The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-07-17
4 PLEA IN VAIN

Guilty or not guilty?" said the
judge, as Margaret Currin came to
the stand.
Every eye in that throng Of curl
GUS court room spectators was on
the young girl, barely 20, who stood
at the bar of justice answering to
a charge Of grand larceny. Sensa-
tiQnal interest had developed in the
"$5 coo shortage" IN the Newfound-
land Savings bank, when the clever
young woman assistant of the cash.
Ter was arrested. charged with the
crime. the day after the discovery.
A few days before, she had sent her
invalid mother to California for her
health, and the little crippled
brother to a specialist for treat
ment. Then came the discovery.
Suspicion against the girl grew
strong. She was asked about the
theft in the Office. She broke
down. The grand jury returned an
Indictment against her.
Now she was to answer. Her at
tOrney had advised her to plead
mot guilty"
81 am guilty" was the answer
to the court.
A simultaneous gasp came from
the lips of the crowd 1t was
scarcely conceivable that this inno-
cent blue-eyed girl could have
taken such sum of money.
The judge was puzzled.
81 cannot accept your plea" said
he, finally, looking down at the
child-like face before him.
81 feel l must look into your
case"
But. your honor, l am guilty."
she persisted.
The court remained firm and the
prisoner was led from the room.
Four weary days and nights the
girl dragged out in the county Jail
The matron, a kind, motherly per
son, appealed to by the Judge and
by the presence of the prisoner
herself, treated the young woman
with greater regard than she show.
ed for most Of her prisoners. AS
she came to see more of the ma
ture of the girl placed in her care
she began to feel the awful con.
trast in tn case. fiere was a mere
child with an almost babyish ex.
preston of innocence in her face
there was the crime, theft of
| $4,000.
The matron had a talk with the
Judge the day before the one set
for the second pleading. What she
told him made the lines in his
great broad forehead draw deeper.
He was clearly in a quandary. He
had investigated and found the evil
dence against the girl even greater
than he had imagined.
It was the day for the second
hearing. Margaret Currin now APP
peared for the second time before
the Judge. Again a curious crowd
! had gathered. This time the eager
onlookers saw face more drawn
and haggard than before.
what is your plea?" asked the
court
A disturbance at the back of the
room revealed young man forcing
his way to the front row of specta-
tors. He waited eXpectantly until
the answer came.
81 am guilty"
Rushing to the girls side he
threw up his hands.
Your honor, l protest. She is
innocent"
The girl turned. She began to
tremble violently. 1t was Robert
son, the cashier who had left 10
days before on his vacation, whom
she now recognized standing beside
| her.
81 am the guilty one" he cried
out. while the crowd, already
GREATNESS, stood stupefied.
A bailff had pumped toward the
man but the judge motioned him
aside.
Lets hear this mans story"
His arms waving wildly, every
muscle in face twiching with ex.
element, gasping now and then
for breath, Robertson told his story
81 took the money. She discov-
cred the shortage. She urged me to
make good. told her feared |
could not. Still | promised her |
would try to straighten things out,
for-her. / worked hard. The con-
slant figuring and saving each week