The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-13

The district attorney folded up the in
dictment and looked at the young man
who stood before judge of the United
States court as a prisoner. Are you
guilty or not guilty." he asked.
u am guilty replied the prisoner in
scarcely audible voice.
He says he is guilty, your honor
said the district attorney as he resumed
his seat
Seated at a table, behind the young
prisoner, sat the wife and their infant
child. The baby sat on it's mothers
lap playing idly with the feathers on her
plain little hat. The baby's father a
mere youth, sat facing the gray-haired
judge, seated high above him behind the
oak BENCH his face pale and his lips
drawn.
He had friends in court and they told
the judge how the young man had start
ed out early in life for himself. and how
he had always been a hard working,
steady fellow and that they had never
known him to be in trouble before. They
had known him since his youth and it was
difficult for them to face him now as he
sat in the United States court charged
with stealing few dollars from post
office till, and he had admitted the theft
The scene was on impressive one. The
stern-faced judge sat above the crowd
of attorneys, secret service officers and
postal employees of the government His
honor's face was stern, and yet, when
he looked at the wife and mother, the
lines about his mouth softened and he
would shift his gaze to the young man
and hard CLINT would come into his
eyes as if rebulking the prisoner for
placing a devoted wife in such a posi-
ton
And yet the prisoner was in a hard
position. His friends half doubted him.
He had. no attorney. His wife was in
tears. On the otter hand the judge was
supported by his many officers and, more,
he had the law on his side.
''You have admitted the theft and it is
my unpleasant duty to mete out your
punishment" said the judge in a firm
tone, keeping his gaze carefully on the
prisoner and not allowing his eyes to rest
for second on the pitiful picture of the
young wife and her infant
Have you anything to say why the
sentence of the court should not be pass
ed upon your
The young prisoner rose slowly to his
feet and, grasping the table for support,
began to speak iii voice that trembled
and could scarcely be heard despite the
fact that the stiffness of death was upon
the court room
Il don't know why I took the money.
| only took dollar at first and intended
to pay it back. 1t was so easy The till
was open, I kept the accounts and
dollar seemed so little that / could easily
pay it back. Then l took another dollar,
and the next time five, and almost before
knew / had taken $50. l began to think
of paying it back when the Inspector
arrived and checked up my accounts
La nd CHI ,,focr o-l0
and 1 have not been able to make any
restitution, but l will do it if I live long
enough to earn the money required, - and
the prisoner sank to his chair and buried
his face in his hands, while the young
wife sobbed aloud. The baby rolled its
blue eyes and laughed at the bailiff
The judge swung round in his great
chair and facing the side wall said:
While. of course, you We're tempted,
you have been weak. / am not disposed
to be hard upon you in view of the cir
cumstances, but crimes like this, which
are breach Of trust against your gov
eminent, cannot go unpublished For the
sake of the wife upon whom you have
brought this disgrace I wish that T
might say to you, Go and try it again,
but in view of your confession to the
theft 1 am compelled to carry out the
law. The sentence of this court is" here
liiC IOdSO 0GdlI HIS Citdif anu
addressed the district attorney rather
than the prisoner, that you be con-
fined for a period of five years in the
state prison at Blank at hard labor
The prisoner, who had raised his head
during the judges remarks threw up
his arms and his head again fell to the
table and his frame was shaken with
sohs.
The young wife looked at the judge in
startled way. and then. suddenly as if
realizing the import of the sentence pass
ed by the court, fell back in her chair
In a dead faint. The court officers i'm
medlately came to her assistance, and as
soon as she was able to stand she went
to her husbands side and threw both
arms about his neck and whispered to
linn. He raised his head and kissed her
fonaly, then motioned to the bailiff that
he was ready to be taken out.
The judge continued to gaze at the
table where the district attorney sat.
and as the little party almost reached
determined voice:
Mr.. Bailiff bring back the prisoner.
Mr.. Clerk, make stay of execution in
this case for one year" Then to the
prisoner, who scarcely seemed to realize
what the courts words meant, he said:
You will report to this court one year
from today" and the gray-haired judge
came slowly down from the bench and,
arm in arm with the district attorney, he
walked slowly to his chambers, while the
former prisoner and his wife wept in the
very excess of joy.