The Dawson journal., 1883-10-18

to pay Jodie's gambling debts, 70
of late years he had played heavi
ly, and had invariably lost.
One day-It was in the summe
OF l877-a forged check was pre-
sented at one Of the banks at th,
shire town, by Joseph Brisben
and the money for which. it called
was unhesitatingly paid over t
HIM. He was under the inhuene,
Of liquor at the time, and deepl,
interested ina game of cards fol
high stakes, which was in pro
gress. The check was for $2,50C
l 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 arrived and apprehended
hlm for forgery and uttering a
forged check. The prisoner was
confined in jail, and word of his
disgrace was sent John Brisben.
The latter read the message, and a
mist came over his eyes. He
groaned audibly, and but for a
strong effort of the will he would
have fallen to the floor, so weak
ened was he by the shock.
"She must not know it." he
said to himself, and he made in
slant preparations to visit his
brother. When he reached the
jail he was admitted to the cell of
the wretched criminal. The
brothers remained together for
several hours. What passed dur
ing the interview will never be
known. When John Brisben
emerged from the Jail he went
straight to the magistrate who had
issued the warrant for the appre-
hension Of Joseph Brisben.
Squire" he said, in his slow
hesltating way; "you have made a
I'm what way, Mr.. Brisben?"
asked the magistrate, who had a
high regard for his visitor.
You have caused the arrest of
an innocent man"
"BQt'- began the magistrate.
Issue an order for my brothers
instant release. He is innocent of
the intent to do wrong. L am the
guilty man. l forged the name OF
Charles Ellison to the check he
uttered. He did not know that it
was a forgery"
"You!" cried the astounded mag
istrate. You forger-impossi-
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 forger that the magistrate
issued a warrant for his arrest,
and at the same time he wrote an
order to the jailor for the release
Of Joseph Brishen,
"My constable viii be in soon,"
said the magistrate, but the old
hero picked up both of the pa
pers.
81 will not trouble him." be
said; q viii execute both papers"
And he did. Handing the Jail
or both papers, he explained their
meaning thus:
'Ihey have made a mistake. It
is | who am to be your prisoner.
My brother is innocent"
Accordingly Joseph Brisben
was released and returned to the
farm. john remained at the jail
a prisoner. When the extraordi-
nary affair became known several
prominent citizens offered to 90
on the accused mans bond, but he
would not accept their kind offers.
At the trial he pleaded guilty and
was sentenced to fifteen years i'm
prisonment at hard labor in the
penitentiary. Joseph came to see
him before he was removed to
Frankfort, but their interview was
a private one.
Joseph Brisben remained at the
farm, but was changed man
From the day he was released
from jail down TO the time of his
death, he was never known to
touch a card, and drop of Ii
quor never passed his lips. Last
April he died, and his confession,
duly sworn to before a justice of
the peace, was made public after
the burial. In substance it was
this: That he was guilty of the
forgery for which his heroic
brother was suffering a long i'm
prisonment.
at was my brothers wish, not
mine," reads the document. Gle
insisted that he had no ties of
blood or marriage, could better
suffer the punishment and the dis
grace than | who had dependent
upon me large family"
Noble John Brisbenl OF such
stuff are heroes made.
Funeral music should always be
re-hearsed.
Goes without saying the deaf
and dumb alphabet.