Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-05-18

and sorroWs and privatiOns under bushel,
and paraded his blessings on the hill top
He was not the man to sprinkle with his
hysop, another mans veal pie. He would
keep the bitter herbs for his own dish, and
give others butter and honey from the honey
comb.
You now know something about Jacob and
his daughter fashion of people they
were, and can imagine how 1, the youngest
lawyer at that bar, felt as took my way to
the Jail to answer the summons for my pro-
fessional services.
When reached the jail had not fully de-
termined whether should respectfully and
firmly decline the weighty responsibility of
conducting the defence in so critical and i'm
portant a case, or whether should at once
accept it and go to work with all the energy
of my nature in preparing to defend the help
less woman. Rumor had made out a strong
case against her and if, on the trial, the
facts alleged could be substantiated, all the
subtlety and force of argument could bring
to bear could avail nothing An appeal to the
sympathes of the jury might in any ordinary
case, be attempted with some hope Of success !;
but the crime of the prisoner is so cold, calcu-
lating, atrocious and treacherous, that one
may appeal to the sympathies Of the human
heart in vain.
The facts of this case, SO far as rumor could
be relied on, were simply these: Laroche and
his wife had sat down to breakfast alone at an
unusually early hour, not even servant being
present. Laroche had risen from the table on
account of the restiveness of the horses that
were harnessed to the carriage and awaiting
him in front of the porch. The driver in a
moment or two succeeded in bringing them
under control, when Laroche returned and
hastily drank a cup of coffee that was served
at his plate. Almost Immediately he was
seized with violent pains, and exclaiming that
he was poisoned, was taken so violently i'll
that couple of physicians were summoned,
and he was borne to his chamber by the assis-
tance of the servants, where he lay in great
agony, delirious the greater portion of the
time, and expiring shortly before sunset. The
symptoms pointed clearly and Enthusiastically
to poisoning by the administration of arsenic.
1t was said that Mrs. Laroche, in her statement
to the physicians, admitted that during his
brief absence from the table she replaced the
cup of coffee at his plate, with her own. L
thought this a very unfortunate admission,
not precisely as showing criminal purpose,
but as calculated to excite suspicious of such
design, which no ingenuity could remove.
So far as motives were concerned, was not
aware that any was known to exist which
could be attributed to her for the commission.
of so fragrant crime. That Laroche had
been unfaithful to her, knew was the COM
mon report, but was not aware that the
fact of his infidelity had ever reached her.
If that could be shown it would at once es-
tablish sufficient motive for the commission
of the crime, and give much darker coloring
to the whole affair.
The poisoning had taken place on Wednes-
day. Mrs. Laroche had been committed to
prison the following Friday, and the following
Wednesday was the day on which I received
her note. Early the next week the trial must
take place. Thus it will be seen that but
short time was left me for preparing the case.
AS entered the Jail I called to the jailer
for the key to her cell and stood awaiting his
coming at the foot of the staircase
go on, sir, right up" cried out old Joe
Stacy, putting his head out of his room on the
rear of the hall "frst room to the right as
you git up, second story"
ssWhat not locked up in cell ?'' asked L.
''Bess you, no :" said old Joe, coming for
ward without his coat, q big burly individual,
with slippers on his feet, and girth OF waist
equal to that of full grown hippopotamus.
II haven't the heart to turn the key on sucha
critter as her. If they want her put in the
dungeon and the door locked, they'll have to
make somebody else jailer, for III never do it,"
''The charge against her is very grave one,
Mr.. Stacy"
"Well knows that, too," said the big, bluff
jailer, halting just in front of me with his
hands on his hips "If she'd been rich mans
daughter, there never would have been any
charge, and she wouldn't have been brought
here.''
Everybody believes her guilty, suppose"
"No, that they don't, " said Joe Stacy, squar-
ing himself up before me like man who in
tends to maintain his opinion poutrance; II
don't for one. You mark it, Mr.. Richards,
she never gave Laroche that pison. Such
woman as she wouldn't strike even a copper
head if it gave her death-wound. She is too
much lady to say an unhandsome thing,
much less to do one. And here's all you law
yers backing down and showing the white
feather, one after the other, when all the poor
thing wants is that they shall stand up in
Court and see that no unfair turn is taken
against her. Oh amt they all precious set
of sneaks when it comes to helping an innO-
cent child like her -
elias she applied to any one p
"Why don't you knou she has ?" said Joe
Stacy, Indignantly. They are all bought up
to assist the prosecution as they call it, La
roche's rich kin want her put out of the way
so they can come in for the property. Do you
think I'd let money keep me from helping a
friendless crtter like her in her troubles, and
be hired-yes sir, hired-to help tear her char
acter to pieces? No, sir; money wouldn't
count with me against friendless woman
that has her innocence written on her face. !"
eff it come to money, Stacy" said, 1 ''she
is as able to pay as those who are aiding in
the prosecution. LarOche's estate must be
worth half a million and it will all 80 to her. :"
eyes, so it would, but she's above all you
lawyers in her notions of right and wrong.
She wouldn't touch penny of that property
to give people chance to say she poisoned the
man for the sake of his money. Now you see
where the trouble is in getting some one to
defend her. They all left her to herself and
so she has come to you who have scarcely
beard on your chin. I don't mean any disre-
! ...Aa4 Al, D:a1,o.dn. hut ;t,n q nin ond a