The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-05
ALAWYER'S STORY.

a thoroughly bad case; yet how can hi
help it sOmetimes9 i should have more
patience with the question, "Dt
you ever think it right to defend man
whom you believe to be guiltyp were il
less frequently asked by people who
spend six days of the week in trying to
get the upper hand of their neighbors
and the seventh to circumvent their
Maker. To the honest inquirer, I COM
mend the answer DIR. johnson once gave
to Roswell: "Sir, the lawyer is not the
Judge"
Was it in my place when George Gil
bert's little sorrow-worn wife with tears
glistening in her eyes, besought me to do
what | could for her imprisoned hus-
band, virtuonsly to turn my back and
leave her tired, struggling heart to break
or not, as it might? | was neither
priest nor a Levite to find a ready ex-
cuse for passing by on the other side.
Yet what could do? George Gilbert
had been sent on collecting tour, and
had gambled away money received for his
employers. 1t was plain case of embez-
Element, and the penalty was term OF
years in the State prison.
"Tm sure he never meant to be dis
honest" pleaded the loyal little woman,
"he was tempted by crafty and design
ing 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 inclined
to be merciful; but Mr.. Mangle, the head
of the house, who returned Just then,
after a years absence, insisted that the
law should take its course"
gave her what poor consolation |
could, for lawyers, like doctors, must
keep their patients courage up at times.
"In the first place, I'll see Mangle and
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 and despondent face cheered
up little. My words seemed to have
inspired sort of underlined hope, which
l was far from feeling myself.
Mr.. Mangle received me with stony po-
liteness.
young man." his manner said, "don't
waste time in appeals to sentiment; you
won't if you just look at me-"
took the hint, and came at once to
business; repeated Gilbert's offer, and
put it as strongly as possible that more
wa, to be gained by leniency than harsh
ness, all of which Mr.. Mangle listened to
with conscientious scowl.
81 can not be a party to compounding
a felony" he answered, with solemn
intonation.
"Nor have I asked you," replied a
little nettled. 1have merely mentioned
plan of paying back your own, leaving
it to your own generosity and good judg-
ment'to press or not to press the prosecu-
tion."
ooh, it's all the same," was the con-
temptuous rejoind.r; anybody but a
lawyer, with head full of quips and
auibbles, could see that. Besides, there's
something rather cool in the proposal to
retain your friend in our employ, under
pretense of working out the money he
has stolen, with the opportunity of filch-
ing twice as much money in the mean
time"
! tclt my temper rising, and not car
ing to imperil my clients interest by an
outright quarrel, | took hasty leave.
Had been in the prisoners place on
the morning fixed for trial l could not
have assembled the courthouse step with
more reluctance than did. And when
l entered the courthouse and found Gil
bert and his wife already there, and noted
the hopeful look with which the latter
greeted my coming, my heart sickene1
at the thought OF the bitter dissappoint-
ment awaiting them.
"Ihe People vs.. Gilbert!" called the
Judge after disposing of some formal
matters.
The jury was Immediately impaneled
and the case formally opened by the dis
trict attorney.
Mr.. Meek was the first witness. The
nervous, hesitating manner in which he
gave his evidence would have greatly
damaged its effect, had it not evidently
arisen from disposition to do the pris
oner as little hurt as possible. But nc
softening would break the terrible force
of the facts he was compelled to relate.
In his partners absence he had EN-
ployed George Gilbert as clerk; had
found him competent and trustworthy
had sent him on trip to make collec
tions; OIL his return he acknowledged
that, after receiving considerable sum
he was induced, by respectable looking
gentleman, with whom he had casually
fallen in, to join social game OF cards
At first they played for amusement, thel
for money, and, after losing all his, il
the hope Of retrieving his loss, with the
fatal infatuation which attends the frs
infection Of that dreadful vice whose enc
is swift destruction, he had hazarded ant
lost the last dollar OF the money he held
in trust for his employers.
Mr.. Meek's voice faltered as he closee
his narrative He was going to voluntee
something about the prisoner spreviou'
good character, when a disapprovinI
glance from Mr.. Mangle brought him K
a halt.