Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-05-20
onrARrn nER LornR.


A Romance in the Burieigh Trial
Hrs Pretty Sweetheart Testisiss.
Philadelphia Press
There was romantic trial in Whining
ton last week when stephen II. Burleigh,
of this city, was put into the prisoners
dock to answer the charge of larceny,
and the big court house in little Della
wares metropolis has not held such an
interested audience for long time as
which sat and listened to Miss Nettie
Spencer, pretty Philadelphia girl,
bravely testify to the good character of
the man to whom she is engaged. Con
nected with the trial is pretty story of
womanly frmness and affection. Bur-
leigh was acquitted and will marry Miss
Spencer. She had insisted upon him
standing trial and clearing his name
before he could claim her hand, Bur
leigh is a very gentlemanly looking young
man, rather fine looking. EARLY last win
ter he visited Wilmington, and in saloon
made the acquaintance of S. Lloyd
Boldly, a young man of that city, and
two or three others. Shortly after they
had separated Boldly discovered that his
watch was missing and had the party
arrested. They were all seal ehed care.
fully, but the missing timepiece was not
recovered, and they were released. A
few days later Burleigh was arrested in
this city while trying to pawn the watch
at Tenth and Parrish streets. He was
taken to Wilmington and held in 5000
bail for court.
INSISTING ON A TRIAL.
Burleigh claimed in defence that he
| had procured the watch of n man at the
railroad station in this city in trade for a
cheap one he carried and rs in cash. The
defence was accepted by Mr.. Boldly, who,
after recovering the watch, was willing to
Withdraw the suit. When the fact
reached the enrs of Miss spencer, Bur
leighs fiance, she insisted that the case
should be heard in court, and that her
lover must have trinl and ncquittal be-
fore he could claim her hand She i'm
plicitly believed in his innocence, but in
sisted upon the charge against him being
cleared away in the courts.
TIC face trial with Jury of strange
men, and in case of conviction the whip
ping-post and torturesome pillory, WIS the
only method of securing the girl to whom
he was engaged. He accepted the propo-
sition, and the Jury, after short delibera-
ton in the face of strong cireumstantial
evidence, brought in a verdict OF not
guilty.
A SWEETHEART ON THE STAND.
Miss Spencer attended the trial and
testified to the prisoners good character,
and her insinuatingly sweet voice, coupled
with the earnest anxiety for her lover,
completely won the judge and jury. The
bride-eloct is very pretty brunette with
deep brown eyes and rich complexion.
She was neatly and very becomingly cos
tuned, and as she gave her testimony in
the case which was to decide her future
she presented lovely picture. The gal.
liant chief justice and his bachelor associ
ates, all dignified and gray-haired, beamed
admiringly upon the pretty young woman
and the encouragement was also attracted
by her pleasing presence and Intercepted
her in his mildest tones.
When the jury announced its verdict
there was an outburst of applause in thu
courtroom and every eye was turned
| upon Miss Spencer as she reioined he
lover. The bravery Of the girl in insist
ing upon trial, her graceful bearing All,
expressed anxiety, perhaps had more t
do with the acquittal of her bctrothe
than any other feature OF the trial.