The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-06-27
A TOUCHING STORY.
STRUGGLES OF AN OLD COFED-
ERATE SOLDIER.
He was Wounded at Winchester, but
he Comes to Want-Anothdr Strong
Argument in favor o! Confederate
Soldiers Home.
Winston Sentinel.l

Judge Philips, who, held Forsyth
court, told the .SenfineIa a pathetic in
cident which occurred at the last term
of Surrv court 1t beautifully Illus
trates the tender sympathy Of one sol
dier for another who has been unfor
! tunate.
In the case of the State VS.. John
Stuart, indictment for larceny, the
prisoner appeared in the court room,
shuffling along, scarcely able to walk.
He wore a soiled checked shirt, very
much worn suit and a battered hat.
Appearing as States witnesses were
two we'll dressed, sleek looking men
who clearly showed by their looks that
they were determined to send the old
man to the penitentiary if possible.
Has the prisoner any counsel? :"
asked Judge Philips.
81 have none, your Honor" an
swered Stuart. 81 am a poor man,
unable to pay an attorney"
The Judge saw by the mans looks
that this was an unusual case and said:
"Well go on with your story
"Well sir, | was in the Confederate
army, and at the battle of Winchester
was shot through both hips. Since
then it had been exceedingly hard for
me to support myself went to work
for this man last year and worked
eight months, upon his promise to
board and clothe me and to pay me
what my services were worth. During
that time he paid me ten 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, saving that my services
were worthless. Then, your Honor,
went into his wardrobe, took suit
| of clothes to hide my nakedness, and
left. He had ne arrested for larceny
and have been in Jail ever since
AS the old man finished hushed
murmur of indignation was heard
throughout the court room.
"You say you were shot at Win
chester?" asked Judge Philips, who
: was himself an officer in that splendid
t and memorable 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, Il was there, il
Rhodes division, and was shot while
q crossing the ravine just below the hill. ;
|, The Judge was satisfied that the ole
IL veteran was telling the truth, but t.
A he certain he called the States wit
$ ness.
i While the witness was giving IN hi
testimony, which was to the effect tha
the old mans story was about righ
but that he refused to pay him any
- thing because his services were worth
less, Stuart leaned over to Solicito
Settle. MIR. Settle,' he said, "you
y father and were friends. | lived il
y Rockingham county and your fathe
persuaded me to enlist in his company
| received my wound while tollowin
him. Since then it has been a har
Te struggle for me to keep out of tn
IS, poor house"
er BY this time Judge Philips, Solicitc
> Settle and everybody else in the coul
room was satisfied that the old soldie
had been pitilessly prosecuted and tn
OF faces of the onlookers showed tn
sd sd deepest pity and sympathy for the ur
ss fortunate man, and the blacklist indis
nation for MS heartless employer.
10 "Mr. Solicitor said the Judg'
% change your bill of indictment froI
n larceny to trespass This was wi
ce lingly done by Mr.. Settle.
Now" he continued, "judgmel
is suspended and the prisoner is di
charged.
Scarcely had the last word bee
spoken before every man in the roo
applauded, and great tears were SEE
rolling down the cheeks of stror
men. A similar scene Judge Phil
tells us he has never seen in the cou
house.
As the old man who, half an ho
;,v before, had been friendless, hobblt
ars out of the court room, hundreds
ou men drew around him to shake /
hand. Our townsman, Hon. w.
Glenn, volunteered his services to S
% cure pension. Mr.. Hollyield offere
. him a position as miller, and in Il
than five minutes handsome purse
money was made up to buy the o
soldier comfortable suit of clothes.
-, Needless to add, he was almt
overcome with gratitude, and to
dying day he will bless the memo
of his old comrade in arms, and
generous, new found friends.