The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-03-25

his dad wur gentleman, he was, and .ef
thurs angels, his wife's one oy EN-, and
they're no kin ter me. Put it down so
10 your Verdic', do you hear and send
me up ez long ez yer like, only put it
down SO in your yerdic'. He amt no
brother to the. tramp" ,s,*s
While the prisoner spoke the jury were
standing, as they bad been almost from
the frst of Judge Ihrie's unexpected ad-
dress, and there was not a dry eye among
them.
When the prisoner sat down and turn
ed his face away from, the judge and his
wife the jarymen put their heads togeth'I
er. After brief consultation the fore
man asked: "May we fiod verdict of
petit larceny2"
"One moment, gentlemen" responded
the Judge; "the prisoner NAV deny me;
it is like my poor unfortunate brother; ;
hut can not deny him, nor can al. in
Judgment on him. have read that fa-
theirs have sat In Judgment on their sons,
and that the world has applauded. am
not made OF such stuff. And l remem-
ber but for his generosity he might be
where am. aud I unfortunately where
be is. shall appoint the senior mem
ber OF the bar, Mr.. Karkison, to preside
during the remainder of the term, and
you will take. your Instructions from
him."
After entering the appointment OF
Karkison in the docket, Judge 1hrie, ac-
|companied by his wife, approached the
prisoner and took seats near him, but the
tramp never looked at them.
When Karkison took the bench the
foreman again asked if they could find
the prisoner guilty of petit larceny9 Il
"Certainly," responded Xarkison, "if
you believe the value OF the money and
coat to be under $685."
care we bound by the evidence on
that point2' questioned one of the jury.
"No. Not unless you believe it,"
Karkison replied.
Again the heads OF the jury were to-
gether, and after brief whispering the
foreman stood up.
I'VE have agreed. your honor"
"You will deliver your verdict to the
clerk in writlng."
The clerk passed sheet OF legal cap
TO the foreman, who wrote upon and re-
turned it.
The clerk read: "We, the jury, fnd
the defendant guilty Of petit larceny AMI
assess bis punishment at one hour in the
county Jail. JABEz DEXTER Foreman"
The bar and bystanders cheered. The
voice of Farmer Samuel Walters, whose
coat it was that had been stolen. was the
loudest of them all. and while Karkison
was directing the sheriff to preserve or
der Walters pushed his way through the
crowd who were shaking. hands with
Judge Ihrie and said to him:
"Judge, Tn right sorry I said any
thing about it. indeed l am"
"You did no more than your duty,
my friend, but could not do mine "
"Yes you did, jidge," Walters prompt.
ly responded. Yes you did, and we all
honor you for it, and il l bad only
known he was your brother and how it
all was he might have took my farm, and
| would never have said word"
Everybody, including the jury, shook
hands with Judge Ihrie and his wife
the judge whispered to the sheriff; the
sheriff approached the prisoner and di-
rec.ed hin to follow. Hinkley stood
up. He gave one hurried glance in the
direction OF the judge aud his wife, as if
10 Ak them in his memory forever.
"He amt my brother, the jedge hain't,
remember that all of you! S'help me,
he hain't, and don't go to put that agin
himw
Judge Ihrie's wife extended her hand
to him as he passed her, but "Bill" only
bent down, lifted the fringe of her shawl
and placed it against his bloated lips.-
To the sheriff, as he follow him to the
Jail, he said: M
81 hain't Ct to touch the likes ov her,
and she hain't hawthin' to me. You tell
that to all ov 'em 1t don't GO for TO
stand to reason, s'help mel
The prisoner was led away Soon af-
ter Judge Ihrie was with him. Hours
passed before he came out and went
away to his home. To his intimate
friends the Judge said. 'sYes, the poor
fellow is my brother. There is no doubt
of that A multitude of "reminiscences
known only to both OF US confirms it,
though he denies it even to me in pri-
vate. There can be no mistake about
it,"
To the sheriff and every one else Bill
was firm and unwavering in declaring
sits all fam. 1t don't 60 for to stand
to reason"
Tne next day "BilI' shaved, and with
cut hair, clad In a new suit of clothes,
and wonderfully improved hy the change,
drove away with the sheriff. Some days
after it became known that he was es-
tablished on small farm belonging to
Judge Ihrie, a few miles from the coun-
ty seat.
At the end ofthe term Judge Ihrie re-
signed. To all protest against such ac-
ton he replied: "The people who elect
ed me did not know" A special elec-
ton was held the members Of the bar
OF all parties united in urging Ihrie's re-
election. No candidate appeared against
him, and be received the unanimous vote
of his district. Four years later he was
elected to congress. The mass OF the
people are Just and generous, and care
more for what a man is than for what he
sprung from, and Judge Ihrie never had
so many or so devoted friends as he had
after the courtroom episode.
"Bilp' ceased to be tramp. The
farm on which he was placed was eccu-
pied by hired man. Here "Bill' could
come and 60 at pleasure Occasionally
he did light work, but more frequently
he lay idly under the trees. Ihrie and
his wife visited him frequently, and 'Bill'
worshiped the ground the good woman
walked on, though he never wavered in
his denial of being brother to the judge.
From the farm the Ihries' home was six
miles. The. farm occupant. whose duty
it was to keep watch over "Bill's'' move
ments, reported to the Judge that he
would frequently leave the farm at dusk
and not return until daylight.
"Bill," on being questioned, sai,t ht
was on tramp.
"Learn where be goes" was th,
Judges instruction to the farmer. Bill