The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-10-21
by righteousness as the light, and thy


judgment as the noon day" Mrs. Mar
tin committed all her cares to Him who
said, ''call on me in the day of trouble
and will hear you"
"The next morning Mr.. Rich came with
an officer and Edgar was arrested. In
the afternoon he had a preliminary ex-
animation and was bound over to the Su-
preme Court. Two of Mrs. Martins
with Edgar short time Lawyer Eastman
decided to be his counsel. 1t was only
/ four weeks before the court would be in
session. In the mean time Edgar coun-
/ sci was not idle.
After the court convened Edgar was
! indicted before the grand jury. When
his case was tried the court room was
crowded. In opening the case the
county attorney stated that the bank bill
was found in the prisoners overcoat
pocket and he was seen putting something
in the pocket the day the theft was dis
covered.
The senior clerks were called and test-
fed that on the day Mr.. Rich disc overed
his loss they saw Edgar go into the back
room and take down his overcoat and put
something into the pocket.
The rebutting evidence, Mr.. Buck and
| Mr.. Dow, were called on the stand. They
testified that they were travelling sales
|
clerks in Mr.. Rich's store. They were at
the store the day before the theft was dis
covered and retired to rest at an early
hour at the hotel where they boarded
Hall and Black boarded there also, and
their rooms adjoined. After they had
been in bed awhile they heard the two
clerks come up to their room. 1t was not
long before they We're engaged in a low
conversation, but they could hear part of
it. One said to the other, Il despise
Edgar Martin. MI, Rich puts more con-
tidence in him than he does in us. Now.
tomorrow, if there is a chance we will do
something to clear him out of the store.
He is a second Uriah Heep'' They
left the next morning quite early and did
not think of it again until they saw Ed
gar's arrest for larceny in the paper, and
also that Lawyer Eastman was his coun-
sci. They wrote to Edgar's counsel about
what they overheard between the clerks
As this was Lawyer Eastman first plea
all eyes We're fastened upon him. He
spoke of tile widow struggling with pov.
erty and hardships to bring up her son,
and how successful she had been in rear.
ing him in the ways of virtue. He spoke
of Edgar as being very exemplary young
man, who had tried very hard from lit
tie boy to be a comfort to his mother.
He said no language of his could express
his contempt for the course George Hall
and Frank Black had taken to crush the
widow son, when they might have been
young men of moral soundness The
people were astonished at his eloquence,
and before he closed tears rolled down
manly cheeks.
After the counsel for the government
had made his plea the judge instructed
the jury and they retired. They were out
but short time and on coming in the
foreman pronounced the verdict in a clear
voice. "not guilty"
The people were rejoiced that right
had triumphed over wrong. George Hall
and Frank Black were tried and convicted
and served a sentence for two years in
prison for perjury,
Edgar Martin was reinstated in MI
Rich store and it was not long before he
was a member of the firm. His mother is
gently passing down the declivity of life.
As Lawyer Eastman's foster parents
ale tenderly passing down the western
side OF the hill of life he is mindful of
them on all occasions. They feel that
they cast their bread upon the waters and
are finding it after many days. Lawyer
Eastman is one of natures noblemen, and
quite likely his voice will yet be heard in
the halls of Congress.
JULIA c. MUDGETT.
Stockton Springs