The evening times., 1896-09-19

| eHt Ue discharged
What uoes the prosecuting attorney
want to say on the question: asked I'll.
judge.
| Il confess, your honor" said Mr.. Rich
ardson, Il am troubled about this case
| The evidence is not conclusive, and would
| not like to press Il conviction. The test.
| mony OF the officers falls short, and the
real people who are prosecuting are not
! in court. The girl stands on the threshold
vi u downward career
| Are you sure OF that?'' interrupted his
honor. Il am afraid she is across The TIRES
| hold and is inside the house.
Il hesitate to convict her," continued
Mr.. Richardson. These misrortunes have
| all come upon her at once, aud she may
| rectify her errors.''
Florence beamed gratefully upon the
prosecutor as he gave way to the judge.
AS Judge Kiinball bent over his Cesk
and looked Squarely at the oval face OF
the wayward girl before him, a deep hush
| crcpt over the courtroom. Out in the han
| Nike Flynn tiptocd, and INSIDE the Iailiifs
were ready 10 suppress the slightest sound
1t was moving moment, for the young
girls future was, perhaps. in the hands CT
the man who sat behind the Zig desk and
| heSitatcd in solving the problem before
him.
TIE only unconcerned person in the Court
room was the girl herself. She laneuidly
toyed with u white leather belt around her
slender waist and concealed a yawn bei.ind
one of her dainty, white hands.
When Judge Kinball spoke his voice
was low and sorrowful. For tie past
week the papers have been so full Of her
moral ob!iquity, and yet so little evidence
is presented against her. j cannot under
stand it,"
Il hope your honor is not going to CON
Wet her on newspaper testimony. That
amounts 10 Is much as Policeman Fathers
evidence"
Judge KimbaIl frowned and the spec
tators broke the silence with laugh.
The court said. This il one of the
saddest cases | have ever known. 1t is
rare that such case as this comes i'll a
police court. This girl has been brought
up under circumstances that would lead
her TO become an ornament to her family.
TO her friends and to society. But when
she is released she does hot appear To
change her life. she does not seem 10
appreciate ner condition. l would be the
last one To give her kick down hill The
only thing want now is To her from her
own lips what she proposes To do"
Judge Kimball waited for Lawyer o'Neil
to answer.
Il shall not ask her; am not re-
former said O'Nen, curtly.
MIR. richardson splang to mis- feet. I'm
sorry to hear counsel say that lie said. .
And SO am /, ~ added the judge.
THE INDIFFERENT LAWYER
Il have tried this case according TO the
rules OF law and evidence. There. IL not
sointiila OF proof galnst her on this charge,
and she was dragged fIom that lunchEoom
without reason" said O'Neil. Her life is
her own affair, and l have no right TO
probe into it,"
''Wen, think differently" said Judge
Kimban.
SHE las Just arrived at the age when
she is most interesting-Inost attractive
The court would be glad to help her, and
whatever | co and whatever / say is for
the purpose OF helping her. She has many
good, KIND friends. but do not understand
the position OF counsel in tie case. For my
sell, my whole object in all have done is
to help her and get her away from this bad
life. | would be glad 10 help her by word
or deed. She is breaking the heart of her
mother. There is Il letter in court from
her mother toGay-a most pathetic letter.
She is breaking tie hearts OF her sisters.
She is breaking the hearts OF her friends.
Now, / do not want to send this girl
to the workhouse-that is not my desire;
but / want to start her on a night and
virtuous life II | thou ght it was best 10
let her go l would have no hesitancy;
but it is u query in my mind whether
that is the best thing to do. 1t seems to
ME that her trial and what / can say 10
her will not penetrate her heart, SO that
she will begin TO think seriously of the
life she is leading and what its awful
end will be.
THE JUDGES KIND WORDS.
II would be very glad to help her, aud
all desired when made the suggestion to
counsel was some promise or sign OF d
promise from her thar she would do better
Counsel refused to give that promise,
and was not inclined 10 allow her to do
so''
Il would be glad to help her. inter
ruptea Lawyer U'Neil, but 1 90 rot think
il is my business to mix up with other
peoples affairs. l cont want People to
interfere with me, and / &C not interfere
withthe personal affairs and life of Others
Whether this girl tegins new and
better life," Continued Juuge KimEall, not
noticing the interruption, depends upon
herself. If she does her friends will gather
around her and give her every dsSistanccin
their power
Then turning direct to the child one of
the most dramatic incidents OF the
nlarkable trial occurred. With his voice
plainly betra ying the deep emotion he felt,
his eyes nuistencd with tears, Judge KIM
ball said:
Florence, if you go ON in this way il will
end in destruction. Now, want TO help you
IL is the desire of my heart. l am not
acting SO much as judge as am iIiend
Tell me, have you a desire TO reform, and
If you have that desire, will you prom isc
to carry 1t out?"
O'Neil whispered in his clients ear,
and she seemed TO rebel against the advice
lie at last gave her TO speak to his honor.
Finally she arose, and after sweeping the
thronS clustered around her with glance
of scorD, she waited for the jcdge TO speak
The judge wiped his spectacles ncrvously
with his handkerchief as he sald huskiiy:
.'Will you promise TO behave yourself in the
future and be a good girl?''
Florence bit her full under lip aud wis
mute.
Say yes," whispered O'Ncil. "Tell him
you will"
'Yes, wiil,'' she at last rnurmured in her
clear voice. Il will be good eirl.''
II earnestly hope you are sincere. You
are dismissed
1t was with difficulty that Mike Flynn
made Il way for her through the corridor
after she left the courtroom. Men and
women pressed around her, but not to her
embarrassment She was approached by
lady from the Central Union Mission, who
walked down the street with her.
And thus ends one chapter in Florence
JordaD's life, Which she should never forget.
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