Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-25
A LEGAL INCIDENT.
A TRAGIC ENDING OF AN UNJUST
CRIMINAL CONVICTION.


what strong Circumstantial Evidence
DID in the Case OF Trusted Clerk.
He Died When He Learned That Hs
Was Innocent Before the Law.
The following thrilling story comes
from the lips Of well known member
Of the Pennsylvania bar:
A very bad and dishonest failure had
occurred, in which certain trusted
clerk seemed to have been guilty of the
larger share Of the crime. He, with his
employer, was arrested and charged
with the crime. The clerk stoutly pro-
tested his innocence and denied all
knowledge Of the fraud OF any connec-
ton with his employer.
However, there was chain Of cir
cumstantial evidence woven around him
which was exceptionally strong and
which his counsel could not break down,
although he was firmly convinced him
self of his innocence. The clerk was
convicted and sent to Jail for term of
years.
After being confined IN prison for
about year the poor fellows mind be-
gan 10 weaken, and finally he broke
down completely. He was taken from
prison and transferred to o hospital for
the insane. All the time the clerk con-
tinued to protest his innocence. After
he had been confined In the hospital
three or four years, certain facts in the
failure were elected which clearly proved
that the unfortunate clerk was entirely
innocent Of having committed any crime
OF course steps were Immediately
taken to secure the pardon of the man;
the facts were laid before the pardon
board at their next meeting and an order
was given for his immediate release.
It now became the delicate duty OF
the counsel in the case to break the
happy intelligence to the pardoned clerk,
But the question that confronted them
was what could be done to restore his
reason, and would he believe the newsi
If his mind could not be restored he
could not be taken away. What could
be dones After consultation between
the counsel on both sides Of the case it
was agreed to call upon the poor clerk
and make an attempt to rouse him from
the apathy and lethargy into which he
had fallen. This they decided to do by
accusing him again of the theft of the
funds. Whenever this subject was
broached he always reused himself and
became greatly animated, always vigor-
ously denying it.
While his mind was aroused by this
stimulus it had been decided that one of
the counsel was to announce that the
matter had been fully investigated and
his innocence fully established. The
parties to this strange drama assembled
in the room of the stricken man. He
sat silent and immovable, with his head
in his hands. IA. bissl IL.
As the old and ever ranking charge
Of dishonesty fell upon his ears the ef-
feet was exactly that which had been
foreseen and expected He slowly raised
his head. Looking his pseudo accuser
straight In the eye he repeated, in q
loud tone Of voice, with a rising infiec-
tion and with great energy, ut is he."
The critical moment had come. The
lawyer who had prosecuted him and se-
cured his incarceration then stepped up
to him and said: "You are right. 1t isa
Lie, and you stand before the community
vindicated man. have the order for
your release in my pocket 3f 4
Then the lawyers stood off to watch
the effect, hoping that the joy at the
prospect Of release and vindication would
have the effect of putting the clerk again
In his right mind. But no sign of Joy
overBpread the mans features. His face
bore its usual stolid expression. It
seemed to have no apparent effect upon
him. -
The clerk turned hts face toward the
speaker, as II he did not understand him.
Then his head fell forward, and the man
was precipitated upon the floor at the
feet Of the lawyers. A single glance
suficed. He was dead. Green Bag.