Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-05-30
Accidentally Innocent

! cracked ana smeared VIII bloou- ~ US
mos had spoken % hours, and had saved the
settlers their lands.
Accidentally Innocent.
No lawyer likes going into court with a
throuehlv bad case. vel how can he help 1t
| sometimes
should have more patience with the ques-
ton. .Do ven ever think it right to defend
| n man whom YOU believe TO be guilty
were it less frequently put by people who
| spend six DAYS of the week seeking TO get the
upper hand of their nelghbors, and the
seventh trying to circumvent their Maker.
/ To the honest inquirer, | commend the an
swer DR.. Johnson once gave to Boswell, ''Slr'
the lawyer is not the Judge.
Was II my place when George Gilberls
little care-woin wife came with tears glis-
| teniug in hu eyes, to besetch Inc to do what
| could for her imprisoned husband virtually
| to turn nv back and leave her tired, troubled
| heart to break or not as IT might. was
neither priest nor a Levite TO lind 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 Gaze Of embezllement, and the
penalty was term of years III the States
] prison.
est" pleaded the loyal little woman 'he
was tempted 10y crafty and designing man,
| lut instead of running away, AS others would
| have done he came back and confessed his
| fault, Offering TO let his whole salary 60 to-
ward making up the lost money till every
| cent was paid. Mr.. Meek, the junior part
ner, was willing to be merciiul, but Mr.. Man
| gle the head of the house, who had Just re-
| turned then after a years absence, insisted
| that the law should take its course.
81 gave her what poor consolation could,
| for lawyers, like doctors, must keep ter pa
| tients courage up at times.
.'ln the first place. I'll see Messrs. Man
| gle & Meek, | said. "llr. Mange may
| be brought TO hear reason, after all-it
| he can only lc made TO see his interest
in it.
The pale, despondemt face ch, cred up
| little. Nv words seemed to have inspired
sort of underlined hope that was lar from
feeling myself.
Mr.. Mangle received me with stony polite
| ness.
| ..Youue man," his manner said. don't
! waste tine ~ arrea.Is to continent : !ou
won't ii you'll only Just look at me.
| took the hint and came ut once to busl-
ness, repeated Gilbert's offer, and put 1t ms
strongly as possible that more WIS to be
| gained by leniency than harshness all of
which Mr. Mangle listened TO with CON
sciontious scowl
Il cannot be Il party 10 compounding
! felony" lie answered with Il solemn mtona-
/ ton.
Nor have asked you, | replied, not
| little nettled, Il have merely mentioned a
plan of paying back your own, leaving 1t to
your generosity TO press or not to press this
prosecution.
"Oh, its all the same, was the contemptu-
Gus reiOinder anybody but "A lawyer, with
his head full of quibs and qublets could see
| that Besides, there is something rather
| cool in the proposal to retain your friend III
our empty under pretence OF working out
/ the money he has stolen, with the opportu-
| nifty OF tilching twice as much IN the mean-
| time
felt my temper rising, and not caring to
imperil my clients interest 10y an outright
quarrel. took Il hasiy leave.
Had | been in the prisoners place on the
morning fixed for the trial, | could hardly
| have ascended the courthouse steps with
more reluctance than did. And when en-
tered the court room, and found Gilbert and
his wife already there, and noted the hopeful
look with which the latter greeted my COM
ing, my heart sickened at the thought OF the
bitter disappointment coming.
The People vs.. Gilbert" called GU; the
!
ters.
4 Jury was immediately impaneled and
| the case opened by the District Attorney.
Mr. Meek was the first witness. The ner-
| yous, hestating manner III which lie gave his
evidence would have greatly damaged It's ei-
feet had it not evidently arisen from dispo-
sition to do the prisoner as little hurt AS pos
sble. But 10 softening could brenk the ter
rible force Of facts he was compelled To re-
late.
la his partner = absence he had employed
George Gilbert rs +. clerk had found him
competent and trustworthy had sent him
on II trip to make collections after recciv-
ing a considerable sum, he was induced by
II respectable looking gentleman, with whom
he had casually fallen IN, to JOIN socml
game of cards ut first ;hcy played for
amusement then ior money, and after losing
all his own, in hope OF retrieving his loss,
with the fatal inittuation OF that dreadful
vice whose end Is swift destruction, he had
halardod and lost the last dollar OF money
he had IN trust for his employers.
Mr. Mccks voice flltercd as lie closed his
narrative. lie was to volunteer something
about the prisoners good character when q
disapproving Glance from Mr.. Mangle brought
him to halt
Just then the prisoner Glanced to turn hi'
head, and catching glimpse of the senio
partner who had Just entered and WIS stand
: me- among the crowd, hc STATED quickly
then whispered hurriedly Ia NY ear.
Turn aside your face | whispered back
, And the case for tine prosecution beIui
closed.
Have YOU any witness inr the defence !
inquired the Judge.
& Il will call Helekiah Mangle, replied.
4 buzz OF surprise greeted the announce
! ment, in the midst or which Mr.. Mangl
stepped forward and was sworn.
You have been absent Tor the past yea
; Mr. Manglet' began.
81 have.
, Travelling in diiieren, pats p,
= Yes, sir.
! The prisoner WAS employed 10y yonr put
% ner IN your absence, and was arrested ahou
II the tlme of your return
" such was the case.
Have YOU ever seen him
Not 10 my knowledge.
or met hun IN your travels
III he will turn has head this way ca
tell better
At my bidding Gilbert turned and face
s. the witness.
> The cncct was electrical. Mr. Mnuglc turr
p, cd red aud pale 10y turns.
= One other question, Mr. Mangle. | n
' suned. DO You recognize IN the prison,
a Young man from WuhlHN bU won lhuu'tl
dollars at poker while on your travels
m nnd named the time and place at whIc
the prisoner had met with the misfortune.
o. Tie man Of iron n.rye hesithted wor
DE- than his more amn,blo partner bad don
ID lie was halting between a point blank Ii
which might entail the penalties Of perlur
Z and the truth. which would cost IN
40 money.
u Cowardice performed the Office Of co
lk science, and the truth came out. the firm
money. which George Gilbert had lost, hp
r been won 10y the senior partner and Il
Court instructed the jury that, as the sum
~ question had actually been delivered to ul
! OF the iuint owners. who was bound to II
n count to his ussocidc, the prisoner could II
~ be convictcd.
ht God bless you Mr.. Parker Gllcro1 Il
happy little wife. II knew you would hul
"- us out all right
r5 1t was evident the truthful woman's natn
We gave me nll the credit Of II result IN who
achievement my share had been next TO not
10