Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-10-16
ACCIDENTALLY INNOCENT,
A LAWYERS STORY.

ACCIDENTALLY INNOCENT.
~ A LAWYERS STORY. ..
- No lawyer likes going into court with a
thoroughly bad case-yet how can ne help 1t
sometimes? I should have more patience
with the question, "Do you ever think it right
to defend a man whom you believe to be
guilty ?" were it less frequently asked by peo'
pie who spend six days ofthe week seeking to
get the upper hand OF their neighbors, and
the seventh to circnmvent their Maker. 10
the honest inquirer L commend the answer
DR.. johnson once gave to Boswell: "Sir, the
lawyer is not the judge" &. ''-~"' -.
j.. Was it my place, when George Gilbert's
little sorrow worn wife, with tears glistening
in her eyes, besought me to do-what could
for her imprisoned husband, virtuously to
turn nv back and leave her tired, struggling
heart to break or not as it might? l was
neither priest nor Levite to find ready
excuse for passing by on the other side !!
Yet what could l do? George Gilbert had
been sent on collecting tour, and had gam
bled away money received for his employ
ers. 1t was plain. case of embezzlement,
and the penalty was term of years in the
State Prison.
"I'm sure he never meant to be dishonest" !"
pleaded the loyal little woman; "he was
tempted by 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 60 toward
making up the lost money. till every centWas
paid. Mr.. Meek, the junior partner, was in
clned to be merciful but Mr.. Mangle, the
head of the house, who returned just then,
after years absence, insisted that the law
should take its course"
gave what poor consolation J. could, for
Lawyers, like doctors, must keep ptheir patients
courage up at times.
"In the first place, I'll see Mangle &
Meek" said. "Mr. Mangle may be brought
to hear reason, after all-it he can be only
made to see his interest in it."
The pale and despondent face cheered up
"a little My words seemed to have inspired
a sort of underlined hope, which l was far
from feeling myself.
Mr.. Mangle received me with stony polite
ness.
young man." his manner said, "don't
waste time in appeals to sentiment; you won't,
if you'll just look at me-"
| took the hint and came at once to busi-
ness 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.
81 cannot be party to compounding a
felony" he answered, with a solemn intona-
ton.
"Nor have I asked you," replied, little
nettled 81 have merely mentioned plan of
paying back your own, leaving it to your own
generosity and good judgment to press or not
press the prosecution"
20, it's all the same," was the contempt
uous rejoinder ."anybody but lawyer, with
his head full of quibs and bubbles, could see
that. Besides, there's something rather cool
in the proposal to retain your friend in our
employ, under the pretence of working out
the money he has stolen, with the opportunity
Of filching twice as much money in the mean
time"
felt my temper rising and not caring to
imperl my clients interest by an outright
quarrel, took hasty leave.
Had been in the prisoners place on the
morning fixed for the trial, could not have
ascended the courthouse steps with more re.
luctance than l did. And when entered
the courthouse, and found Gilbert and wife
already there, and noted the hopeful look
with which the latter greeted my coming, my
heart sickened at the thought of the bitter
disappointment awaiting them.
"The People versus Gilbert!' called out
the judge, after disposing of some formal
matters.
A. jury was Immediately impanneled, and
the case opened by the district attorney.
Mr. Meek was the first witness The nerv-
Gus, hesitating manner in which he gave his
evidence would have greatly damaged its ef-
feet, had it not evidently arisen from dispo-
sition to do the prisoner as little hurt as pcssl-
BILE. But no softening could break the terri
BILE force of the facts he was compelled to re-
late.
In his partners absence he had employed
George Gilbert as a clerk; had found him
competent and trustworthy; had sent him on
trip to make collections on his return ne
had acknowledged that, after receiving con-
siderable sum, he was induced by respect.
able-looking gentleman, with whom he had
casually fallen in, to join a social game OF
cards. At first they played for amusement,
then for money; and after losing all his own,
in the hope of retrieving his loss, with the
fatal infatuation which attends the first iDfec'
ton of that dreadful vice whose end is swift
destruction, he had hazarded and lost the last
dollar of the money he held in trust for his
employers.
Mr.. Meek's voice faltered as he closed his
narrative. He was going to volunteer some
thing about the prisoners previous good char
acter when disappearing glance from Mr.
Mangle brought him to halt.
Just then the prisoner chanced to turn his
head, and, catching sight of the senior part
ner who had just entered and was standing
among the crowd, he started quickly, then ne
whispered hurriedly in my ear.
"Turn aside your face" | whispered back
The case for the prosecution being closed,
"Have you any witnesses for the defence Z
inquired the judge. :. :,
II will call Hezekiah Mangle," replied
A buzz of surprise greeted the announce
ment, in the midst of which Mr.. Mangle
stepped forward and was sworn.
"rou have been absent for the past year
Mr. Mangle p l began.
81 have"
t.Troro1;nr in diffarent narts ?"