Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-09-19
How Confederate Escaped tho rcniisn.
tIury.

How u Confederate. Escaped tho rcnitsn.
tlary.
In the case of the State W.. John
Stuart, Indictment for larceny, the
prisoner appeared in tho court room,
shutting along, scarcely able to walk.
He wore soiled check shirt. u very
much worn suit and battered hat.
Appearing Ms State witnesses were
two well.dressed sleek-looking men
who were determined to send the old
man TO the Penitentiary.
HAS the prisoner any counselT asked
Judge Phillips.
~ have none, your honor" ans wered
Stuart. II am poor man aud unable
TO pay an attorney
The Judge saw by the mans looks
that his was an unusal case, and said:
We'll. go on and tell your story"
"Well, sir. was in the Confederate
army. and ut the battle of Winchester |
was shot through both hips. Since then
il has been exceedingly hard for me to
support myself. ] went to. work for
this man last year upon his word 10
board aud clothe me and to pay me
what my services were worth. During
that time lie paid me 10 cents, with
which bought tobacco. At the end OF
eight months he refused TO pay me any
money, and refused TO give me any
clothes, saying my services were worth
lesp Then ] went into his wardrobe,
took suit Of clothes to hide my naked
ness, aud left. He had me indicted for
larceny, and | have been in jail ever
since"
As the old man finished murmur OF
indignation was heard throughout the
court room.
You say YOU were shot ut Winches.
terY' asked Judge Philips, who was him
self an officer in the spleudid and memo
rable charge.
Yes, SIR"
"Were you In the second charge to
the left, on the other side Of the town.
The prisoners face frightened ''Yes,"
he said, was tbere-Rhodes' division
and was shot while crossing the ravine
just below the hill"
Tho judge was certain then that the
veteran was telling the truth, but to be
certain he called the States witness.
While this witness was giving in his
testimony, which was TO the effect that
the old mans story was about right, but
that he refused to pay him anything be-
cause his services were worthless, Stuart
leaned over to Solicitor Settle. "Mr.
Settle" he said, "your father and
were friends. | lived in Rockingham
county and your father persuaded me
to enlist in his company. | received my
wound while following him. Since
then it has been hard for me to keep out
OF the poor house."
Bv this time Judge Phillips aud Solic-
itor Settle and everybody else ia the
court room were satisfied that the old
soldier had been pitilessly prosecuted,
and the faces OF the onlookers showed
the deepest pity and sympathy for the
unfortunate man and the blacklist in
diguation for his heartless employer.
.'Mr. Solicitor" said the Judge,
change your bill of indictment from
larceny to trespass." This was willing
ly done BY Mr.. Settle.
Now" he continued, Judgment Is
suspended and the prisoner discharged"
Scarcely had the last words been
spoken before every man in the. room
upplauded. and great tears were rolling
down tho cheeks OF strong men. As the
ole man who. half an hour before had
bern friendless, hobbled out Of the
courtroom hundreds Of men drew
aro and HIM to snake his hand. Our towns
M j, W. b. Glen. volunteered to secure
hin pension. Mr.. Hollytleld offered
his, a position as miller, and in less
th five minutes purse was made up
10 10y the old soldier a comfortable
81 OF clothes.-Leesburg (va.) Mirror.