The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-11-01
Accidentally Innocent.

No lawyer likes going Into court
with thoroughly bad case--yet
how csn lie help IL sometimes?
| should have more patience with
the question, "do you think il right
10 defend man whom you believe TO
be gulltyl" were IL less frequently
put by men who spend six days OF
the week, schening to get the upper
hand OF their neighbors, and the sew
enth trying TO circuinyent their ma
kcr To the honest inquirer, | com.
mand the answer DR.. johnson once
gave TO Boswell, "Sir, the lawyer is
not the judge"
Was IL my place, when Geo. Gill
bert's little sorrow worn wife, with
tears In her eyes, came TO besoech me
TO do whatl could for her inprIs.
oued husband, yirluously 10 turn my
back. aud leave her poor tired strug.
Cling heart TO break or not as IL
mightl | was not a prince or Le-
vito TO find ready excuse for passing
by on the other side. Yet what could
l do? Geo. Gilbert had been sent
on collecting tour, aud had gam
died away money received Tor his
employers. 1t was plain case Of
.embezzlement aud the penalty was
term OF years In the stale prison.
lam sure he never meant to be
dishonest, pleaded the little wemau /;
he was tempted by crafty aud de-
signing man, but instead Of running
away, as others have done, he came
back and confessed his fault, Offering
to let his salary go toward making
up the lost money till every cent
should be paid. Mr.. Meek, the jun
ior partner, was willing to be nerci-
ful, but Mr.. Mangle, the head OF the
house, who had just returned then
after a years absence insisted that
the law should take iis course.
gave her what poor consolation l
could, utlawyers, like doctors, must
keep their patients courage up at
times.
In the FIRST place will see Manglc
| y Meek, | said, Mr.. Manglo may be
brought to hear reason, after all--if
he can only be made to see his inter-
est in II.
The pale, respondent face cheered
up little. My words seemed to have
inspired sort OF underlined hope
which | was far from feeling myself.
Mr.. Mangle received mo with sto-
ny politencss.
Young man, his manner said, don't
waste time in appeals to sentiment ;
you won't If you'll just look at me.
took the hint and came at once 10
business, and put 1t as strong MS pos
sible that more was 10 be gained by
leniency than harshness-all of which
Mr.. Manele listened to with a cou-
scienlious scowl.
] cannot be party to compound
4 ing a felony he answered with SOL
emn intonation.
! Nor have l asked you, replied
not little nettled. / haye merely
mentioned plan of paying back
your own money, leaving 1t to your
generosity 10 press or not TO press
the prosecution.
| Oh, it's all the same, was the con-
temptuous rejoinder-any but law
yer with his head full of quibs ano
| quibblo could see that. Besides
there's something rather cool in tht
proposal to'retain your friend in oul
employ, under preteuse OF working
out the money he has stolen with the
opportunity OF filching twice as much
money in the meantime.
| felt my temper rising and no
caring 10 imperil my clients Interest,"
by an outright quarrel, l took hasty
leave.
4 Had been in the prisoners plac
ON the morning fixed for trial,
could have hardly assembled the cour
house steps with more reluctanc
than did. And when entered tn
court room and found Gilbert an
his wife already there, and noted tn
/ hopeful,look with which the latte
Z I noted my coming, my heart sickene
4 at the thought Of the bitter disaI
pointment coming.
The people versus Gilbert! calle
out the judge, after disposing 9
4 some formal matters.
Q A Jury was Immediately impai
neled and the case opened by th
= district attorney.
1 Mr.. Meek was the first witnes
The nervous hesitating manner
,yhfoh ha oovo he ouf.1n,oo. ..,o,.,