The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-03-03
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Seven months had passed II was
he last day of the Leeds Winter AS
sizes Silas Mnrston Ind been sum
moned on the jury. The last case ON
the calendar was one Of forgery. The
;lerk called out the name of Joseph
rnylor." and the gnoler brought up the
| prisoner, a lad of seventeen, poorly
had, and apparently half-starved. He
rembled as he stepped to the front Of
HE dock, and his face, as he glanced
'urtively about, was dcathly pale.
Suddenly as his gaze rested on the
hurry box, he staggered, clutched at the
lock ratings and chung convulslvely.
while his face alternately palcd and
.rlmsoned. so he remained, with eyes
'ast down.
Had curious spectator been watch
ing Sllas Marston closely he might
0avc seen that jurymans cold eyes III
ate, and his mouth part slightly.
while an ashen pallor ovcrspread his
features. But those signs of agitation
were only momcntury
Counsel for the prosecution opened
nv 'h,t Al1f NItlfUtti Idtl. I III
accused, he said, had been in the EN-
ployment of Messrs. Clifford and Rice
as crrand boy; 1t was also his duty
TO sweep up the counting house. A
'orged cheque for f75, in favor of Mr.
barley, with whom the firm had denl-
ngs, had been presented at Clifford
and Ricc's bankers and cashed When
It was discovered TINT several forms
we're missing from n chequc book, sus-
plciOn fell upon the prisoner. who had
access to the drawer where the book
was kept, and had been seen in the
company Of notorious criminal not
n custody. He was accused and
searched, when three blank forms,
text IN sequence TO that which had
been cashed, We're found upon him.
The body of the eheque had not been
Oiled up by the accused, nor did he
present it. but he was charged with
forging Messrs. Clifford and Ricc's sig
nature and the endorsement both Of
which We're excellent limitations and
must have been copied from genuine
signatures.
The boy was asked TO plead He
stammcred something unlntclllgiblc
and burst into tears. The gentleman
who had been requested by the Court
TO defend him rose hastily and
pleaded mot guilty" on his behalf
Silas Marston frowned
ITS n waste Of time" he muttcred to
his neighbor on the left, the foreman
Iof the jury.
Il think it Is" rejoined that gentle
man; but let the boy have a
chance
Counsel for the prosecution called
witness after witness, whose evidence
made it abundantly clear that the ac-
.eused was guilty, but that he had been
the dupe OF an older criminal, who had
escaped with the plumber
Counsel for the defence finding him
self unable 10 contest the evidence. ap-
pealed to the Court
II understand" lie said. "that the
prisoner was sent away from home on
ly few months ago to sink or swim
He had dlsobeyed his father, n man Of
considerable means, who turned him
out Of doors. do not envy that mans
feelings when he learns the consequen-
ces Of his unnatural conduct, and
maintain, gentlemen Of the jury, that
4 Is he who should be stumbling in the
lock and not his son."
Silas Marston cast down his eyes.
'The prisoner" continued the learned
Gentleman. when on the brink of star
walton fell In with a man, whose
aame has been mentioned, and who
nay yet have TO answer for his share
n this crime. For motives Of his own,
his man took pity on and fed him. II
vas he who induced him to apply to
he prosecutors for the situation Of err
'and-boy under an alias, and It was in
obedience to his command that the ac-
used obtained blank cheques and let