The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-11-29
tour and had taken up his abode at his

tour and had taken up his abode at his
country seat near Starcross; that in an
ticipation of the festivities which were
to follow the whole Of his grand family
plate and her ladyship's jewels had been
brought down from his London bankers;
that one of the prisoners was discard
ed servant, who knew where those val
uables were kept; that the house had
been broken into and the whole Of the
silver swept away, and that another Of
the accused was caught in the act of
climbing down by the trellis work in
the wall, close to the place where an
entrance had been effected. The case
against this fellow, who was indicted
under the name of George Mason, SEEM
ed to be clear enough; that against his
companions rested upon circumstantial
evidence.
One Of them, named Barker, had been
seen in company with Mason the day
before the burglary, prowling about the
park, close to the house, in a suspicious
manner, and the landlord of the inn at
which Mason had been staying swore
that man, whom he afterward recog.
nized as Baker, called for the prisoner,
George Mason, the following night. and
they walked out together in the direo-
tion of Lord Summerton's park. The
name of the discarded servant was Ga
| rev, and he had been taken into custody
in the house of noted receiver Of stolen
| goods at Plymouth, where, concealed
under the clothes, in the copper. that
were apparently waiting to be boiled,
was found mass of silver plate, broken
up and partially melted, but not suffi-
GENTLY so as to obliterate the marks
whereby it was identified as Lord Sum-
merton's property. Baker and Carew
were defended by counsel. and every
dodge that experience and ingenuity
could devise was made use of to get
them off and to throw all the blame on
Mason.
I The dock in the Exeter assize court is
paneled in at the sides and raised good
height from the ground. was standing
in sort of gangway there is to the
right of it and could only see the back
of the prisoners heads, so when heard
the above remark began to press for
ward out of curiosity to see what sort
of looking man this George Mason was,
but my attention was diverted by a
rustling of silks, and the next moment
Beatrice, countess of Summerton, es-
corted by her noble spouse, appeared on
the bench and was politely handed into
seat ON the left of the judge by the
high sheriff.
There she sat, proud and cold hearted
as ever, while the judge proceeded to
pass sentence on George Mason, who
was now alone in the dock, leaning over
the front rail with his face buried in
his hands in an attitude of despair. He
had stood up bravely during the trial
and while his companions were receiv-
ing sentence, but now he seemed to
have broken down. His lordship briefly
recapitulated the evidence and observed
that it was impossible for any man Of
sense to doubt that he (the prisoner)
: was guilty, land should be strangely
wanting in my duty" said the judge,
"if did not pass upon you severe SEN
tence, and the sentence of the court is
that you be transported over the seas
for the term of 20 years.
Then the convict Mason raised hi!
, head and turned to quit the dock, and
as he turned, his features were revealed
to me. They were those of Robert Leth
bridget
I started back in amaze and horror
! and voice beside me exclaimed:
"Oh, dear, dear, lookl That charm
8 ing Lady Summerton has tainted. Wha
shame it is that there is not bette
, ventilation in these courts They ar
really sitting"
was coming from the Office Of tn
r governor of the Jail, where I had beer
Q to get leave to see my friend, and b.
t was being escorted from the place o
detention under the dock, when we me
Q again under such awfully changed cir
8 cumstances He recognized me in
moment, turned aside and sprang light
, ly past me-not supposing that knew
Q him-into his cell, which was close a
: hand.
Q I followed, and then he turned roun'
: upon me, almost savagely, demanding
t what meant by intruding upon him.
: "Don't you think I am sufficiently
l. punished?" he asked, in cold, holloV
}, tone, without having the friends
g have disgraced coming here to gloa
8 over me?'
r "Bob, you are not guilty. You
thiefp'
/ A faint smile crossed his face as
spoke, but it quickly vanished, and b
q answered gravely:
"None of us can tell what we ma
d become. You see me as am"
= I hadOushed to his side to give hir
s my sympathy, to be indignant with hir
g against the conspiracy of which I SUP
If posed him to be the victim, and to sc
It him thus standing before me coolly
without one word of thanks or greetin
d explaining nothing, deigning notf
b ing, but rather giving me tacitly to III
d derstand that my presence was unwe
l come, and he would gladly be left alon
70 -vexed me, and replied:
N "You must indeed have changed frol
al what yoa were if this is your receptio
ls of an old friend, Robert Lethbridge.' y
70 "Hushp" he exclaimed, seizing N
At by the arms "Never mention tn,
y name again. Robert Lethbridge died til
t. same day that George Mason, the bu,
70 glar, found himself in jail"
"Do you mean to tell me that yo
- had act or part in that robbery?"
er "a jury of my countrymen hay
re found me guilty of it," he answere
,e rather sullenly. "Isn't that enough?'
n "Why did you not write to me? WI
I'd lid you not defend yourself? Why, o.
in Bob
v. I,stopped, not knowing what to sa.
r. "What was the use?" he replied in
10 softer tone than he had hitherto use
n. 81 was caught in the act. What cou
of l say?"