The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-21
STRANGE SCENE IN COURT.
TExchanre.l

ability and eminence, and a jury whose intelligence-but yoa shall hear. h the preceding spring-May, think was the | aoath-theTe had been a bad case of burglary at farmhouse in LaRcan shire. Three men had tied down and gagged | the farmer and his two maid servants, and had plundered the house at their leisure. The police were informed ofthe matter, and pretty accurate descriptions were given of the men. There were two other clues. In the struggle one of the men lost 8 button from his coat, which burton he had left behind. Also the same man was so severely scratched on the tace by one of the maids that the girl said she was sure she had Jeff her mark upon him
 Weeks passed by without any arrests being made, and people began to forget the burglary. until one day man was taken up at Cardiff on suspicion of being concerned in a quite different matter. i He had with him a bundle containing some of the plunder. More of the plum der was found at his lodgings. His face bore traces Of scratches, and, to make things worse, his coat wanted patton. and the buttons on it corresponded ex- actly with the one picked up at the scene of the burglary. His defence was very tiimsy. He had nothing to do or knew anything about the burglary, hu, had bous sht the coat and things very cheap of a man in the street." ''Did he know the man2' "No; never saw him before or since" "How about the scratches r We'll, he was a sailor, and too much ac- customed to big hurts to take any notice of scratches" Of course he was commit ted for trial, and the trial, as was men, toned before, was at Liverpool. It ex- cited a srsa; deal oE interest and the court was crowded-an invalid staying a, the principal hotel so far shaking oif a touch of tropical fever as to send his cNd to the judge, and ask for place behind the bar; and yet, after all, there was very little to be said. The circumSiau.iale evil dence above mentioned was overwhelm- ing, and, in addition to that. farmer and servant with one accord swore 10 the identity of the prisoner with the burglar. There was DO defence; the jury found a verdict of guilty" without leaving the box, and as burglary was hanging mat ter in those days, one thing only remained to be done, that was to pronounce sen. tence of dea h. only formula between him and judgment.
 Prisoner at the bar, you have heard the ver'ict ef the jury. Have you any thing to sly why sentence of death should not be passed upon you ?"
 Then the prisoner spoke for the frs, time. Just brushing his eyes with the cuf of his coat he began
 Well, cap'n, it's hard t0 be hung for noth'n, but l can see this is yard arm business. know no more of this ere burglary nor babby; but these wit nesses ha'nt told no lies, s'pose. And what can say again 'em1 When this thing came off-May, didn't they say-l was fighting the slaves on the Gold coast But you've got no call to believe that. and 90 there's an end to it."
 There was something in the mans man. per that impressed the judge so he said, not unkindly.
 But, surely, prisoner. if your story be true, you must have friends and comrades with whom you could have communi. cated. If you had thought they could do you any good, you would have done tais. It is too late now"
 "You're right, cap'n; it's too late. But it's all very we'll to say let 'em know when a mans locked up in gaol, ar d can't read nor write, and don't know where they are. They may be in Amer. ica, they may be at the Cape, and how could l let 'em know-leastways not in timer No, its no use, and you'd better order me to be run up to the yard arm at once"
 But" urged the judge, "the court has DO wish to hang a man who may be innocent. Is there no one who could speak for you3'
 The prisoner looked in a hopeless sor, of way round the court.
 "No," he began but just then his eye alighted on the stranger from the inn. Yes" he added, pointing to him, "there is gentleman who might speak for me if he would"
 1 The judge turned round, Do you know the prisoner 2" he asked.
 "No, my lord" was the reply, T never saw him before in my life"
 "Weii, Captain Roberts, !" said the pris- oner, " if you put the rope round my neck give in. C., on, my lord"
 Stay" said the judge, "is your name 1 Captaln Roberts
 "Yes, my lord"
 And Captain Roberts was on the card sent in. Well, the prisoner seems to recognize you, so will ask you to step in the witness-box and be sworn, that he may ask you questions"
 The captain went into the box, and the following dialogue ensued 1 "Are you Captain Roberts, of his majesty's ship Vengeance5" l SYes"
 "Were you in command of her on the Gold coast this spring 7"
 was"
 And wasn't one of the crewT
 Most certainly not"
 But, cap'n, don't you remember the big shaver that gave you 90 much trouble, that you had on boardT l "Yes."
 And yourself led the boardersr
 @Oh, yes; but all that is nothing-you ! ~st k~ L~s