The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-18


grpan struggled 10 his lips, and the moon.
6eags struggling through the window fell
full upon bis face and surprised two great
tears stealing down his pale cheeks: He
brushed away this evidence OF weakness
and sorrow, and when the morrow came
no one looking into his calm, serene eyes
would have guessed how hard was the bat
tie that had been fought and won in that
lonely chamber.
They were married, and the man reject
ed by the bride and supplauted by the
groom was the first to congratulate the
newly married pair A vacant house on
the farm was fttedup for their reception
and John Brisben's money paid for the
furnishing.
thereafter Jodie," he said, i've will di.
vide the profits OF the farm. l don't need
much, and you shall have the larger share"
Ten years passed away, and John Bris.
ben, an old man before his time, still
worked from dawn till dark that his
brother might play the gentleman and
keep in comfort the large family which the
years had drawn around him. lthad been
necessary TO mortgage the old homestead to
raise money 10 pay Joseph's gambling
debtP, for OF late years he had played
heavily and had invariably lost.
One day-it was in the summer Of 1871
"a forged check was presented at one Of
the shire towns by Joseph Brisben,
and the money for which 1t called was un
hesitatingly paid over 10 him. He was IN
der the influence Of liquor at the time and
deeply engaged in game Of cards for high
stakes, which was in progress. The check
was for $500, think. Before daylight
the next morning Joseph Brisben had lost
every dollar Of it. To drown his chagrin
he became beastly drunk, and while in this
condition an officer arrive and apprehend.
ed him for forgery and uttering forged
check. The prisoner was confined in jail,
and word of his disgrace was sent to John
Brisben. The latter read the message and
mist came over his eyes. He groaned
audibly, and but for strong effort oil the
will would have fallen to the floor, 80 weak
was he by the shock.
"She must not know it," he said to him.
sell, and he made instant preparation TO
visit his brother. When he reached the
Jail he was admitted to the jail OF the
wretched criminal. The brothers remained
together several hours. What passed dur.
ing the interview will never be known.
When John Brisben emerged from the Jail
he went straight 10 the magistrate who
had issnedth warrant for the apprehension
Of Joseph Brisben.
esquire" he said, in his slow, hesitating
way, you have made mistake"
"In what way Mr. Brisben ?" asked the
magistrate, who had high regard for his
visitor.
"You have caused the arrest OF an limo.
cent mar."
"But-" began the magistrate.
Issue an order for my brothers instant
release. lie is innocent OF the intent to do
wrong. lam the guilty man. forged
the name Of Charles Ellison to the check
which he uttered"
"You" cried the astounded magistrate;
you forger? Impossiblem
Nothing is impossible in these days."
said the white haired old man sternly. 81
alone am guilty. My brother is innocent"
So stoutly did he aver that he was the
torger, that the magistrate reluctantly is-
sued warrant for his arrest, and at the
same time wrote an order to the taller for
the release oil Joseph Brisben.
My constable will be in soon" said the
magistrate; but the old nero picked up
both papers.
81 will not trouble him." he said; 81
will execute both papers,"
And be did. Handing the jailer both
papers, he explained their meaning thus:
They have made mistake. 1t is l
who am to be your prisoner. My brother
is innocent"
Accordingly Joseph Brisben was released
and returned to the farm. John remained
at jail a prisoner. When the extraordin.
airy affair became known several prominent
citiz4ns offered to go on the accused mans
bond, but he would not accept their kind
offices. At the trial he pleaded guilty, and
was sentenced TO fifteen years imprison-
ment at hard labor in the penitentiary.
Joseph came to see him before he was re-
moved to Frankfort, but their interview was
private one.
Joseph Brisben remained at the farm,
but be wasa changed man. From the day
OF his release from Jail down 10 the time Of
his death, he was never known to touch
card, and a drop Of liquor never passed his
lips. Last April he died, and his conies
sion, duly sworn TO before justice OF the
peace, was made public after his burial.
In substance, it was this: That he was
guilty OF forgery, for which his heroic
brother was suffering long imprisonment
ut was my brothers wish, not mine"
reads the document. HE insisted that
he, who had no ties Of blood or marriage,
could better suffer the punishment and The
disgrace than who had dependent upon
me large family"
Noble John Brisben! otsuch stuff are
heroes made.