Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-07-08
Unirapeacbobk
Ex,idence.
[Original.l
you John Borland?"

<AIC gOu
"Yes."
you're wanted. Come along with
me-"
John Borland was a Woodworking
man, with a wife and seven little chill
dren. He was not getting ON very we'll,
and when a constable took him away
accused of theft it was a sad blow to
his family as well as TO him.
what does it mean, John?" his wife
asked.
II don't know" John replied.
"Well," she added, there's some mis-
take, and it will be rectified. Keep up
your pluck, john
"But you and the children" he moan
ed.
"We'll get on. Jane Borland is not
going to lie down"
"Plucky woman, that" remarked the
constable to himself. Each one of Bor-
lands children kissed him as he was
led away.
A few days before this John Borland
had been in the private Office OF Peter
Silver canvassfng for fire insurance
company. Silver had been called out
and remained out for some time. Mean
while John, becoming tired of waiting
and having an appointment with an
other party, went away. The next day
Silver missed $50 from a tin box kept
in a drawer in his desk. After racking
his brains to think Of an opportunity
for some ono to steal 1t, he remembered
that Borland had been in his Office
alone with the money. He Immediate
ly swore out a warrant for the insur-
ance solicitors arrest.
Jane Borland made an effort to get
bail for her husband and failed. She
succeeded, however, In getting a trial
for him within reasonable time. One
Of the clerks swore that no one had
been In the office while Silver was
away except Borland.
The only witness called by the de-
PENDANTS arrorney-a young man just
land.
Mrs. Borland," he said, did your
husband give you any more money than
usual for household expenses or any
other purpose during the time Of this
robbery or soon afterY'
"No, he did not"
"Was there any evidence that he had
any more money than usual%
mo. We were scraping along just
the same as ever"
"Do you know that your husband
was not in possession of any more
funds than usual?"
81 do
"How?"
"After he has gone to sleep nights l
always search his clothes" Borland
started He didn't have any money
that night. He didn't have any money
for several nights before or after that
night either"
tators, and several of the jurymen
smiled.
THAT will do" said the attorney,
and he looked at the prosecutor as
much as to say, you may take the
witness"
"Mrs. Borland," said the prosecutor,
"why do you search your husbands
clothes after he goes to sleepw
"Why do women usually search their
husbands pocketsT
"You are on the stand to answer
questions, not to ask them. Answer
my question"
"Well, my husband finds 1t necessary
to keep money about him for his or
binary expenses, such as car fare and
lunch Sometimes he keeps more than
I consider necessary. Then sometimes
he makes a commission that he forgets
to turn over to me. l pay for what we
have, so make sure that I get 1t all ex-
cept what is absolutely necessary for
him"
"And you are quite sure that you
don't search his pockets to prevent him
from spending the money in dissipa-
tion?'
"Quite sure"
"And you trust him?"
"Of course I do. He's always been
fair with me and the children, denying
himself a glass of beer when he is
thirsty and often walking when he Is
tired to save car fare"
This being the case, why do you
not ask him to give you all the money
he has in his pockets except a stated
amount for his legitimate expenses
without waiting till he has gone to
sleep and then rifling his clothesT
mo woman would do that, sir"
"Why not?'
Nothing irritates a man so much as
to be called to account by his wife for
the chicken feed he spends. And the
more he sacrifices for his family the
angrier such a course makes him. To
take the money when he is asleep is a
much better way"
! There was shout Of laughter from
the men present, and the judge as he
raped for order did so with a smile.
| It was evident that the wife's testi-
mony was not to be shaken, and her
wOmanly way Of looking at the matter
of taking care of the interests Of her
family captivated the jury. Without
leaving their seats they pronounced
John Borland not guilty, and he was
/ DISCHARGED from custody.