The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-11-08
The Way That Truth Crept In


ECItlng through WIN II DfllllanllN.
On going into court one morning
he hurriediy besought me to take
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
harrister attempted
The facts were simple. terribly
simple. Ny client-awkWard, good
looking, but not very Intelligent
was the son of farmer. He had left
his home, and now stood arraigned
for burglariously entering his fathers
house, while 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.
But the great. the strongest fact
against us was that the testimony of
my clients own mother was to be
given against her son.
She told in her hushed voice and
gasping tones how she had been
aroused during the night by a serv-
ant: how. hearing a noise below, she
had gone down alone--the girl being
100 frightened to accompany her
how she had then seen her boy, the
darling of her heart. fumbling at the
door of the safe. and how. seeing her,
ne had turned and fed through the
open window
Now it struck me as being curious
that Il 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 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 had
aroused her mistress and allowed her
10 descend alone. As her mistress did
not return, however, she summoned
another servant. and together they
went downstairs to find their mistress
in a swoon. Then, just as the crown
counsel was sitting down, she added,
in an unhappy burst of self-import
ance:
And next day gave information
TO the police
Indeed" said l, rising quickly
and what did you tell them?"
Il told them that missis had gone
down during the night and found
Master Rupert (the prisoner) trying
30 open the safe
Immediately l shot the question at
her, And where did you get your
Information" and, at once, her man
ner changed. She hesitated. red
0ened, stammered: then. with a sud
den instinct. she pointed to where the
prisoners mother was sitting.
She told me-" said the girl.
Then a striking scene followed. The
prisoners mother rose slowly, and
said:
Il never told her, my lord. What
the girl says is not true. | would
have told no one unless | had been
compelled"
when do you say your mistress
told 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
Al least you told your fellow serv-
anfs?"
We knew it, she said.
-'knew it | shouted ironically:
knew it was the prisoner who had
tried 10 open the safe. Pray how did
you know it if you did not see the
act committed?'
Il mean that when we heard that
there had been burglary we thought
that Master Rupert had done it.
Why" / asked
''Because"-she faltered-''Master
Rupert had ran away from home and
I did not trust him
SIN fact | said, you did not like
hm?"
NO said the girl, then stopped
and BIZ her lip.
Again | asked her why.
He came between me and his
brother she answered hotly and de
family.
His brother. This is the first we
have heard of his brother" and |
turned to the crown counsel, whose
features had look of mruff1ed pla-
cidity. Then to the girl | said:
And where was his brother on the
night this burglary took place ~
That the question touched home |
saw in an instant. The girl paled and
trembled, but she answered steadily:
81 do not know"
Something told me the other broth
or was the pivot on which tie whole
case turned. | let the girl go, and
asked that the mother might be re-
called, deploring meanwhile the fact
that had had no opportunity of con-
Sulting my client.
She entered the box with look OF
IouUinu on her face as thouoh