The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-11-21

- ~" Hu"iiCi1 tOOh
y hasty leave.
Had been in the prisoner
place on the morning fixed for tn,
trial l could not have ascended tn,
courthouse steps with more reluct
ance than l did. And when | en-
tered the courthouse, and fount
Gilbert and his wife already there
aud noted the hopeful look Will
, which the latter greeted my com
ing, my heart sickeped at tn,
thought of the bitter disappoint
ment awaiting them.
"The People versus Gilbert Y
called out the Judge, after dispo
sing of some formal matters.
A jury was Immediately impan.
neled, and the case opened by the
district attorney.
Mr.. Meek was the first witness.
The nervous, hesitating manner in
which he gave his evidence would
have greatly damaged its effect ad
it not evidently arisen from dis
position to do the prisoner IN little
hurt as possible. But no softening
could break the terrible force of
the facts he was compelled torelate.
In his partners absence he had
employed George Gilbert as clerk !;
had found him competent and
trustworthy; had sent him on a
trip to make collections; on his re-
turn be had acknowledged that,
after receiving considerable sum,
he was induced by a respectable
locking gentleman, with whom he
had casually fallen in, to join in IA
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 infection 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 EN-.
ployers.
Mr.. Meek's voice faltered as he
closed his narrative. He was go
ing to volunteer something about
the prisoners previous good char
acter, when disappearing glance
from Mr.. Mangle brought him to a
halt.
Just then the prisoner Glanced |
to turn his head, and, catching
sight of the senior partner, who
had just entered and was standing
among the crowd, he started quick
ly, then he whispered hurried in
my ear.
"Turn aside yonr tace," | whiS-
pered back. And the case for the
prosecution being closed. " "Have
you any witnesses for the defense 7"
the judge.
81 will call Hezekiah Mangle,n
replied.
A buzz of surprise greeted the
in the midst of
which Mr.. Mangle stepped forward
md was sworn.
"You have been absent for the
,ast year, Mr.. ManglcW | began.
81 have"
Travelling in different parts?"
eyes, sir"
"The prisoner was employed by
our partner in your absence, and
vas arrested about the time of
our return ~
"Such was the case"
Have you ever seen him ?"
"Not to my knowledge"
"Or met him in yOur travels |" ,,
"If he will turn his face this +,
way | can tell better"
At my bidding Gilbert turned
nd faced the witness.
The effect was electrical. Mr..
iangle turned pale aud red by -,
urns.
"One other question, Mr.. Mangle. y
20 you recognize in the defendant :,
young man from whom you won :
thousand dollars at poker while i
N your travels 7" and | named the =
ime aud place at which the prison {
r had met his misfortune. ;,
The man of iron virtue hesitated :
1orse than his amiable partner had .
one. He was halting between f
'oint blank lie, which might entail T +
he penalties of perjury, and the =
ruth, (which would cost him money. !,
Cowardice performed the Office +,
f conscience aud the truth came y
ut. The firms money, which Geo. i
Hilbert had lost, had been won by ;,
he senior partner; and the cOurt u
lstructed the jury that inasmuch y
S the sum in question had actually =
cen delivered to one of the joint y
wners, who was bound to make :
ccount to his associate, the pris- T
ner could not be convicted. I
"God bless you, Mr.. Parker" n
Uttered the happy little wife. 81 =
new you would bring us out all
ght.o