Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-08-09
A LAWYERS STORY.



family might be contaminated IL he
harbored his SHINING sister in her dis
tress. lie, a member Of q christian
church he, a pretended follower Of the
meek and lowly Jesus, who taught as to
feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and
heal the sick !" he drove her with anath-
emas from his door yard. He did not
permit her even to enter his home or ap-
peal TO his family for sympathy or pity
He gave her nothing, not even a kind
word. All this was proven by young
hired man who witnessed the interview
between brother and sister, and who
said on the stand that he would have
given her, from his own earnings, somo-
thing with which to buy food and shell
ter, but he feared the rage of his en-
ployer, What could she dor Where
could she go? She retraced her stepe.
Why, she did not know, but she must
begone somewhere, anywhere out of
sight-even IL out of the world. Her
loss was such II could not be regained-
anu w tbt htc ttth Io iitt-
cy. 1t seemed to her as If nowhere this
side of the grave was there any pity
nowhere home for her and her child.
In this frame of mind she reached a
neighboring house, and being thirsty
she craved even a cup of cold water.
She went to the well and drank from
the old bucket hanging there-the only
thing on earth merciful enough TO af-
ford her any relief. She looked over
the curb away down, down TO the ice
cold water, and then for the first time
the thought came to her, "My baby will
be better off in the bottom of this well,
than IN this cold, merciless world-its
pure soul will go back to God who gave
it and it will at least be out of it's misery" !"
She then gave it long, farewell en-
Trace, and with prayer to God to take
care of its soul, she dropped her baby
down into the water below and turned
and fied-anywhere, anywhere she
cared not where. Her mind reeled !;
her reason gave way. A merciful God
granted relief in oblivion. Such was
her condition when she came to my
residence on the night we first took her
in. have always hoped that some
where in the great book of life there
might be a mark made OF this case
which may be read in our favor at the
great day of Judgment-I'll probably
need it.
During the giving of the testimony on
behalf of the defendant, and especially
when the girl herself was on the stand
detailing the facts and her feelings up to
the time her consciousness left her, l no.
ticed the jury were evidently softening
towards the poor defendant. This was
especially SO with the young man have
spoken of--the tears ran down his cheeks.
/ could see all his sympathy and
pity had gone out to my client, and
1t is but step in such case from SYM
pathy and pity to more tender and
lasting emotion. i was sure a convic-
tion could never follow was sure that
HE, if not the others, would never sub
nit to verdict of guilty. The case
went to the jury. The Prosecuting At
torney made an eloquent speech for the
prosecution, and warned the jury not to
be carried away by any sympathy or
sentiment, but to apply the cold, unfeel-
ing law of the case, no matter what
were the consequences to my client.
Again and again he called them back to
their oaths and insisted that their sworn
duty was to convict.
When it came my turn to address the
jury-it does now seem to me that Di-
vine Providence was on my side. My
mind seemed especially clear, my tongue
especially available, my voice especially
strong. All that was, of myself, and
all had gathered from the case in my
careful preparation of the law and facts,
had especially at command. 1 am not
given to excite people to tears, but when
closed, must say there was not dry
eye in the house, not even my own.
The jury wept The Prosecutor had
fled the court room. fearing that he too
might throw off the LAWYER and assum a
the man.
The Court gave n brief cboroe and the
iurv retired Tn about one bonr thew
sipnified nm agreement II was then sf-
ter dark The court bouse he,I RANG
and the audienca f;,,ed the h,ncb.. of
the court room at once. II was 40 st;,l
vou cop,d have beard n min dron The
iurv were called and the foreman hand :
ed the verdict to the Clerk who in a
clear but tremulous voice read "NoT
Guilty.. This ia your verdict and 40
saw vou allp Without n dissenting
voice the twelve good men and true
shou,ed "ves ives "v.sn
You wonld have snpnosed that n shout
Of inv would have GONE nm from that