The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-06-20
HE FOUGHT AT WINCHESTER
And He will not Pass u'brouvb
the Penitcntiary Gates.

soldier for another who has been
unfortunate.
In the case of the State VS..
John Stuart, indictment for lar
ceny, the prisoner appeared in
the courtroom, shuffling along,
scarcely able to walk. He wore
a soiled check shirt, a very much
worn suit and battered hat.
Appearing as States witnesses
were two well dressed, sleek
looking men, who clearly show
ed by their looks thai they we: e
determined to send the old man
to the penitentiary if possible.
"iIas tho prisoner any coun-
sci ?" asked Judge Phillips.
81 have none, yonr Honor"
answered Stuart. II am a poor
man, unable to pay an attor-
ney."
The Judge saw by the mans
looks that this was an unusual
G Sc, and said, DWELL 90 on and
tell yonr story"
"Well, sir, was in the Con-
federate army and ut the battle
of Winchester was shot through
the hips. Since then it has been
exceedingly hard for me to sup
port myself. | went 10 work
for this man last year and work
ed eight months, upon his pro
mise to board and clOthe me
and to pay me what my servi-
ces were worth. During that
time he paid Inc ten cents, with
which | bought tobacco. At
the end Of eight months he re
fused to pay me any money and
refused to give me any cloth es
saying that my services were
worthless. Then, your honor, !
went into his wardrobe, took a
suit Of clothes to kide my max
edness and left. He had me
indicted for larceny and | have
been in Jail ever since"
As the old man finished a
hnshed murmur of Indignation
was heard throughout the court
room.
"You say you were shot al
Winchester" asked Judge Phil
lips, who was himself all officer
in that splendid and memorable
charge.
Eyes, sir"
"Were you i'll the second
charge, to the left, on the Other
side of the town ?''
The prisoners face brighten
ed. "Yes," he said, II was
there, Rhodes division, and va:
shot while crossing the ravine
just below the hill"
The Judge was certain tina
the old veteran was telling the
truth, but TO be certain he call.
ed the States witness.
While this witness was givin&
in his testimony, which was tt
| the effect that tile old man.
? story was about right but tha
he refused to pay him anythin!
. because his services were worth
less, Stuart leaned over to Sole
5 itor Settle. "Mr. Settle" h
2 said, ''your father and / Wer
: friends. lived in Rockingha il
I county and your father persnad
ed me to enlist in his company
| received II y wound while fol
8 lowing him. Since then it ha
: been a hard struggle for me t
s keep out of the poor house"
g By this time Judge Phillips
Solicitor Settle and everyboG
y else in the courtroom was salts
S fed that the old soldier ha
o been pitilessly prosecuted an
f the faces of the on lockers show
: ed the deepest pity and symps
thy for the unfortunate man an
the blacklist Indignation for hi
heartless employer.
"Mr. Solicitor" said the Judg,
"change your bill of indictmeI
Is from larceny to trespass." Th:
= was willingly done by Mr.. Sc
J. tie.
e "Now," he continued, "Jud!
=, ment is suspended and the pri
> oner is discharged"
Scarcely had the last wor
J. been spoken before every ma
l. in the room applauded, an
l. great tears were seen rollir
% down the cheeks of strong me-
~ A similar scene Judge Phillil
L tells us he has never seen in IL
n courthouse.
If AS the old man who, half a
m hour before had been friendle
. hobbled ont of the courtroom
=. hundreds of men drew aroYT
" him to shake his hand. On
s. townsman, Hon. w. B. Glen
le volunteered his his services to s
I'd cure a pension; Mr.. HoIlyia
a. offered him position as mill
= and i'm less than five minutes
- handsome purse was made up
u buy the old soldier a com tort
IN BILE suit of" clothes.
ID Needless to add, he was 6
~ most overcome with gratitut
70 and to his dying day he W
=, bless the memory of his o
III comrade-in-arms, and his gen
tb rous new-found friends.-Wi
ston Sentinel.