Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-01-23
ACCIDENTALLY INNOCENT.
A Lawyers STORY.

No lawyer likes going into conr
with thoroughly bad case yet how
can he help it sometimes ?
/ should have more patience with
the question, do you ever think il
right to defend man whom you be
lieve guilty ? were it less frequenti,
pnt by people who spend six days q
the week seeking to get the upper
hand of their neighbors, and the sew.
enth in trying to circumvent theil
Maker. To the honest inquirer.
would commend the answer DR. John
son once gave to Boswell: Sir, the
lawyer is not the judge
Was it my place when George Gil
bert's little care.worn wife came to
me with tears glistening in her eyes
to beseech me to do what could tor
her imprisoned husband, virtually to
turn my back and leave her tir.
troubled heart to break or nc
might? J was neither priest nc Z
Levite to find a ready excuse
passing by on the other side. .,
what could do? George Gill :;
mad been sent on q collecting tour u
had gambled away money recen ID
for his employers. 1t was a pl in
case of ENLIGHTENMENT, and the penalty
was term of years in the States
prison.
u am sure ho never meant 20 be
dishonesty pleaded the loyal little
woman The was tempted by a crafty
and designing man, but instead OF
running away, as others would have
done, he came back and confessed bis
fault, offering 10 let his whole salary
go toward making up the lost money
I'LL every cent was paid. MIR. Meek,
the junior partner, was willing to be
merciful, but Mr.. Mangle, the head of
the house, who just returned then af-
ter years absence, insisted that the
Jaw should take its course
gave her what poor consolation
could, for lawyers, like doctors.
must keep their patients courage up
at times.
in the first place, I'll see Messrs.
Mangle IL Meek / said. sMr. Man.
gle may be brought to hear reason.
after all--ifh can only be made to
see his interest in it.
The pale. Respondent face cheered
up a little. My words seemed to
have inspired a sort of underlined hope
that | was far from feeling myself.
Mr.. Mangle received me with ston Y
polteness.
Young man. bis manner SAID. do
not waste time in appeals to senti-
ment; you won't IL you'll only inst
look at me-
took the hint and came at once ia
business, repeated Gilberts OFF,, and
put it as strongly as possible ,ha,
more was to be gained by leni,acy
than harshness--all of which Ir.
Mangle listened to with a conscion
tious scowl
Il cannot be party to compounding
felony he answered, with a solemn
intonation.
Nor have asked you,' replied,
not a little nettled. Il have meie ely
mentioned plan OF paying back your
own, leaving it TO your generosity To
press or not to press this prosecute
'Oh, ITS all the same was the ,sn.
temptuous reioinder; 'auyboa. but a
lawyer, with his head fnll Of gibbs and
outlets could sec that. Besides. there
is something rather cool in the propo.
sal to retain your friend in our en-
ploy, under pretense of WORKING Uut
the money he has stolen, with "a
opportunity OF filching twice as N Il
in the meantime
| felt my temper rising, a43,
caring to imperil my clients inter
by an outright quarrel, I took h
leave.
Had | been in the prisoners D. e
on the morning fixed for the tria
could hardly have assembled the Cor,
House steps with more relucta &c,
than ! did. And when | entered ht
court room and found Gilbert and his
wife already there, and noted the
hopeful look with which the latter
greeted my coming, my heart sicken
ed at the thought of the bitter disap
pointment coming.
The People Us. Gilbert called ou
the Judge, after disposing of som,
formal matters.
A jury was Immediately impaneled
aud the case opened by the Dissric
Attorney
Mr.. Meek was the first witness
The nervous, hesitating manner il
which he gave his evidence would
have greatly damaged its effect had i
not evidently arisen from disposition
to do the prisoner as little hurt a.
possible. But no softening could
break the terrible force of facts b,
was compelled to relate.
Iu his partners absence he hac
employed George Gilbert as q clerk
had found him competent and trust,
worthy; had sent him on trip t.
make collections on his return b,
had acknowledged that, after re
ceiving a considerable sum, he was
induced by respectable looking
gentleman. with whom he had casu
uIt iuiiou ~ w JOiu - sOCihi game 81
cards at first they played for amuse
ment, then for money, and, aftei
losing all his own, in hope of re
trieving bis loss, with the fasa
infatuation of that dreadful vice
whose end ia swift destruction, b,
had haxarded and lost the last dollar
OF money be had 10 trust for hi,
employers.
Mr.. Meek's voice fsltered as ht
closed his narrative. He was going
to volunteer something about tbs
prisoners good character, when I
diapproving glance from Mr.. Mangl'
brought him 10 halt.
Just then the prisoner CHANGED tt
turn bis head, aud catching glimps,
of the senior partner, who had jus
entered and was standing among th'
crowd, he started quickly, then wills
pered hitrricdly in my ear.
turn aside your .ace,' ] whispered
back. And the case for prosecution