The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18
ACCIDENTALLY INsOCENT.

No lawyer likes going into court
with thoroughly bad case, yet how
can he help it sometimes ?
I should have more patience with
the question, "Do you ever think il
right to defend man whom you be
lieve to be guilty?" were it less fre
quently put by people who spend six
days of the week seeking to get the
upper hand of their neighbors, and
the seventh trying to circumvent
their Maker. To the honest inquirer
I commend the answer DIR. johnson
once gave to Boswell, "Sir, the law.
yer is not the judge"
Was it my place when George Gil
bert's little care-worn wife came with
tears glistening in her eyes, to be-
seech me to do what could for her
imprisoned husband, virtually to turn
my back and leave her tired, troubled
heart to break or not as it might? l
was neither a priest nor Levite to
find ready excuse for passing by on
the other side. Yet what could / do?
George Gilbert had been sent on a
collecting tour and had gambled away
money received for his employers. 1t
was a plain case of embezzlement,
and the penalty was a term of years
in the States prison.
"I am sure he never meant to be
dishonest" pleaded the loyal little
woman; che was tempted by a crafty
and designing man, but instead of
running away, as others would have
done, he came back and confessed
his fault, offering to let his whole
salary go toward making up the
lost money till every cent was paid.
Mr.. Meek, the junior partner, was
willing to be merciful, but Mr.. Man.
gle, the head of the house, who just.
returned then after years absence,
insisted that the law should take its
course"
I gave her what poor consolation I
could; for lawyers, like doctors, must
keep their patients courage up at
times.
"In the first place, I'll see Messrs.
Mangle & Meek" l said. "Mr. Mangle
may be brought to hear reason after
all-if he can only be made to see his
interest in it.
The pale, respondent face cheered
up little. My words seemed to
have inspired a sort of underlined
hope that l was far from feeling my
self.
Mr.. Mangle received me with stony
politeness.
"Young man." his manner said,
"don't waste time in appeals to senti-
ment; you won't if you'll only look
at me-"
l took the hint and came at once
to business, repeated Gilbert's offer,
and put it as strongly as possible
that more was to be gained by
leniency than harshness-all of which
Mr.. Mangle listened to with con-
scientious scowl.
ssI cannot be party to compound
ing felony" he answered with a
solemn intonation.
"Nor have I asked you," I replied,
not a little nettled. II have merely
mentioned a plan of paying back
your own, leaving it to your gener-
osity to press or not to press this
prosecution"
"Oh, it's all the same," was the
contemptuous rejoinder-"anybody
but lawyer, with his head full Of
quibs and quiblets, could see that.
Besides, there is something rather
cool in the proposal to retain your
friend in our employ under pretence
of working out the money he has
stolen, with the opportunity of filch-
ing twice as much in the meantime. "
felt my temper rising, and not
caring to imperil my clients interest
by an outright quarrel, took hasty
leave.
Had I been in the prisoners place
on the morning fixed for the trial, l
could hardly have assembled the
courthouse steps with more refuet-
ance than l did. And when I entered
the courtroom, and found Gilbert
and his wife already there, and noted
the hopeful look with which the lat
ter greeted my coming, my heart
sickened at the thought of the bitter
disappointment coming.
"The People VS. Gilbert, " called out
the judge, after disposing of some
formal matters.
A jury was Immediately impaneled
and the case opened by the District
Attorney.
/ Mr.. Meek was the first witness
The nervous, hesitating manner ir
1 whiah ho rauo hia ouidanoa WON Id