New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-04

which OF the accused made tie Sicilncc. anu WIhCH
committed tic murder. Here ono of the men re-
ceived a pardon. but whether or not it was the
innocent one who escaped appears doubtful.
Sometimes q tragedy occurs through the blind
ness Of Justice and such case came within our
authors professional experience. man was
CHARGED with sheep stealing. and despite alibi.
was convicted on circumstantial evidence A wear
later another man was arrested for stealing sheep
ard after his conviction confessed that he had
committed the offence for which the other had
RECEIVED n long sentence The Judge in the first
case had pooh poohcd the prisoners alibi. and not
liking now to admit his mistake. would have
dismissed the matter. But the Drovtrs Assocla-
ton. an iniential body. took up the case. and
secured pardon for the innocent man. who
left prison with an intellect weakened beyond
recovery by the agony OF his suicrnGs. to find
his home broken up his parents dead in the work
house and his life ruined. The awful posslbill-
tics of what may appear p trivial error on the
Bench are imprrssivcly disclosed in this sad case.
r. mis-; however. he sal-as it must be said of
every criminal lawyer-that Mr.. Williams in
large proporton of very obviously ohstrncted
or defeated tn course of Justice. while in some
instances the sense of indignation at the escape
NJ n notorious and palpable malefactor is too
strong to he soothcd ny any reflections upon the
skill and ingenuity Of the counsel. Such a case
was that of a man charged with peculiarly
atrocjous murder. As wrctchcd tramp hc had
BEGGED one stormy night for shelter nj a small
inn kept ny widow She took him in. and not
only housed and fed him. but gave him per
manent cmpoy and gradually raised him
To the place Of her manager. One morning she
WINS found murdered. and the tramp-managcr was
arrested on suspicion. Mr.. Williams defended
him and lie was acquitted. THAT same night.
after drinking heavily. he passed down the High
street of the town, and holding ont his right hand.
exclaimed. My counsel got me of. but this is
tho hand that did the deed Mr. Williams
adds: "Of course a man cannot be tried twice
for the same offence and. 70 nv perpetual
regret this ruffian remained at large We are
afraid that eminent criminal LAWYERS must he
exposcd 20 many regrets Of this kind.
Amusing incidents are not wanting, however,
in these "reminiscences and one of the oldest is
a story of SERGEANT Ballantine, who. while cross
examining a very shady witness one day. found
himself suddenly prompted by an equally shady
looking man. who whispered eagerly: YOU are
NO, propcrlv instructed. You don't know the
man: I know all about him Ask him, SERGEANT,
ask him if he ever had fire - Yes. said the
witness. {" That's right said my leaders
pronpter Claim against insurancc-arson-
Borough Road Following this lead the Ser
cant discovered that the witness actually had
been tried for arson, convicted, and had under
gone term OF penal servitude. In tho same
way the man was made 70 admit that he had
been convicted Of a watch robbery Then the
pronpter suggested that he be examined on the
question of fraudulent bankruptcy. AID the ques-
ton was put The witness, becoming on SUD
den virtuously indignant, replied Never upon
my ostb-never | swear IT.. Ballantine, turn
ing round 10 his promptcr, said what 40 you
mean, sir, by giving me false information :
true. Serjeant, it's true the man respohueu
eagerly Il swear il, and ought to know. / III
his cussed old father IL is to he presnmed
that the Serjeant accepted this testimony as con
elusive 4 case of poetic Justice was that OF
poher, Cooke the Insurer VINO had hccccd Will
Jams. as related above. some years before ne
had risen in the world. was opuent, kept his
carriage. and had made good social CONNECTIONS
4 widow charged him with having deirahded hel
Of a pttance which was her only support, anu
Williams prosecuted with such a vengeance
that the Jury found the defendant guilty at
once and he was sentenced ~ a long term 81 I'M
nrisonment 60 confident Of acqui'tal had ne
been that he had ordered his carriage 10 pe III
waiting TO take him home after The trial Inc car
race returned empty. and he took his next Iide
in the Black Maria.
In the Clerkcnwcll murder, arising cut OF the
Fenian attempt to destroy the prison wal! by an
cxplosion. Mr. Williams retained for the de-
fence OF Barrett, who WAS convicted ana en-
ccuted He was much impressed by ms client
character and gives the speech when b'rIe"
,,odo !, court-a rudclv eloquent effort, but in
the circumstances sure 10 have heeh lheH'cuN''
,,,ors modern swindlinr consplracies few have
Leen more audacious or successful than thAu
kroyyn AZ the Turf Gang These rogucs con
ceiycd the idea of company pretending 10
sncc,al and infallibe knowledge OF turf secrets
which were TO be employed In betting on behalf
If such confding members of the public ns were
,re,ared 10 trust their money 10 the conicdcra'"s
II shows how common crc'lnhty is That tines"
L,ovcs made scores Of thousands OF pounds ont
-, ,bo davice though they never invested shll
lin, in bcts never paid dividend, hut simply
nockc,cd and divided all the money sent To them
They we're finally brought 10 book through the
.ccncv Of a French woman whom they had
numbered numerically, and after their c"nNIc-
zion some of them made revelations when served
IN explain the immunity enjoyed by thcih :"
Iorc The fact that a number OF Sc"t"hu
Ward detectives had been in league with or SUD
idiycd by them. and had kept them Informed
&c to all proceedings begun against them. lhcsc
disclosures resulted in a great scandal, ana III
t trial and conviction of several Of the police
mon Mr.. Williams, who repeatedly asserts that
,Ioro - no longer an effective English detective
sorvice considers that Scotland Yard received It's
doo,b blow in this exposure and that " mas never
49,, ,,sted or i'm fact cared for since
A curious anecdc,e is that of " gentleman who'
,,oin,, IA sleep in n railway carriage IN com
,,or,,nent having but one other occupant woke
a,d ,n;ssed his watch. Instantly he accused his
,e,ow-travellcr OF stealing 1t. The other IN
di,,rantlv denied the charge, but was arrested
WI, the case came up in Bow Street the prose
cu,or. greatly confused, stated that he had made
, Iamentablc mistake, having discovered since
tho arrest that re had left his watch at home
| ,ho, uorning by inadvertcncc. Nothing remained
hn. On tender his sincerest apologies Ia the limo
/ ' i; ,bo docL Sir lanes Ingram who