The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-12-01

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. It
had been necessary to mortgage the old
homestead to raise money to pay Joseph s
gambling debts, for of late years he had
played heavily, and had invariably lost.
One day-it was the summer of 1877
forged check was presented at one of
the banks of the shire town, by Joseph
Brisben, and the money for which it
called was unhesitatingly paid over to
him. He was under the influence of
liquor at the time, and deeply interested
in game Of cards for high stakes, which
was in progress. The check was for
S2500, I 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 appre-
hended him for forgery and uttering a
forged check. The prisoner was confined
in Jail, and word of his disgrace was sent
to John Brisben.
"She must not know it," he said to
himself, and he made instant preparation
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 during the interview will
never be known. When John Brisben
emerged from the Jail he went straight to
the magistrate who had issued the war
rant for the apprehension of Joseph
Brisben.
Squire" said he, in his slow, hesitat
ing way, syou have made mistake
I'm what way, Mr.. Brisben?" asked
the magistrate, who had high regard
for his visitor.
"You have caused the arrest of an in
nocent man."
"BHt"-began the magistrate.
tissue an order for my brothers in
slant release. He is innocent of the in
tent to do wrong. ] am the guilty man.
forged the name of Charles Ellison to
the check which he uttered. He did not
know that it was forgery"
"You p cried the astonished magis-
trate. "You aforger-impossibler
Nothing is impossible IN these days" !"
said the white haired old man, sternly.
Il alone am guilty. Ny brother is inno-
cent
Accordingly Joseph Brisben was le-
leased and returned to the farm. John
remained at the Jail prisoner When
the extraordinary affair became known,
several prominent citizens offered to go
on the accused mans bond, but he
would not accept their kind offices. At
the trial he pleaded guilty, and was sem
fenced 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 a
private one.
Joseph Brisben remained on the farm.
but he was changed man. From the
day of his release from jai. 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 confession, duly sworn to before
justice of the peace, was made public
after his burial In substance it was
this: That he was guilty of the forgery
| for which his brother was suffering a
long imprisonment.
1t was my brothers wish, not mine, .
| reads the document. 'sHe insisted that
| he, who had 10 ties OF blood or marriage,
could better suffer the punishment aud
| disgrace than I, who had dependent upon
me large family
Noble John Brisben OF such stuff
are heroes made.