Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-10-25
Establishing Innocence
IOrlGinal.l

Lawrence Nevin. Larry was a bit
wild and was
Famed, like Mister O'Donis, wild his head
full of nothing but curls,
For breaking the heads of the boys and
breaking the hearts Of the girls.
But there was only one heart he
cared to influence, and that belonged
to Kathleen O'Grady, the youngest
daughter of The O'Grady, who lived
In the big castle shaped house on the
hill. Though Larry came of one Of the
oldest families in Ireland, he was not
thought a desirable sutton.
There were stories - most of which
could be traced to a rival, Terence
OToole-that Larry made his living on
the highway, a fashionable method
among gentlemen beggars Of that day.
O'Toole was the owner of a fine es-
tate adjoining The O'Grady's property,
and he desired to unite the two by a
marriage with Kathleen. Unfortunate
ly for Larry, her father was in favor Of
the project. There was only one thing
IN the way of its contamination, and
that was the reckless Nevin, whom the
girl loved, but who, passing from one
scrape to another, was constantly
trampling on what few chances be had.
True, they consisted in the love of the
girl, but a daughter Of The O'Grady
must make a proper match.
The truth is Larry was not so bad
as he was painted. A breakneck rider,
somewhat given to gaming, ever ready.
like all true Irishmen, for a fight, there
was quite enough truth in his esca-
pades for an enemy to build on and
erect a fine structure of w%ickedness.
The only article of value Larry DOS
sessed was a blooded mare-Kit. he
called her-that he had won at a rattle
and that no money could buy from
him. One evening shortly after dark
ne was riding Kit on the highway and
suddenly remembered an engagement.
he thrust his hand in his fob for his
watch and, not finding it, remembered
that it was in pawn for money that
he had needed to help a poor beggar in
distress. Just then a horses hoofs
sounded on the road ahead, and in a
few minutes a mounted figure ap-
peared.
"Could you oblige me with the time,
sir?" asked Larry.
The horseman drew a pistol from his
holster and, letting drive at Larry,
dashed past him, calling back: 81 know
you, Lawrence Nevin. You may take
purses on the highway, but you can't
take mine"
Larry, who was untouched by the
bullet, sat on his horse looking after
the man in establishment.
"And I know you, Terence O'Toole,
and if I don't keep me wits I'll be
hanged for highway robbery and no
thanks to any one but you"
Now, O'Toole was a magistrate and
would preside at the trial at which he
would be the only witness. Larry took
In the situation and with Irish quick
ness for decision made up his mind to
try for an slibi. Putting spurs to Kit,
he rode briskly on for a mile, took a
road to his left, struck into fields
over which he had often followed the
fox and, lighted only by the stars, kept
his mare on the run till midnight, when
he reached marlborough, which he
skirted, and, stopping at a farmers
house beyond, rubbed down Kit while
she was taking a small feed. From
Marlborough Larry continued north
ward, now beginning to push the mare
for a better pace. Taking an early
breakfast at Tullamore, he shot across
country to Kilbeggan, where he found
a road to Mullingar. Thence the coun-
try was level-at least, not mountain
ous-and he pushed his jaded mare on,
o'clock in the afternoon rode up to
Carrick : on Shannon, having done a
hundred miles since starting. Leaving
his horse in a stable on the south side
of the river-the animal sank down at
once in her stall-he entered a wood,
threw off a buff coat and breeches and
donned a green velvet suit he had pick
ed the river on foot and entered the
town.
The people were all out on the green,
and Larry, stepping up to the mayor,
asked him the time. The mayor, draw
ing his watch, gave the hour and COM
plimented Larry on his beautiful green
and gold lace suit with silk waistcoat.
Then Larry proceeded q make himself
popular with the company.
When a few days later Larry Nevin
returned to Kilkenny a bailiff clapped
a hand on his shoulder, and he was
taken before Magistrate O'Toole on a
charge of highway robbery. He plead
ed not guilty, and on his trial the
mayor of Carrick swore that twenty
hours after the robbery Larry had
been in that town. He could swear to
the hour, for, being asked the time, he
had looked at his watch. He had worn
a green velvet and gold suit, instead
of a buff one worn by the highway
man. O'Toole at the beginning Of the
trial had taken the witness stand and
identified Larry as the man who had
asked for the time after nightfall on
the highway with intent to rob, but
when Larry proved his alibi O"IOOle