The Washington herald., 1914-03-22
he assistant district attorney assigned

Swear Sergt Mary Meakins," sait
Gray, as he motioned the Salvation ArmI
lassie to the witness stand.
The sergeant's face was pale as she
made her way to the chair beside which
stood a court attendant with a Bible ex
tended. Her hand trembled as IL rested
on the book and she stood listening tc
the oath.
so help me God" she repeated clearly
kissed the Book. and tucked her skirt:
into the chair.
I'VE might save time, your honor" sug'
gested the prosecutor. "if counsel for the
defense will give an outline Of the nature
Of this witness evidence"
She is a character witness" replied
Gray.
"a character witness" repeated the
prosecutor with amused establishment.
The judge elevated his eyebrows. A
character witness for q twice-convicted
burglar! The thing was absurd.
I'VE will concede that this witness be-
lieves that the defendant is upright and
honest and all that" announced the as
sistant district attorney complacently.
Sergt Mary Meakins turned to the
drowsy judge.
I'D rather tell my story. your honor"
she said, a little quaver in her voice. The
afternoon sunshine. pouring through a
southern window, laved the little. blue
figure In silver light.
The Judge nodded to Gray to proceed
with her direct examination. Sergt. Mea-
kins took firm hold with her little hands
upon the slick arms Of the chair and
faced the lawyer.
The Jurors stirred with a semblance of
as Mary Meakins cleared her
throat and began her effort in behalf of
the outcast Of society on trial before
them. She was his only witness, his
only friend. Who but a sidewalk dis
ciple of Christ would have dared take
the stand to give a good character to a
burglar with two aliases and two con-
victions against him?
In answer to questions by Shorty's
counsel the witness testified that she was
years old. that she was
raised in a founding asylum, had no
parents as far as she knew, had served
three years asa private in the Salvation
How long have you known the ac-
Gray asked.
"Since the last time he got out" she
replied, to the dismay of the lawyer.
The prosecuting officer laughed and the
twelve men in the jury box fairly shook
with suppressed merriment as they be-
held Gray's discontinue.
How many years have you known this
demanded Gray angrily as
he touched Shorty on the shoulder.
Three"
How did you come to meet him."
'T was holding a meeting at the corner
Of Pell street-in Chatham Square," she
replied, when he came out of the crowd
and asked me IL I would let him go to
The barracks for the night. told him to
taIl in line and march with us under the
lag of salvation"
She paused as IL for a guiding question.
He went with you to the barracks?"
asked Gray.
HE did. although there were crooks
IN every corner OF the Bowery that knew
him and jeered and yelled at him. One
IF them from the Cherry Hill gang ran
out from the curb and spit on him and
Joe's only friend. the Lord
Tesus."
Sergt. Mary's voice was very low and
sweet with sincerity and faith. 1t trem-
oled at times as she told OF that first
march in the Way of the Cross which
he reclaimed burglar had made. Then
{ broke as she told of the gangster
her Savior.
I'VE Army soldiers can stand sticks
ind stones and anything but that" she
aid with a little sob. The poke bonnet
vas bowed for a moment as she fought
o regain control ofSherself. and the shaft
# sunshine struck the red ribbon across
I and brought out vividly the gilt letters
II the world salvation
A court attendant gave her a glass Of
water.
81 marched by Joe's side" she went
IN, land held his hand. for I was afraid
hat he would turn on his prosecutors.
He could have beaten any two of them.
We went on up the Bowery to Cooper
Union Square and II got worse. It was
night and there were drunken
hieves, pickpockets, and gunmen every
where. They came from First and Sec
md avenues. Rocks began to fly, and
We had to stop when one of them hit
Zoe in the back of the head and he fell
o the ground. My soldiers formed in a
:ircle around me at the horse trough
while I washed the cut in Joe's head and
vet his face until he got his senses back
rhe soldiers sang and prayed until I got
lin on his feet, and then we moved on
lp Third avenue to Fourteenth street
We hurried west to the barracks and got
n without anybody else being hurt. Joe
lad lost a lot of blood, but he knelt with
IS and repeated the prayers after me.
I was the first time he had ever prayed"
The Jurors had turned their attention
o Shorty. The little blue eyes of the
prisoner were shining his profound graft
ude for this lone voice that rose in his
'ehalf. There seemed to be less of the
of the thug in his face than
he Jurors had expected to find there. A
mile Of comradeship and love played
bout his lips. The benignity and COM
assion that came from on high through
he religion that had been brought to his
oul lighted his countenance.
81 knew how much courage and faith
n God it required to make Joe stick in
he Way of the Cross" resumed Sergt.
larry Meakins. ''for I had been through
myself. and the women of the street |
we're cruel to me and laughed at me when
left them to ask the forgiveness of |
iod'' |
The jurors shifted their attention to
er again and found themselves wonder
ne at her gameness.
But didn't waver any mora than