The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-22

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There had been a daring case of bur-
glary at farmhouse in Cheshire. Three
men had tied down and gagged the farmer
and his two maid servants, and had rified
the house at their leisure.
There were two clews. In the struggle
one of the men had left button from his
coat behind and he had also had his face
so severely scratched by one Of the maids
that the girl said ''she was sure she had
left her mark upon him."
Weeks passed without any arrest being
made, and the people began to forget the
burglary. until one day a man was ar
rested at Liverpool. He had with him q
bundle containing some Of the plumber OF
the farm house. His face bore traces OF
scratching, and, to clinch the matter, his
coat wanted a button, and the buttons or
1t correspondent exactly with that picked
up at the scene of the burglary.
His defense was very fiimsy. HE knew
nothing about the burglary. but had bought
the coat and things very cheap of mar
In the street." He accounted for the
scratches by saying that he was sailor
and had In that capacity much rough
work to do.
There was no defense; the jury found 6
verdict Of guilty" without leaving thu
box. and the prisoner was asked II he hat
anything to say.
"Well, cap'n," he said, "it's hard to b.
convicted for noth'n. know no more o.
this burglary than baby; when 1t hap
pened 1 was fightin' the slavers on thu
Gold coast"
There was something in the mans man
ner that impressed the Judge, so he said
not unkindly:
But surely, prisoner, If your story !!
true, you must have friends and comrades
with whom you could have communicated
II is too late now"
You're right, cap'n; it's too late.
couldn't communicate with them, anyhow
for don't know where they are. They ma!
~ in America or they may be at the Cape.
"But," urged the Judge. "the court ha
no wish to convict a man who may be limo
cent. Is there no one who could speak TO
your"
The prisoner looked in hopeless sort o
way around the court.
ANos lC oS6oht Wv Se%~e 1890 $500 -
lighted on a man in the court. "Yes," h
added. pointing to him, there is gentle
man who might speak for me If he would.
The judge looked in the direction of tn
individual pointed at.
do you know the prisoner" he asked.
mo, my lord" was the reply. II neve
saw him before in my life."
"Well, Captain Sharpe" said the prison
or, II know you well enough"
"Is your name Captain Sharper" aske'
the judge.
eyes, my lord" came the reply.
"Well, the prisoner seems to recognize
you, SO I will ask you to step into the wit
ness box and be sworn, that he may asl
you questions"
1.-The captain Gent into the box, and thu
following dialogue ensued:
Are you Captain Sharpe of the varsity
Vulture?" asked the prisoner.
"Yes."
"Were you in command Of her on tn.
slave coast this spring?'
IT was"
"And wasn't one Of the crew."
"Most certainly not"
"3ut cap'n, don't you remember the slav
ship that you boarded?"
Eyes"
"And you yourself led the boarders?''
"Oh, yes; but oil that is nothing-you may
easily have heard of or read all about
that"
"Well, but cap'n, once more-don't YOU
remember the big black SLAYER who was al
most cutting you down? Don't you re.
member the ono man who stood between
you and death, and what he got for III
Don't you remember that?"
And brushing back his hair, the prisoner
showed a great scar down one side of his
head.
The whole court looked on breathless al
the captain stared at the scar and at the
man till his eyes seemed starting from hi.
head. At length, as II In a dream, he NUT.
tered to himself: Good heavens, is 1t pos
sible?"
Then slowly and deliberately he got OH,
Of the witness box and clambered into tn,
dock, where he seized the prisoners hand
and, turning to the judge, said: my lord
this was the best man in my crew and HI
saved my life. Providence has sent me
here to save him. He is so changed by Ill
ness that could not recognize him. But
there Is no mistake now. If you tmprtsor
the old bo'sun of the Vulture you must take
the captain with him."
Amid cheers and sobs that no one carat
to suppress the judge briefly directed the
Jury to reconsider their verdict. which they
at once did. finding a unanimous mo,
guilty"
AS they left the town Capt. Sharpe might
have been heard addressing his companion
somewhat as follows
well, old man, we pulled through thai
business pretty well. think. 1t was a neal
shave, though"
Capt. Sharpe" was nothing less than {
confederate, and he had assumed the par
OF captain to save his companion In crime
London Evening News.
Fighting Bob's Shirt
This comes from Santiago de Cuba. Abou
week ago launch from the Spanish