The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-08-04
A QUEER STORY.
How an Attorney Settled y Very Compli
t~xl


A certain prosecuting attorney in tho in
terror of New York state, in relating stories
of his youth, told the writer the following:
The business of very busy week was over
and was sitting one Saturday night, en-
joying few moments relaxation, when an
old merchant insisted on seeing me. MIR.
spect outwardly from the community, but
I, who knew his inner life, Was aware that
he pursued course of dissipation and pro-
figacy ill" suited to his years and standing.
He was in state Of great excitement and
indignation, and was determined to get a
warrant for the arrest of his confidential
clerk, William Stonington, on charge of
embezz!ing $1,70O.
The young man had been in his employ
ment for years, and bore an unspotted
character. knew him we'll, and would
not credit the accusation. Therefore I re-
fused warrant until Monday, when
could examine into the matter.
MIR. Nesmith, late in ife, had married a
very pretty girl, and was thought to dote
upon her, while she delighted in being IAN
old mans darling" She was one Of those
guileless creatures who seem all innocence
and confidingness.
On Monday morning while I was awaiting
Nesmith, his wife was announced, and re-
quested conversation.
Like her husband she was extremely ag-
itated, but from different cause. After
much stammerino, blushing, and circumlo-
cution, l drew from her that abe wanted
warrent to arrest her husband for adultery.
l was thunderstruck. argued that Tiers
must be some mistake-that his devotion
to her was we'll known. She laughed IRON
ically, and confessed that her apparent
happiness was all mockery to deceive the
world; that in reality they lived a cat and
dog life; but for their children they would
long ago have separated, but that now for
bearance ceased to be virtue. She had,
she averred, the most convincing proofs Of
his in6delity.
When demanded what they were, she
replied that her physician would inform
me. tried to appease her, but in vain. All
! could do was to put her off till the follow
ing Monday.
She had scarcely left the Office when her
husband called about the clerks embezzle-
ment, as I supposed. He, too, wished to
consult me in the most confidential manner
not about the Stonington matter, but
about his wife! He had discovered that
she Was untrue to him! was even more
thunderstruck than ut the wife's charge,
and when inquired, as in her case, what
proofs he could adduce, he replied to the
same effect as she had. However, l man
aged to put him off until the ensuing Tues
day on that matter, and the next day on
that of the clerk.
The next morning back came Mrs. Ne
smith. told her it was before the ap-
pointed time, but she said she had another
matter to consult me about, and very I'M
portant. 1t WAS just after New Years and
her bill had been sent in by the principal
dry goods merchant of our city. On exam
lining the articles she found silk dress and
a shawl charged to her she had never got,
but she had seen them worn by Miss Par
meter, young wolLan who had been in
her house for couple Of years as COVER
ness and seametress: Evidently the wo-
man had obtained the goods under false
pretenses, and she wanted her arrest.
This was getting pretty thick. dismiss.
ed her for a few days, promising her faith
fully that the affair should be attended to,
and justice melted out to the guilty partv.
I sent for my shrewdest detective, and put
this complicated case In his hands.
He succeeded in asertaininR the where
abouts OF the missing clerk, and determined
without doubt that the silk dress and
shawl were, as charged by the wife, in pos
session OF the governess. When I got the
whole story 1sent for all the. parties con-
cerned, inviting them separately, and With
out the knowledge of the other TO come to
my Office at certain hour on certain day.
They came in one by one, looking aghast
and turning white as they discovered each
others presence.
When they were assembled I addressed
them individually, without explaining any,
thing or making any preliminary remarks.
l first addressed myself TO the old man,
saying:
MIR: Nesmith. you wanted a warrant
against this clerk for embezzlement?"
Yes, sir, he answered severely.
Young Stonington nearly jumped from
his chair with establishment and indiena-
ton.
Mrs. Nesmith you wanted a warrant
against your husband for infidelity2"
Yes, slr, she said, stoutly, @and III
N !!fSpdai. could only stamme< out:
''And you, sir, wanted warrant AGAINST
your wife for in6delity?"
"What!" she gasped. LOOKING "A II sbe
was going to faint.
"Yes. sir, and will have it," SAYS Mes.
NTH. Then I continued speaking to the
wife, pointing to the seamstress. Who. the
picture OF innocence, had, up to this, kept
looking from one to the other "A il to ask
now all this turpitude concerned her.
And you furthermore, Mrs. Nesmith,
wanted to arrest Miss Parn.enter for OBJ
tanning goods under false pretenses.
AS Mrs. Nesmith bowed assent, the seam
stress started from her seat pale with fright
ana amazement. did not spare them in
tne explanations made them of this quad
ripple imbroglio. First, showed that the
husband had been maintaining for some
time illicit relations with the pretty seam
stress; had presented her with the dress and
shawl, and by some fatal oversight had
omitted to caution the salesman not to nut
the items in his wifes bill. e
After the wife had expressed her triumph
at having been right as regarded her hus-
bands lA{ity Of conduct and basenesg of