Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-08-30
A LEGAL INCIDENT.
A TRAGIC ENDING or AN UNJUST
CRIMINAL CONVICTION.

what stre~g Cirssmstsstisi Evidence
Did On the Csss .f . Trusted Cisvk.
ne Died when ne LssS~sd That ne
Wa. isases~t Refer. the Las.
The following thrilling story CONES
irUm the lips % q well known member
ot the Pennsylvania bari
A very bal and dishonest fsilur. had
occurred. In which y certain trusted
clerk seemed to have been guilty - the
larger share % the crime. He. with his
employer, was arrested and charged
with the crime. The clerk .touily pro-
tested his innocence and denied all
knowledge % the fraud OF any oonnec-
ton with his emplcyer.
However. there was chain of cir
cumstan,ial evidence woven around him
which was exceptionally strong and
which hi- counsel could no, brcak down.
although he was firmly convinced him.
self II his innocence. The clerk was
cOnyict~i aud sent to Jail for term u
years.
After b-ing conhne,l In prison for
about year the poor fellows mind be-
gan 10 weaken. and finally he broke
down completely. lie was taken from
prison and Transferred to a hospital Tor
the insane. All Oh. time the clerk con.
tinned 10 protest his innocence. After
he hal b-en conhnel Ia the hospital
thre. Or four years, certain facts In the
failure wer. elicit.i which clearly proved
that the unfortunate clerk was entirely
innocen, ~ having committed any crime.
~ course steps were Immediately
taken a. secure the pardon % the man;
III. facts were laid b.for. the pardon
boarl at their next m r-ting and an order
wa. given for his immediate release.
u now became the delicate duty ~
,h. counsel In the case to break the
happy intelligence to the parlOned clerk.
hut the question tnat confronted them
was what could L. done to restor, his
reason. and would he believe the news
II hi. mind could not h. restored be
could not b. taken away. What could
IT, done, After . consultation between
the counsel on both sides ~ the cas-. u
was agreed Ia call upon the pDor clerk
AMI make an attempt to rous. him FROM
the apathy and leihargy into which he
hal fallen. This they decided to do by
accusing him again % the theft of the
funds. Whenever this subject wa
bcpach~l ne always rousei himself and
bccsm" greatly animated. always yigor-
Ou.ly denying II.
While his mind was aroused by this
.timulu. u had bc.n decidcl that one u
th. counsel was to announce that the
matter hal hccp fully investigated aud
hi. innoc.nc. fully established. The
parti,s to this strange drama assembled
Ia the room u the stricken man. lie
at ilcn, and immoyable. with his bead
Ina lis hands.
A. the old aud ever ranking charg.
u dishonesty fell upon his ears the II.
feet was exactly that which had b-en
forc-e.n and expected. lie slowly RAISED
his head. Looking his pseudo accus.r
straight In the eye be repeated, In a
loud tone - voice. with rising iniiec-
ton aud with great energy, II, Is lie. "
The critical moment hal come. The
lawyer who hal prosecuted him AMI So
cured his Incarceration then steppcd up
10 him aud said; "You are right II i-
lie. and you stand before the community
yindica,ci man. have the order for
your releas. In my pocke'."
Then the lawyers stooi OF to watch
the elect. hoping that the Joy at the
pro~pcct - release AMI vindication would
have the effect of putting the clerk again
Ia his right mind but no sign u Joy
oyerpr,al the mans features. His fac.
bore its usual stolid expression. II
seemed TO have no apparent effect upon
him.
The clerk turned IN. face toward thu
speaker. ~ II hs did not understand him.
Then his heal fell forward. and the man
was pr.cipitai.d upon the floor at the
feet u the lawyers. A single glance
sufiicci. lie was deaal.-Gre-n Bag.