, and
saw him running down the street as
fast as his little legs would carry him,
soon after the reversed decision of his
honor. The result of my voluntary eff
fort in this affair was very gratifying to
me, for felt assured the boy was inno-
cent. But the most agreeable part of
the cease" was yet in store for me.
About month afterwards u poorly
dressed lad entered my law office, one
cold, raw morning, cap in hand, whom
| quickly recognized as Johnny, who
said
Good morning, Mr.. S.. You was
kind enough to help me out, in the
court, t'other day, SIR"
eyes, remember you. Come to the
fire, johnny"
"Thank you, sir. It's pooty cold
sir"
every. Where's your osercoat."
"a what sirS"
oYour coat. Outside jacket
"BIess you, haln't got none. But
| dor,t mind Il. Pm used to IT, sir.