CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1897-07-01
BY A LITTLE GIRL.
The Hearts of riminals Touched
by Sweet Innocence.
Flowers from the Wee Maiden Help
to Aberste . Young Negro
Charged with Murder-A
sa1utary Lesson.

At the close OF business recently in
the probate court, just as Judge Cox
was about to leave the bench, a little tot
of girl stepped from. her mothers side.
and, raising herself on her tiny toes be-
fore the railing in front of the judges
chair, timidly inquired: please, judge.
may see the prisoners?"
Certainly. my child" smilingly re
piled the judge, but we have none in
this court. Perhaps. though, Mr.. Nc
Gill will take you to see them
''Oh, thank you, judge" the little one
said, '.for i do want to see the poor
prisoners so much-
Mr.. McGill led the child to the cage
in the basement of the city hall build
ing. where prisoners are locked up while
awaiting their appearance in the Grim
inal court, and, as she peered through
the bars at them, her little eyes filling
with tears, She whispered to Mr. McGin:
"oh, isn't there something can do for
them, feel so sorry for them?''
The child's words of sympathy and
sorrow were the first many of the
wretched beings had heard addressed 10
them for years. the first, perhaps. some
had heard since childhood. and thei.
hardened faces softened, not a few eyes
moistened and more than one muir
INJURED: God bless you, Little one as
their little visitor followed her guid,,
out of the gloomy prison walls.
One morning several days later there
came in the register of wills, mail "a
box addressed in a childish hand.
Opening it Mr.. McGiil found that it con
tanned several punches of fragrant ar
butus- Among the flowers was a note
from the little tot. asking him to dis
tribute the flowers among the prison
ers that day in the cage. with the in
Junction that he should give the largest
bunch TO the 'baddest one" The cage
was again crowded that day. several OF
the prisoners being those who were
there the day the child called After
learning that the one charged with the
grasest crime was a Young negro man.
brought mp for trial that morning for
murder. Mr.. McGin distributed the
flowers among the prisoners. giving the
alleged murderer the largest bunch
As he distributed them he explained
to the prisoners by whom they had been
sent. and that their little friend wished
them to know that she felt sorry for
them aud hoped they would hereafter
be good. Each prisoner carefully pinned,
his bunch OF the sweet little flowers "a,
the lapel OF his coat. and as the one to
he tried for his life was led npssai,-s 10
face the ordeal he remarked. gratefully.
.fen that little T;ri. mister. tint m
powerful glad 10 know dat I've got one
friend icf, me. Gawd knows dat isn't
guilty. and | b'lieve dat He has done
sent me desc flowers to tell me dat lis
all gwinc to be right wild me"
So it was that every prisoner who APP
peared that day in the two criminal
courts wore bunch of arbutus. and as
those who looked curiousiv at him ac-
eused him of killing his fciiowman syith
prcmeditated malice saw the modest.
fragrant flowers pinned upon his breast
they concluded that they were hardly
consistent with guilt. And they were
not. For on the second day of the trial
the jury in whose keeping the prison
er's life wns declared. after short de
liberation. that he had taken life in
defense OF his own. and therefore they
acquitted him.
OF course Mr.. McGill wrote to his lit
tie friend. telling her of all this. and q
day or two later another package care
TO him with n note from her. The pacis-
age contained a handsome copy of tho
book Of all books and in the note she
requested him TO hand it to the youn.'
negro. Mr.. McGill sent for him. an,t
when he came handed II TO him. explain
ing that Il had been sent TO him by has
little friend. who wrote tha, she wished
him to read il that he might know tsca
and keep His commandments. The man.
who had never before been eaai gesl
with crime. was very much touched.
and. after asking Mr.. McGiil To ten $40
child how much he appreciated her gifts
to him. said IL had all been lesson 20
him said IL had all been lesson 10 liisn
which he would strive to never forgs {.
and he lcf, promising that he would try
to be at all times hereafter all that his
little friend would have him.--washing-
ton Star.