The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1901-03-15
SAVED BY A CONFEDERATE.

GO HERE had been daring case OF /
burglary at a farmhouse in Ches- |
- hire Three men had tied down /
and gagged the farmer and his two /
maid servants, and had rihed the house
at their leisure.
There were two clews. In the strug-
gle 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 be-
ing made and people began to forget
the burglary. until one day man was
arrested at Liverpool. He had with
him d bundle containing some Of the
plunder of the farmhouse. His face
bore traces Of scratching, and, to clineh
the matter. his coat wanted a button,
and the buttons on it corresponded ex-
actly 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 off a man in the street" He ac-
counted for the scratches by saying
that he was a sailor. and had in that
capacity much rough work to do,
There was no defense; the jury found
verdict of guilty" without leaving
the box, and the prisoner was asked if
he had anything to say.
well, cap'n," be said, Its hard to
be convicted for noth'n'. know no
more of this burglary than a baby;
when it happened l was fghtin' the
slavers on the Gold Coast"
There was something in the mans
manner that impressed the judge. so he
said, not unkindly;
But surely. prisoner, if your story is
. true. you must have friends and com
rades with whom you could have COM
inundated? 1t is too late now"
"You's right. cap'n; it's too late. l
couldn't communicate with them any
how, for don't know where they are.
They may be in America, or they may
) be at the Cape"
But" urged the judge. the court
has no wish to convict man who may
be innocent. Is there no one who could
E speak for your
, The prisoner looked in a hopeless sort
of way round the court.
: No" he began; but just then his eye
lighted on a man in the court Yes,
! he added. pointing to him, there is q
) gentleman who might speak for me il
!. he would" The judge looked in the
t direction of the individual pointed at
c DO you know the prisoners" hi
asked.
: No, my lord" was the reply. 'l
b never saw him before in my life"
e We'll. Captain Sharpe" said tn
prisoner, 4 know you well enough"
rs your name Captain Sharpe 2
asked the judge. Yes. my lord" cam
the reply.
well. the prisoner seems to recog
nize you. so l will ask you to step int
the witness box and be sworn. that h
may ask you questions"
The captain went into the box. an
the following dialogue ensued:
Are you Captain Sharpe of the wa
to ship vulture?" asked the prisoner.
81 Yes"
10 Were you in command Of her on tn
Il slave coast this spring."
"a Il was"
j And wasn't one Of the crew."
I'd Most certainly not"
N but. cap'n. don't you remember tn
4, slave ship that you bOa-dedy"
~ Yes"
And you yourself led the boarderS
"Oh. yes; but all thar is nothing-yo
may easily have heard OF or read a
about that"
a well. but eap'n, once more-don
you remember the big black SLAYER WI
was almost cutting you down? Don
n you remember the one man who stoc