The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-08-22

hCAb uOIulAS JOscpu DIlSUeu udu
lost every cent of it. To drown his
chagrin he became beastly drunk,
and while in this condition an officer
arrived and apprehended 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 of the will would
have fallen to the floor, SO weakened
was he by the shock.
"She must not know it." he said
to himself, and he made instant
preparations to visit his brother.
When he reached the Jail he was ad-
mitted to the cell of the. wretched
criminal. The brothers remained
together for several hours. What
passed during the interview will
never be known. When John Bris-
ben emerged from the Jail he went
straight to the magistrate who had
issued the warrant for the apprehen-
sion of Joseph Brisben.
Squire" he said, in his slow, hes
itating way. "You have made a mis-
take"
"In what way, Mr.. Brisben ?" ask
ed the magistrate, who had high
regard for his visitor.
"You have caused the arrest of an
innocent man."
"But"-began the magistrate.
tissue an order for my brothers
instant release. He is innocent of
the intent to do wrong. / am the
guilty man. l forged the name of
Charles Ellison to the check which
he uttered. He did not know that
it was forgery"
"You!" cried the astounded mag
istrate. "You a forger-impossi-
ble."
Nothing is impossible in these
days." said the white haired old man
sternly. II alone am guilty. My
brother is innocent"
So stoutly did he aver that he was
the forger that the magistrate reluc-
tantly issued warrant for his arrest
and at The same time wrote an Or
der for the release of Joseph Brisben.
"My constable will be in soon,"
said the magistrate, but the old hero
picked up both the papers.
II win not trouble him." he said,
II will execute both papers"
And he did. Handing the jailer
both papers, he explained their
meaning thus:
"They have made mistake. 1t is
l who am your prisoner. My broth
er is innocent"
Accordingly Joseph Brisben was
released and returned to the farm.
John remained at the Jail a prisoner.
When the extraordinary affair be-
came known, several prominent men
offered to go on the accused mans
bond, but he would not accept their
kind offers. At the trial he plead
guilty, and was sentenced to fifteen
years imprisonment at hard labor
in the penitentiary. Joseph came to
see him before he was removed to
Frankfort, but their interview was
strictly a private one.
Joseph Brisben remained at the
farm, but he was a changed man.
From the day of his release from
Jail down to the time of his death he
was never known to touch card,
and drop of liquor never passed
his lips
Last April he died, and his con-
fession duly sworn to before a jus
lice of the peace, was made public
after his burial. In substance it was
this:
That he was guilty OF the forgery
for which his heroic brother was sui,
fering a long imprisonment
at was my brothers wish, not
lnine," reads the document. HE |
insisted that he who had no ties of
blood or marriage could better suf-
fer the punishment and disgrace
than who had dependent upon me
a large family"
Noble John Brisbenl OF such |
stuff are heroes made.