Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-05-30

The young william shall lie in the bed h'
has made for HIMSELF exclaimed Mr.. Car
man, in bitter indignation. And he made
complete exposure. On the trial he showed
an eager desire to have him convicted, and
presented such an array of evidence that
the jury could not render any other verdict
than guilty
The poor mother was IN court. aud aud
ible in the silence that followed came her
convulSed sobs upon the air. The preSid-
presiding Judge addressed the priS-
Oner, and asked if he had any
thing to say why the sentence OF
the law should not be pronounced against
him. All eyes were turned upon the pale,
agitated young man who arose with an
effort and LEANED against the railing by
which he stood, as if needing the support.
"Will it please your Honor" he said. ''to
direct my prosecutor to come little nearer,
so that l can look at him and your Honor
at the same time "
Mr.. Carman was directed to come for
ward to where the boy stood James
looked at him steadily for a few moments
and then turned to the judges
What have to say to your Honors is
this and it may in degree extenuate,
though | cannot excuse my crime. / went
into that mans store an innocent boy, and
ii he had been an honest man | would not
have stood before un,, r,,'-,a' y '--
Mr.. Carman appealed to the court for
protection against an allegation of such an
outrageous character, but he was peremp-
torily ordered to be silent. james went on
in firm voice
"0nly few weeks after | went into his
employment / examined a bill under his
direction, and discovered an error of twenty
dollars"
The face of Mr.. Carman crimsoned.
"You remember it, | see," said James,
''and shall have cause to remember it
while | live. The error was in favor of
Mr.. Carman. l asked if / should correct
the figuers and he answered, No; let them
correct their own mistakes, we don't ex-
anime bills for other peoples benefit 1t
was my first lesson in dishonesty l saw
the bill settled, and Mr. Carman take
twenty dollars that was not his own. l
felt shocked at first; it seemed such a
wrong thing. But soon after he called me
a simpleton for handing back fifty dollar
bill to the teller of bank, which he had
overpaid me on a check and"
May l ask the protection Of the courtf
said Mr.. Carman.
''Is it true what the lad saysi" asked the
jugde
Mr.. Cameron hesitated and looked con
fused; all eyes were on his face, and judges
and jury, lawyers and spectators, felt GER
tain that he was guilty Of leading the un-
happy young man astray.
"Not long afterwards" resumed Lewis,
"in receiving my wages l found that Mr..
Carman had paid me fifty cents to much.
] was about to give it back to him, when |
remembered his remark about letting peo-
pie correct their own mistakes, and said to
myself let him correct his own errors,
and dishonesty kept the money. Again
the thing happened, and again | kept the
money that did not right belong to me.
This was the beginning Of evil and here
| am. If he had shown any mercy
might have kept silent and made no de-
fense.'
The young man covered his face with
his hands and sat down, overpowcrcd with
his feelings. His mother, who was near
him, sobbed aloud, and bending over, laid
her hand upon his head, saying:
"My poor boyl my poor boy!"
There were few eyes in the court room
undimmed. In the silence that followed
Mr.. Carman spoke out.
as my character to be thus blasted on
the words of criminal, your Honors7 Is
this right"
Your solemn oath that this charge is
untrue will set you in the right, said the
judge. 1t was the unhappy boys only op-
portunity, and the court felt bound in hui
manty to hear him.
James Lewis stood up again instantly,
and turned his pale face and dark, piercing
eyes upon Mr.. tafnan.
Let him take his oath, if he dare!" he
exclaimed
Mr. Carman consulted with his counsel
and withdrew
After brief conference with HIS associ-
ates, the presiding judge said, addressing
the criminal.
"ln consideration of your youth and the
temptations to which in tender years you
were unhappily subjected the court gives
you the lighe5t sentence, one years impris-
onmcnt. But let me solemnly warn you
against any further steps in the way you
have taken, Crime can have no valid ex-
cuse. 1t is evil IN the sight of God and
man, aud leads only Ia suffering. When
you come forth again after a brief incarcer
alton, may il be with the resolution to die
rather than commit "A crime"
And the curtain fell on the sad scene IN
the boys life When it was lifted again,
and he came forth from prison year after
ward his mother was dead From the
day her pale face fadcd from his vision as
he passed from the court room he never
looked upon her again.
Ten years alterward a man was reading
u newspaper in far western town. Ho
had calm, serious face, and looked like
one who had known suffering aud trial.
Brought to justice at last, he said to
himself as the blood came to his face; icon
victed ON the charge Of open insolvency,
and sent to State prison. So much for the
man who gave me in tender years the first
lesson in ill-doing But thank God, the
other lessons have been remembered
fWhcn you come forth AGAIN SAID tne
Judge, may it be with the resolution to die
rather than commit crime, and I have
kept this injunction IN my heart when
there seemed no way of escaping except
through crime. And God helping me,
! will keep il to the end"