Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-03-18

brother nigh, play the gentleman ant
keep in comfort the large family whiei
years had drawn around him. l, ha'
been necessary to mortgage the Old home
stead 10 raise money 10 pay Joseph
gambling debts, fos Of late years he hac
played heavily and had Invariably lot.
One day-ii was the summer Of 1877
a forged check was presented At 'h'
banks by Joseph Brisbcn, and the money
for which il called was unhesiiaiinglj
paid over to him. lie was under the
influence Of liquor at the time and great
~ interested in a game Of cards for high
stake. which was in progress. The
check was for 81. 500. think. Before
daylight the mex, morning Joseph Br''-
ben had Jos, every dollar Of u. To
drown hi. chagrin he became bea',lJ
drunk. and while in this coalition an
flicer arrived and aPprehsnded him io'
forgery aud altering forged check
The pri.oner wAs confined 70 jail and the
word Of disgrace was sen, TO John Hrs
ben. The latter read the message. and
mis-, came over his eyes lie groaned
audibly. and bu, for a strong effort OF
the viii would have fallen TO the aoo'' 20
weakened was he by the shock.
"She must no, know H." he said 10
/ himself. and be made AZ instant p'epaf-
alton to visit Biz brother When he
reached the jail be was admitted TO The
/ cell q the wreiehsd criminal. The
brothers remained together iof several
hours wha, passed during ,he inter-
view will never BE- known. When lohn
Bh.ben emerged from the jail he wen'
.,rAish, % the magistrate who hal issued
tbs warren, fof the Apprehension Of Jo'
sePh Bdsben
square" he aid in his slos hssiia''
I ins way. "yoa have made mistake.
In wha, way. Mr. Brisb'n ?" asked
the magistrate. who had a bish regard
I for his visitor.
"You have caused the srrcs, q an in-
uocen, man
"But" began the magistrate.
Issue an order for my brother. IT.
s,an, release. Ne Is innocen, of the in-
ten, 10 do vrong. lam the guilty man.
/ I forged The name of Charles Ellersoa 70
the check which he uttered lie did not
kno~ ,hA, !, wa forgery"
"Yoa =" cr.ed the As,onished masi'-
ia,e you forger--imPos'ible p
Nothing !, impossible ia these dAys.
aid the whi,e.haircd Oh man siernly.
IL alone am guilty My brother Is
Innocent"
50 .iog,ly dl be aver that be ~a'
he iorgsr the magistrate reluctantly is'
sued warren, Cor BIS arrest. and al The
same time wrote an order 10 the lsilel
for the release of Joseph Bri'ben.
my constable will be in soon,
.aii the magis,ngc, ba, the oil her
picked up both papers.
IL will nO, trouble him" he said
II will execute both paPers.
And be did. Handing the jailer bo,i
papsr. be explained their meanin,
thus
They made a mistake. IL is | VII
am TO be yoar prisoner. My bFo'hei
!, innOoea,'
Accordingly Joseph Brisben was re-
leased aad returned 10 the farm Johr
remainsd in jail a prisoner. When 'h'
extraordinary affair became known. sew
erAl promine, citizens offered 10 70 OF
the accused mans boad. bat he woul,
no, aecsp, their kind offers. A. TIE ,ri
al be pleaded guilty and was sentences
70 ff,een years imPTisonmen, Al ha''
labor in The Peni,eni,ary. Joseph cam
20 see him before he was removed 4
Frankfort. bu, their interview was apri
vAie one.
Joseph Brisben remained on the farm
bu, be was a changed man. From ,h
day Of his release from jail down to ,h
time Of his death, he was never know
70 touch = card. aud drop Of liqao
never passed his lips. Las, April b
died. and his confession. duly sworn {
before a justice Of the peace. was mad
public after biz bariL.
In Substance il was this Tha, b
was guilty Of the forgery for which b
brother was suffering long imprison
ment.
81, was my brothers wish, no; mine,
reads the document. "lie insisted ,ha
he had no ties Of blood or marriage an
could better suffer the Panishmen, an
disgrace than |. who had dependAr
upon me q family"
Noble John Brisben OF such stu
are heroes made. -De,r0H Free Pres
HIS FIRST CAUCUS.
SPTrcH OT Hos. HANNIBAL HANLIN A