The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-06-13


bode no good for Snyder. But the jury
disagreed. with nine for acquittal, and Mr..
Healing says he has disproved the "thir-
teen omen.
The question as to whether a lawyer
should and could conscientiously defend
man whom he knows to be guilty has
been argued for hundreds of years and is
still unsettled. Mr.. Healing, however,
tells story which brings out an opposite
situation. 1T was this way" says he:
Ten years ago there lived in the state
Of Virginia an old and highly respected
family whose founders had moved to the
state 200 years before There was
daughter OF the household who had been
graduated a the exclusive. seminary at
Staunton and was the most beautiful girl
in all the country around. But she was
willful. Her proud parents worried over
her future and their concern was in
creased when their only daughter began
receiving the attentions of a young
scapegrace of the neighborhood. They
begged cOaxed, commanded and threat
ened. but all seemed to do no good. Be
ing denied the company Of the man Of
her choice, the girl even took to meeting
him clanestinely. The proud parents
could take no outward steps, as that would
bring upon the family the gossip Of the
county, so continued TO hope that the
girl would see the folly Of her course and
discard her hayward admirer of her own
vo.ition.
Matters went along in this way until
one night the daughter fled secretly from
the home that had sheltered her and her
ancestors for generations. The next
morning she was gone. The neighbOrhood
had expected, the parents were blamed
CT
But what of the girl? She was met at
the gate by her lover and the two rode
twenty miles TO a neighboring town. where
the train was taken for the West. Two
days afterward they arrived in Indianapo-
lis and were married There were two
weeks of honeymoon, and then the couple
took little cottage in the northern part
or the city, where they lived happily for
two years. Then the old habits of the
young husband returned to him and he
hagan neglecting his wife. His evenings
from home became more numerous and
cross words became more frequent. Tears
stood in the eyes Of the young wife at
times. but she bravely dashed them away
and bore her burden in silence. No let
tors had come from her old parents and
the world looked drear.
"One morning she awakened to find her
husband gone. a note was left behind
saying he would not return and that it
was best for them to part, as he was tired
of the life he was living. She was sick
| for days and was tenderly cared for by
! kind neighbors. One Of these took COM
| passion on her and offered her home
/ as long as she might choose to stay. She
! was still beautiful and the girl face ap-
pe3led to the hearts of all She went 10
| live with the kind neighb0r and by her
attractive ways soon established for her
/ SELF a place al the nreside. She even be-
| came as one Of the family and when she
would speak Of leaving her words would
nos be listened 10.
several month passed and Jennie. as
! she was named. was beloved by every
/ one. One night she went 10 her room
earlier than usual complaining Of a Sc
we're headache. Her door was locked and
| the family heard her retire. The next
morning she was gone. She had arisen i'll
| the night and walked out the front door
| She had taken hut one dress with her, but
| when later in the morning it was found
| that a valuable gold watch, diamond
| ring and a large sum Of money were
| also missing the shock to the family was
great. As she had left the door I'M
| locked. it seemed probable that some
| burglar had coolly walked in and helped
| himself to all the valuables In the house.
| The members of the family scOrned the
| idea that she had taken the property, but
| could not account for her strange disap-
| pearance. The most plausible theory was
| that she had met her Grant husband on
| the street the two had agreed to live
| together again and she had been ashamed
| to acknowledge this fact to her new
! friends Again IL was surmised that the
| wayward husband had returned TO the
| house after his Wifi had left and helped
! himself TO the valuables. the places where
! they were kept being unconsciOusly d.
/ vulged by her to him. 1t was a strange
mystery.
Thornton on the Case.
Detective Thornton was placed upon
the case as soon as it had been reported
| to the police and the first thing he did
! was to begin a search for the missing
! young woman in order to see if she were
| still living with her husband. After a
long and almost hopeless search he at
| last located her on Ohio-st and found
her living alone. She was having cloth
| ing made for the apparent purpose of
| taking trip. The detective thought the
| circumstances warranted him in arrest
| ing the beautiful girl. and this was done
/ the next day. She cried piteOusly as she
| was taken to the Jail, and before her
! case came on for trial she had won every
one connected with the institution over
! to her side. All believed in her innocence.
) "She sent for me-" continued Mr..
| Healing, land I was surprised to find
! such a beautiful and pure-looking girl
| i'm Jail. I was attracted toward her at
! once. She told me of her life. Of the mis-
| take she had made in leaving the home
1
| down upon the heads of her old parents.
| She spoke of her proud lineage and her
| nostris quivered as she narrated her
/ aristocratic connections. Then she broke
/ down and said they had accused her of
! stealing. She knew she should have told
her friends about leaving, but they would
/ have opposed it SO, and she wanted TO
| go back to see her old parents and friends
as soon as she had finished her new
| wardrobe with the money that had been
| sent her by her brother
| Il was thoroughly convinced of the
| girls innocence and determined to take
| her case without hope of recompense.
| Wen, il came on for trial, she took the
stand and told her story to the Jury.
| Her quiet and sweet manner with her
| childlike innocence, affected everyone in
] the court room, and even Judge Irwin
and Prosecuting Attorney Mitchell were
visibly affected. She had not a cent left.
| she said. and as soon as the jury had
wiped the tears from their eyes and
! brought in a verdict of not guilty a
| collection was taken up to assist the girl
| 10 go back to see her old mother
| The girl thanked the court, the jury
| and the lawyers with tears In her eyes.
| One of the local papers especially had
| been full of long accounts Of her pathetic
/ condition and harsh treatment, and the
! representative of that paper was stand
] ing outside he court room waiting for
1 the girl He had been cultiVating her