Year: 1867

y


With conscientious ScrupIes.


We have lately heard capital stor


connected with prominent lawyer o


our village, who had distinguished


himself in the defence of criminals, Al


well as in connection with other trials


having frequently, through his skill


aided the most hardened criminals tc


escape from justice. Some time ago


while our friend was attending court il


an adjoining county, he was applied to


by singular specimen OF humanity


charged with grand larceny, to defend
him. The lawyer very naturally in
quired what crime he was accused of.
The party accused replied that some
body had been mean enough to charge
him with stealing $3.50 in bank notes,
and had got him indicted.


care you guilty p asked the law
yer.


''That's none of your business" re-
piled the accused "They say it makes
no difference with you, whether man
is guilty or not, you will contrive to dig
him out in some way. So don't talk
any more about guilt till you hear
what thejury says


"Well what about the pay?" said
the lawyer.


"You just hold on till the trial is
over; give L. the complaint) hi
on the cross s-examination, and that
other fellow he has got to back him
up, and you'll have no trouble about
the pay"


The trial commenced and proved to
be somewhat protracted and excl
ting one. The district Attorney prov
ed that the money in question was
composed of two $50 bills on a certain
bank, and the remainder all in $40 |
bills, all Of which were wrapped up in
q piece of oil silk. The jury, after
listening to the counsel in the case, and
receiving the charge Of the Judge re-
tired, and soon returned with verdict
of not guilty. The accused, who was
greatly elated with the result of the
trial and the effort of his counsel, in
vited the latter into one of the vacant
jury rooms. AS soon as they were
alone he slapped his counsel on the
shoulder, and exclaimed;


"Free as water, ANTI? What's the
use of trying man for stealing when
you're around? Now / suppose you
want pay?'


Eyes, have you got anything to pay
with ?" said the lawyer.


"Lend me your knife and we'll see
about that"


The lawyer slightly startled at such a
proposition, rather reluctantly COM
Piled The accused Immediately COM
menced ripping and cutting away at
the waistband of his pantaloons, and
soon produced the roll of bills for the
stealing of which he had just been
tried, wrapped up in the identical piece
of oil silk described by the witnesses
for the prosecution, and throwing it
down on the table before the astonish-
ed lawyer exclaiming: "There, take
your pay out of that; l guess there is
enough to pay you tolerably we'll"
"Why, you william you stole that
money after ALL" said the lawyer
"Do you expect can take any of that
money!" :
"Stole that money! Why, what are
you talking about? Didn't them twelve {
men up stairs there just say didn't
steal il? What's the use ofyour trying
to raise a question of conscience after
twelve respectable men have given
their opinion on the subjectp Take
your pay out of that and ask no ques-
tions. Don't be modest in taking; l
got it easy enough, and you've worked
hard enough for it." i
Our informant did not state how ,
much the lawyer took, but we presume t
the chap didn't have much change left
after our friend had satisfied his soon
acience" in the premises.