Connecticut western news., 1880-07-28

l dire need, but the question, "Have you been 8 prisoner ?" made brief work of his case. s. -....-..
 While all these things were going on, Edward Mills had been quietly making head against diversity. He was still poor, but was in receipt of steady and sufficient salary, as the respected and trusted cashier of bank. George Ben ton never came near him, and was never heard to inquire about him. George got to indulging in long absences from the town; there were i'll reports about him, but nothing definite.
 One winters night some masked burg lars forced their way into the bank, and found Edward Mills there alone. They commanded him to reveal the "combi- nation," so that they could get into the safe. He refused. They threatened his life. He said his employers trusted him, and he could not be traitor to that trust. He could die, if he must, but while he lived he would be faithful; he would not yield up the combination. The burglars killed him.
 The detectives hunted down the crimi- nals; the chief one proved to be George Benton. A wide sympathy was felt for the widow and orphans of the dead man, begged that all the banks in the land would testify their appreciation of the fidelity and heroism of the murdered cashier by coming forward with gen. erous contribution of money in aid of his family, now bereft of support. The re- suit was mass of solid cash amounting to upward of five hundred dollars-an average of nearl y three-eights of 8 cent for each bank in the Union. The cash iers own bank testified its gratitude by endeavoring to show (but humiliatingly failed in it) that the peerless servants accounts were not square, and that he himself had knocked his brains out with bludgeon to escape detection and pun ishment 1-
 George Benton was arraigned for trial. Then everybody seemed to forget the widow and orphans in their solcitude for poor George. Everything that money and influence could do, was done to save him, but it all failed; he was sentenced to death. Straightway the Governor was besieged,with petitions for communication or pardon; they were brought by fearful young girls: by sor- rowing old maids; by deputations of pathetic widows; by shoals of impressive orphans. But no, the Governor-for once-would not yield.
 Now George Benton experienced re- igion. The glad news flew all around. From that time forth his cell was always full of girls and women and fresh flowers; all the day long there was prayer, and hymn singing, and thanks givings, and homilies, and tears,. with nevt |. an interruption, except an occa- sional fve-minute intermission for re- treatments. .
 This sort of thing continued up to the very gallows, and George Benton went proudly home, in the black cap, before wailing audience of the sweetest and best that the region could produce. His grave had fresh flowers on it every day, for while, and the headstone bore these words, under hand pointing aloft: "He has fought the good fight" ..-.-...
 The brave cashiers headstone has this inscription: "Be pure, honest, sober, industrious, considerate and you will never"
 Nobody knows who gave the order to leave it in that way, but it was so given.
 The cashiers family are in stringent circumstances now, it is said; but no matter; an appreciative people, whowere not willing that an act so brave and true as his should go unrewarded, have collected forty-two thousand dollars and built Memorial Church with it. MARX TWAIN.