Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-10-20
The Way That Truth CTept In


Z ARLY In my career, while follow
Il, ing the western circuit. l acted
on occasions As junior 90 Sergt. Saun-
ders. "A man notorious for taking more
work than he could perform. and then
getting through with il brilliantly.
On going into court one morning
he hurriedly besought me 20 take
case OF his, "a very simple affair" he
said. I yielded. and within two min
utes found myself charged with one
of the most difficult defenses that ever
barrister attempted.
The facts were simple. terribly
simple. My clieEt-awkward. good
looking. but not very Intelligent
was the son OF farmer. lie had left
his home. and now stood arraigned
for burglariously entering his fathers
house while that father was away In
London. and attempting 10 open an
jron safe, which waS kept. of all queer
/ places in the world in the pantry.
But the great. the strongest fact
against us was that the testimony OF
my clients own mother was 10 BE-
given against her son
She told in her hushed voice and
gasping tones how she had been
aroused during the night by serv-
amt; how. hearing noise below. she
had gone down alone-the girl being
too frightened 70 accompany her
how she had then seen her boy. the
darling of her heart. fumblng AZ the
door OF the safe. and how. seeing her.
he had turned and hed through the
open window.
Now il struck me as being curious
that woman who had gwen evidence
with such obvious reluctance against
her son should have done 50 volun-
tarily. Something. some fact or some
person. il seemed 10 me. must have
compelled her TO say il was her sOn
she saw.
The next witness was business
like girl who gave her evidence with
out the least reluctance. She stated
that on hearing noise she hac
aroused her mistress and allowed hei
10 descend alone. As her mis- reSs die
not return. however. she summoned
another servant. and together the,
went downstairs TO And their mistress
in swoon. Then. just as the crown
counsel was sitting down, she added
,, in an unhappy burst of sslf-import
ance:
And next day l gave information
10 the police"
Indeed" said I. rising quickly
+, and what did you tell them?"
Il told them that missis had gon
\ down during the night and foun
q Master Rupert (the prisoner) tryin
10 open the safe"
e Immediately l shot the question q
E her: And where did you get you
= information? ?" and. at once. her mar
ner changed She hesitated, RED
a dened. stammered: then. with q SUD
4 den instinct, she pointed 20 where n
z prisoners mother was sitting.
e ''She told me-" said the girl
Z Then a striking scene followed. tn
prisoners mother rose slowly. an
l. said
- Il never told her. my lord. WINS
the girl says is not true. / wOul
q have told no one unless l had bee
IS compelled"
''Wken do you say your mistre.
u told you this?" | asked.
e About IL o'clock next morning
$ the girl answered.
And at what time did you con
municate with the police p
e About two"
:. "Whom did you tell neanwhile?"
mo one"
what! You went about KNOWN
:. the guilty party, and never speakin
a AT least you told your fellow ser
"a ants?"
I'VE knew IT," she said.
KNEW it," / shouted, ironicall,
q "knew 1t was the prisoner who hl
"a tried 10 open the safe. Pray how
.. you know IL IL you did not see q
~ sei senmittscf"