Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-14
To Clear her Lover.
THE ROMANTIC TRIAL OF A PHILADELPHIA
IN WILMINGTON, DEL.

There was a romantic trial in Wilmington
Yesterday when Stephen H. Burleigh, OF this
city, was put into the prisoners dock to an
swer the charge of larceny, and the big court
house in little Delaware's metropolis has not
held such an interested audience for long
time as that hich sat and listened to Miss Net
tie Spencer,a pretty Philadelphia girl, bravely
testify to the good character of the man to
W hom she is engaged. Connected with the
trial is a pretty story of womanly frmness
and affection. Burleigh was acquitted and
will marry Miss Spencer. She had insisted
upon his standing trial and clearing his name
b fore he could claim her hand. Burleigh is
a very gentlemanly looking young man, rath-
er fine looking. Esrly last winter he visited
Wilmington, and in a saloon made the &C.
quaintance of S Lloyd Boldly, young man
of that city, and two or three Others short,
y after they had separated Boldly discovered
that his watch was missing and had the party
arrested They were all searched carefully.
but the missing timepiece was not recovered.
and they were released. few days later
Burleigh was arrested in this city while try
iog t. pawn the watch at Tenth and Parrish
Sire, Is. He was taken to Wilmington and
held 10 5000 bail for court.
Burleigh claimed in defense that he had
procure tHS WAUGH VI iiltu AT tuc
station in this city in trade for cheap one
he carried and So in cash The defense was
accepted by Mr. Boldly. who, after recover
ing the watch was willing to withdraw the
suit. When the fact reached the ears of
Miss Spencer, Burleigh's iancee, she insisted
that the case should be heard in court. and
that her lover must have trial and acqnitral
before he could claim her hand. She implic-
itlv belied in his innocence, but insisted upon
the charge against him being cleared away in
the courts.
To face a trial with jury of strange men,
and in case of conviction the wbipping-pOst
and torturesome pillorv, was the only method
Of securing the girl to HON he was engaged.
He accepted the proposition, and the jury,
after a short 1eliberatIon in the face of strong
circumstantial evidence, brought in d verdict
of not guilty
Miss Spencer attended the trial and testi-
fed to the prisoners good character, and her
insinuatingly SWEET voice. coupled with the
earnest anxiety for her lover, completely won
the judge and the jury. The briie-elect is a
very pretty brunette with deep brown eyes
and rich complexion. She was neatly and
very becomingly costumeI, and as she gave
her testimony in the case which was to decide
her future. she presented lovely picture.
The gallant Chief Justice and his bachelor
associates, all dignifed and pray-haired,
beamed sdmiringly upon the pretty young
woman, and the Attorney General was also
attracted by her pleasing presence, and in-
terrogated her in his mildest terms.
| Whe the jury announced its verdict there
was an outburst of applause in the courtroom
and every eve WAS turned upon Miss Spencer
| as she rejoined her lover. The bravery of
the girl in insisting upon trial, her graceful
bearing and expressed anxiety, perhaps had
more to do with the acquittal Of her betrothed
than any other feature of the trial-Ph,tadel-
phta Press, 18Th.