Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-10-25
Tie Way That Truth Crept In
BY Charles S. Jones.

VII NC as IolIS junior " SUI : t1.iHii7
Gers. a man notorious for taking more |
work than he could perform and then
getting through with it brilliantly.
On going into court one morning
he hurricdiy besough1 me to take a
case of his. "a very simple affair, he
said. ! yielded, and within TWO min
utes found myself charged With one
OF The most difficult defenses THAT ever
Larristcr attempted.
The facts were simple, terribly
simple. My c!ieMt-awllward, good
looking, but not very intelligent
was the son of I, farmer. He had left
his home, and now stood arraigned
for burglariously entering his fathers
house. white that father was away in
London. and attempting to open an
iron safe, which was kept, OF all queer
places in the world, in the pantry.
Elit the great, the strongest fact
against US was that the testimony OF
m. clients own mother was to be
given against her SON
SHE Iold in her hushed voice and
GA sping tones how she had been
aroused during the night by a serv-
ant; how, hearing noise below, she
had gone down alone-the girl being
too frightened to accompany her
how she had then seen her boy, the
darling of her heart, fumbing at the
door of the safe, and how. seeing her,
he had turned and fed through the
open window.
Now it struck me as being curious
that a woman who had given evidence
with such Obvious reluctance against
her son should have done so volun-
tarily. Something, some fact or some
person. it seemed to me, must have
compelled her to say it was her son
She SAW
The EeNt witness was a business
like girl, who gave her evidence with
out the least reluctance. She stated
that on hearing Il noise she had
aroused her mistress and allowed her
to descend alone. AS her mist ress did
not return. however. she summoned
another servant. and together they
went downstairs to find their mistress
in swoon. Then. just as the crown
counsel was sitting down, she added,
in all unhappy burst OF self-import-
ance:
''-And next day l gave information
to the police
"Indeed,' said !. rising quickly
and what did You tell theme"
81 told them that lnssis had gone
down during the night and found
Master Rupert (the prisoner) trying
TO open the safe"
Immediately 1 shot the question at
her: And where did YOU get your
informaton?" and. at once, her man
ner changed. She heSitatcd red
dcned. stammered; then, with Il sud
den instinct, she pointed to where tn,
prisoners mother was sitting.
''She told me- said the girl.
Then Il striking scene followed. TIL.
prisoners mother rose slowly, ant
said:
Il never told her, my lord. Wha
have told no one unless L had beer
compelled"
"WEen do You say your mistress
tod YOU this?' l asked,
about II O'Clock next morning,
the girl answered.
and at what time did YOU com
municate with the police!''
about two
'Whom did YOU tell meanwhile?"
''No one
"What. You went about knowing
the guilty party, and never speaking
AT least YOU told your fellow serN
un1so"
I'VE knew it, she said.
'knew it" [ shouted, ironically
"kncw ii was the prisoner who ha
tried to open the safe Pray how di
YOU know it il you did not see til
act colnmitted?'
II mean that when we heard tina
there had been a burglary we though
that Master Rupert had done it,"
why" l asked.
''Becausc"-sh falteretl-" Maste
Rupert had ran away from home an
l did not trust him.
In fact" l said you did not liz
him"
No" said the girl, then stoppe
and bit her lip,
Again l asked her why.
'lle came between me and h
brother" she answered, hotly and d
family.
His brother! This is the first v
have heard of his brother,'' and
turned to the crown counsel, who
features had look of unruhed pl
cidity. Then to the girl. sad
and where was his brother on Il
night this burglary took place."
That the question touched home
saw in an instant. The girl palcd al
trembled, but she answered steadil
81 do not know"
Something told me the other brot
or was the pivot on which the who
case turned. | let the girl 90, a
asked that the mother might be
called, deploring meanwhile the ia
that l had had no opportunity of &C
my r1inrt