The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-03-01

asserting that no was not John Cprkins.
nad actually been sentenced to the stata
prison to serve for ten years.
1t was technical sort Of report. and
she could not fully understand IT, The
reporter seemed to assume that the read
Ct had seen q previous story Of the trial.
but she gained general understanding
from the few paragraphs, and as She
read she wondered what it could all
mean. Was it possible that this man
Daniel Tanning, whom she-well, whom
she remembered, was convict?
Over and over again she read the brief
story, and wondered as she read what
1t could possibly mean. It could not be
true, she thought, but even as she tried
to think so stories came to her mind OF
innocent men who had suffered mis-
taken punishment, and she presently be-
gan to consider what she could do.
And the eminently sensible suggestion
came to her that s1s could at least find
{ out about it. Fortunately it was early
in the day, and she was within few
minutes IN her carriage driving toward
her lawyers Office.
Mr.. Willwright," she said on enter
ing. Il wish to know at once what this
story means, and she handed him the
slip.
The old lawyer read the story care
fully, and said without hesitation. 81
should say that 1t means that the Judge
was entirely right in censuring that law
yer for very irregular motion.
ssOhl bother the judge and his CEN
sure" exclaimed Miss Latiner irnpa
tiently. What / want to know is
whether that is DR.. Daniel Tanning who
has just been sentenced to the state
prison, or whether it is a Burglar? /
happen to know and here she changed
color ever so little, ssthat DR.. Tanning
left the city some weeks ago.
Well" said Mr.. Willwright, some
what quizzically, 'even that important
fact is hardly sufficient ground for as
Stunning that he has been convicted for
burglary under an assumed name in Hi
nois.p
Now please don't joke about it,"
said Miss Latimer. ssIs it possible that
such terrible mistake should occurs''
ssYe-es," replied the lawyer with some
reluctance, sit is possible that such
thing might occur. Courts are human
institutions and they do make mistakes
sometimes. But 1t is highly improbable
that it has really occurred.
Then wish you would find out all
about it at once" exclaimed Miss Lat-
mer. 'Can You let me know today"
Mr.. Willwright smiled indulgently.
Miss Latimer was a good client, for he
had charge of all her property and he
could afford to humour her whims. 81
imagine" he said pleasantly, .sthat /
may learn IN q week or two"
Miss Latimer's eyes flashed. 'sAnd
leave an innocent man ia prison week
or twol What is the telegraph for9
Won't you ask Mr.. Playfair all about it
and let me known
Certainly WILL" said Mr.. Will
wright, dropping his playfulness when
he saw how earnest his client was.
Shall ! use your name in the INQUIRY
he asked.
BY no means" said Miss Latimer,
blushing deeply this time. People
sneered at Miss Latirner for betraying
her feelings. They said it showed lack
of good breeding. Other people admired
her all the more for 1t.
A few hours later messenger from
Mr.. Willwnght's Office brought her
long telegram from Playfair to Will
wright in which the main facts of
the case were recibed. It concluded:
my client has insisted on retaining adj
ditional counsel, and on sending again
to New York, but in view Of the positive
nature of the Identification the clearest
possible evidence will be necessary to
upset it."
This was true enough. Mr.. Playfair
had had avery unpleasant interview with
his client after the trial. Tanning was
for time almost beside himself with
rage at the mismanagem of his case,
but realizing the gravity Of the situa-
ton had GAINED himself, and instead of
antagoni1ng Playfair had instructed him
to continue the fight, only insisting that
another lawyer should also be retained.
He could do no more, placed as he was,
and was now in a fever of anxiety
waiting for evidence that should clear
him on new trial. Playfair's first mo-
ton had been made for delay, and an
appeal had afterward been taken on
technical grounds.
The new evidence came sooner than he
expected. When Miss Latiner read DR..
Sandringham's name she ordered her
carriage again and was shortly in his
office. She had known him all her life.
That busy man was greatly disquieted
by her questions He remembered Play
fairs visit at once. and the possibility
that he had by constructive negligence
been party to an innocent mans con-
viction for crime was most painful.
"God bless my soulP' he exclaimed IN
real distress. rs it possible that such
mistake could be nader"
st seems impossible" replied Miss
Latimer, .'but it also seems very much
as though it had been made" and she
showed him Playfair's telegram.
Suddenly as he read the old doctor
exclaimed: "Corkinsl Why, that is the
name of man who was shot this morn
ing by policeman. He isdying now at
Bellevue hospital"
sDyingT exclaimed Miss Latimer, as
excited as he ct coincidence that was
to her perfect confirmation of all her
fears. Then come with me at once.