Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-10-16

Wd6 uOt W no Aou' OAuOA0A AiAAAA W
bed and then happened to look at the
guinea which he had brought back. Un-
fortunately I had not at that time heard
of the robbery, and paid the guinea
away with some other money in settle
ment of bridesmaids account. But
this am sure of-there was mark on
the guinea which Jennings gave back to
ME. 1t is, of course, possible that there
might have been mark which escaped
my notice. on the guinea which took
out of NY purse when I sent for change.
"Or," the traveller suggested, ''it may
have been one Of my stolen guineas given
back by mistake by tie drunken waiter
of yours, instead Of the guinea handed
to him by myself. Do you think he is
asleep"
"Sure to be asleep, sir-in his condi-
ton"
"Do you object, Mr.. Brunell, otter
what you have told me to setting this
matter at rest by searching the mans
clothes?"
The landlord hesitated. 'It seems
hard on jennings" he said, '.if We prove
to have been suspicious Of him without
cause. Can you speak positively, sir,
to the mark which you put on your
money"
The traveller declared that he could
swear to his mark. Mr.. Brunell yielded.
The two went up together to the walters
room.
JeHning was fast asleep. At the very
outset of the search they found the stolen
bag of money in his pocket. The gum
cas- nineteen in number-had a mark
on each of them, and that mark the
traveller identified. After the discovery
there was but one course to take. The
walters protestations of innocence when
they woke him and accused him of the
robbery were words fatty contradicted
by facts. He was charged before mag
istrate with the theft of the money and,
as matter of course. was committed for
trial.
The circumstances were 80 strongly
against him that his own friends recon-
mended Jennings to plead guilty and ap-
peal to the mercy of the court. He re-
fused to follow their advice, and he was
bravely encouraged to persist in that de-
cision by the poor girl, who believed in
this innocence with her whole heart. At
that dreadful crisis in her life she secured
the best legal assistance, and took from
her little dowry the money that paid the
expenses.
At the next assizes the case was tried.
The proceedings before the Judge were
a repetition Cat great length and with
more solemnity) of the proceedings be-
fore the magistrate. No skill in cross
examination could shake the direct state
ments of the witnesses. The evidence
was made absolutely complete by the
appearance of the tradesman to whom
Mr.. Brunell had paid the marked
guinea. The coin ESQ marked was a
curiosity; the man had kept it, and he
now produced it in court. The Judge
summed up, finding literally nothing
that he could cay, as an honest man, in
favor of the prisoner. The jury returned
a verdict of guilty, after consultation
which was mere matter of form. Clear
or circumstantial evidence of guilt had
never been produced in the opinion
of every person--but one-who was
present at the trial. The sentence on
Jennings for highway robbery was, by
the laws of those days, death On the
scaffold.
Friends were found to help Esther in
the last effort that the faithful creature
could now nake-the attempt to obtain
q Communication of that sentence. She
was admitted to an interview with the
home secretary, and her petition was
presented to the king. Here, again, the
indisputable evidence forbade the exer-
else of mercy. Esther's betrothed hus-
band was hanged at Hull. His last
words declared his innocence with the
rope around his neck.
Before the year had passed the one
poor consolation that she could hope for
in this world found Esther in her misery.
The proof that Jennings had died mar
tyr to the fallibility of human justice
was made public by the confession Of
the guilty man. Another criminal trial
took place at the assizes. The landlord
of an inn was found guilty of having
stolen the property of person staying
in his house. It was stated in evidence
that this was not his first offense. He
had been habitually q robber on the
highway, and his name was Brunell.
The wretch confessed that he was the
masked highwsyman who had stolen the
bag of guineas. Riding by q nearer
way than was known to the traveller, he
had reached the inn first. There he
found person in trade waiting by ap-
pointment for the settlement of bill.
Not having enough money of bis own
about him to pay the whole amount,
Brunen had made use of one of the sto-
len guineas, and had only heard the
traveller declare that his money was
marked after the tradesman had left the
house. To ask for the return Of the fatal
guinea was more than he dared to at.
tempt. But one other alternative pre-
sented itself. The merciless villain in
sured his own safety by the sacrifice of
an innocent man.
After the time when the sea captain
had paid his visit at Mrs. Anderkin's
house, Esthers position became subject
to certain changes. One little domestic
privilege folio we'd another, 30 gradually
| and 80 mOdeetlv that the housekeeper