Year: 1862

A SINGULAR AND SUCCESSFUL DE .. FENCE. The following remarkable defence of pris- onnr for robbery will, we doubt not, interest our readers: -. .,s..l. ... ..,... .. | A gentleman followed by servant in livery, ,ode into an inn in the west of England one

 evening little before dark He told the land. lord that he should be detained by business in that part of the country for q few days and wished to know if there were any amusements going on in the toYn to fill the intervals of time. The landlord replied that 1t was their race and assize week, and that he would. therefore, be at no loss to pass away his leisure hours. On the gentlemau's making an answer that this was for. tunate, for that he was fond- of hearing trials, the other said4that very interesting trial for robbery would come on the next day, on which peoples opinions were much divided, the evi- dence being very strong against the prisoner. but the man himself persisted resolutely in de claring that he in distant part of the kingdom at the time the robbery was commit. ted

 i The guest manifested considerable anxiety to hear the trial but as the court would probably be crowded expressed some doubt of getting place. The landlord told him that there should be no difficulty in gentleman of his appear ance getting seat; but that, to prevent any accident, he would himself go with him and speak to one of the beadles. Accordingly, and, thro lsh the landlords interest he was shown to q seat on the bench. Presently after. the trial began.

 While the evidence was proceeding against the prisoner he remained with his eyes fixed on the ground, seemingly very much depressed he looked up and seeing the stranger, he suddenly tainted. This excited some surprise, and it seemed, at first like trick to gain time. As soon as he came to himself. being asked by the judge the cause of his behaviour, he said:

 'Oh my lord, I see a person who can save my life; that gentleman pointing to the stranger, can prove that am innocent, if might have leave to put few questions to him.

 The eyes of the whole court were now turned upon the gentleman, who said he felt in very awkward situation to be called upon, as he did not remember ever to have seen the man before, hut that he would answer any question that was asked him.

 Well, then,' said the man, don't you re. member landing at Dover at such time?' To this the gentleman answered that he land at Dover not long before, but that he could not tell whether it was on the day he mentioned or not.

 Well, said he, but don't you recollect tha a person in a blue jacket and trousers carried your trunk to the inn 2?

 To this he answered, that of course some per son had carried his trunk for him but he did not know what dress he wore

 Butt said the prisoner, don't you remem Der that the person who went with you from the boat, told you story of his being in one ser vice, that he thought himself an ill-used man, and that he showed you scar he had on the side of his forehead 1?

 During this question: the countenance of the stranger underwent considerable change. He said lie did certainly recoIlect such circum- stance, and on the man $ putting back his hair aside, and showing the scar, he became quite sure that lie saw the same persulx 4 buzz of salsactlon now ran through the court for the day oi which, according to the prisoners ac- count, the gentleman had met with him at Do yer, was tie same on which he was charged with tLe robbery in distant part of the coun- try. Ihe stranger, however, could not be eer tain of time, but said that he sometimes made a memorandum of dates in his pocket-boo and might have possibly done so on this occasion. On turning 10 his pocket book, he found mem- orandum ot the time he Ianded which cores bonded with the prisoner $ assertion. This be- ing the only circumstance necessary to prove the aiibi, the prisoner Was immediately acquitted amidst the applause and congratuiation of the court. Within less than month after this, the gentleman who came to the inn attended by servant in livery, the servant who followed him, aud the prisoner who had been acquitted, were all three brough back to the same jail, for rob bng the mail. It turned out that this clever defence at the trial, was skilltully arranged plan by the thiet-s confederates to obtain the release of their accomplice

 CUsroNs OF ,JAyA-In Batavia the capital