The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-12-12
Selert Story.
THE MISSING WITNESS.

reading it over for the third or fourth
time and leaned back in my chair TO re-
consider 1t for about the twentieth. "a
had case. and am sorry for it."
l was barrister, young both in years
and in professional standing, and this
was the first brief of any importance |
had ever held My client was an Italian
sailor named Luigi Bernini, and the
crime of which he was accused was rob-
berry; the plunder being lifelong saw
ings of q woman upwards OF eighty
years of age, which the poor creature
kept hidden in the thatch of her little
cabin
The witnesses we're the old woman
herself, who had been stunned by Sc
we're blow from the perpetrator of the
theft, and neighbor who deposed TO
hsTing met the prisoner in the immedi-
ate vicinity OF the cabin. When Bernini
was arrested some days later, curious
foreign coin, identified az part of the
stolen hoard. was found in his pocket
This, however. he accounted for by say
ing that he had picked it up on the road
The weak point in the chain of evidence
was scarcely perceptibe hesitation on
the part of one of the witnesses. She
had at first declared positively that the
prisoner was the man whom she had
seen going toward old Joan's cabin,
and had afterward adhered TO this state
ment, with what appeared to be dogged
obstinacy rather than real conviction.
The prisoner him self positively denied
having been in the neighborhood at all
on the day of the robbery, but unfortu-
nately he could not speak with certainty
as to his whereabouts. He had lately
been dismissed from the hospital, scarce
ly convalsscent, after a bad fever; his
own ship had lefttbe port, and he had
been rejected by The captains to whom
be had offered his services, as not being
sufficiently robust TO do sailors work.
He had little money left. and therefore
took to wandering aimlessly about the
country intending, as soon as the Co.
lumbia returned, to ship aboard of her
again. His mind had been weakened
and confused by his illness, sand although
he koew that for several days preceding
and following that of the robbery, be
had been in part of the country fully
twenty miles distant, he could not possi
bly, say where be had been, or to whom
be had spoken on The day in question
Many inquiries had been made, and
many persons interviewed, who remem-
bered "the poor foreign chap" but nc
accurate information IS to dates was
rihcoming. As the testimony OF 6
person who had extended her hospitality
10 him, either of Tuesday or Thurs.
day." she couldn't rightly say which
would not, unfortunately, carry much
weight in court of justice, 1 had to
trust for defense to the cross.examiEa
ton of the witnesses, whose cbaractefs
Tor veracity hoped, by judicious nan-
agement of the usual forensic weapons,
to compel them to annihilate with theil
own lips much regretted this wan
of evidence, as | was strongly prepos
sessed in favor of the prisoner; some
thing frank and honest in his face max
ing it difficult for me to believe him
guilty OF the cowardly crime of which
he was accused. Besides, it was as
have said my first important case, auC
self-interest and professional instinct
alike prompted me to desire its success
ful issue. But of this had little hope
! laid aside my briei at length anf
went up to the drawing room, where
was greeted by my cousin and hostess
with a somewhat peiulant rerroof fo
having fingered SO long over those musty
law papers.
Alice and had been children togethe
"a big girl and little boy-we hac
grown from plsyiellows into friends, ant
since her marriage Carrigarvan had heel
my restirg-place in assize times. wa
at DO loss to understand the cause o
her vexaiiOn at my tardy appearance
She was somewhat a maich-mslser, an'
having no one but myself on whom t
exercise her talents, she had devotet
them exclusively to my service. She ha'
already decided upon a suitable wife 70
me, and was now exeIting herself to tn
utmost to hiring about the marriage. Th
chosen young lady was present, and
knew that Alice was much annoyed wit
me for devotiDg the evening to my brie
instead OF to Dora Lyme. The latte
was the daughter of q solicitor in goo
practice, and vas herself very pretty