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

less TO do So a boDQsnan would have
to own real estate ii the county, he re-
membered. But whey the case should
come to trial there wou.d be no difficulty
surely in establishing his identity. Mean
I time it would be web 10 secure a lawyer,
as the Judge had intirnated.
He did go, bat the result Of his first in
terview with Mr.. Playfair, who was rec
omraended to him. was that that gentle
1 man, having talked with the police be-
+ fore be SAW Tanning, decided in his own
mind that he had criminal, and a
remarkably foolish one, for client.
He limited as much after be had ques-
toned Tanning. Remember he said,
s'that it is the worst possible policy to
conceal anything from your counsel
Thereat Tanning few in a rage-a
most uncommon thing for him to do
and came near quarreling with his best
and only friend, though be was only a
hired attorney. However, Playfair apollo
gized--for he had pocketed very liberal
fee-and sinoothed his client down by
promising to exert himself and do the
very best he could. 70 do him justice,
he really intended to 60 the best he could
for himself He had no hope Of clear
ing his client, but at least he could get
considerable money out of him. It so
happened that be wanted to go to New
York on some business of his own, and
he suggested partly to try his clients
sincerity, but also with an eye to person
al thrift that if his expenses were paid
he would go himself and bring back one
or two witnesses who would testify to
Fanning's identity.
The philosophical reader will perceive
two simple but invaluable morals in
what followed. First, that when jus
tice is dependent upon legal processes
it viii not do to neglect one point of
proof, no matter how insignificant it
may seem or how overwhelming other
evidence may be. The second is that
circumstantial evidence is not worth the
trouble of remembering, if it can, on any
more than one way. Innocent men have
been hanged on circumstantial evidence,
because the true explanation of the cir
cumstances seemed far fetched and nm
reasonable. And how should this not be
so when circumstances happened as they
did to convict Tanning?
Yes, he would send Playfair to New
York certainly, and would pay his ex-
penses. and be indebted greatly to him
for going. It happened that on starting
on his travels he had closed his bank ac-
count, drawing out almost $4,000, and
he had nearly the whole amount with
him when he was arrested, a fact which
told againsthi afterward. Money was
of little value to him in comparison with
the establishment of his innocence, and
he unhesitatingly counted out as much
as Playfair asked for, seeing which the
latter instantly reproached himself for
the last time in his life for not asking
for more. He contented himself, how
ever, with the thought that the case was
still young. and asked for instructions rs
to how he should proceed when he
reached New York.
Tanning reflected for few moments.
Then he said: Naturally do not want
the story of this thing to get about. It
will be enough il you go to DR.. Sandring-
ham and to Mr.. James friend. The
doctor knows me professionally and Mr..
Friend has charge of some business in
terests Of mine I will write letters to
them and you can explain the case fully. +"
would it not be well to take your
photograph also?' suggested Playfair.
81 never had photograph taken, /"
said Tanning.
"Wecan have one taken easily enough, !"
said the other.
what possible necessity is there for
that?" asked Tanning. 1.-The letters will
be enough"
The photograph, therefore, which
might very probably have changed the
whole current of affairs afterward was
not taken, and Playfair, after two or
three more interviews with his client
and after arranging with the district at
torney for trial within q months time,
started for New York.
Tanning, left to himself in most dis
agreeable predicament, summoned all
his philosophy to his aid, and succeeded
fairly we'll in reconciling himself to the
situation. He had always prided him
self on his philosophy, and felt thrill
of gratified vanity in finding that it was
serviceable stuff and not mere theory.
Il am in prison, it is true, he reason
ed, "but luckily it is for no fault of my
own, therefore no disgrace really at
taches to the fact, and the seeming dis
grace win soon be wiped away. There
is no one on earth who will suffer any
pain or suspense on my account, and for
this once can congratulate myself on
the fact that am entirely alone in the
world. Meantime n.onth is taken out
of my life. Or is it really SO? am
having disagreeable experience, but
after all it is an experience, and can
make it serve in the development Of
character if / choose"
He did so choose, and spent the time
studying and meditating. He was al
lowed to use his own money, and lived
well at exorbitsnt prices, besides getting
the use of what few books Ae wanted,
for the jail servants were ready to do
almost anything for him SO long as he
paid them.
AS the day of his trial drew near,
however, he began to be very appre-
hensive. He had only heard once from
his lawyer, having received single
letter from him written on the dav of