Year: 1879

LILLE JUDliG - 0IOn4 L.


It was when first began to practice, COM
menced the Judge, lighting cigar. l was
admitted and opened an Office in the village
now city-of c., in the spring of 1856. l had
had but little business, and the case you have
mentioned proved the key of my future sue
cess. was sitting in my Office trying to keep
comfortable, the clock already pointing to
1890, when the door opened and the keeper
of the county Jail entered.


"We have guest at our house who is quite
anxious to see you, and requested me to bring
you up to him, if you had not retired"


I gladly put on my coat to accompany the
taller, for needed every cent could earn
lust then, and announced myself ready to
start. 1t was not far to the Jail, and we soon
arrived there. After unlocking the usual
number of iron doors, the jailer admitted me
to the prisoners cell, and remarked that when
l was ready to go he would come and let me
out The huge iron door closed with clang,
the bolt was sprung, and was alone with my
would-be client.


As had supposed, as soon as the jailer was
out of hearing the prisoner came forward.
He was young, gentlemanly.appearing tel-
low, apparently about twenty-four years OF
age. Extending his hand to me, he said:


II am glad to see you, Mr.. -; you are
indeed kind to come to me at this untimely
hour; but wanted to talk to some one, and
l feel that you will take an interest in my
case. l have been arrested for the murder of
Mr. Richards, the President of the Farmers
Bank of E., and for the robbery of the bank.
Will you not lend me your assistance ?"


I assured him that I would do all in my
power for him, if he desired to retain me. He
suddenly interrupted me by saying:


II beg your pardon, sir, do wish to retain
YOU to defend me in my trial and trial
must of course, take place" saying which, he
handed me FIVE gold double eagles.


"I have heard but few Of the circumstances
of the tragedy" he continued, "ss it occurred
this very evening, and 1 fear that there are
some things which will appear. to be against st
me, but trust that you will bring me out all
right. Do all you can, sir; employ more
counsel, if necessary, but clear me, for am
innocent"


assured him that had no doubt but we
could clear him, and added:


"Tell me what you know of the case, and
the circumstances that you think appear
against you"


"Well, had quarrel with Mr.. Richards
last evening, but it did not last long. | will
tell you the whole story, sir. | am clerk
in the Farmers Bank, of K, of which Mr..
Richards was president. | have been em-
ployed there nearly FIVE years, and think
have attended to my duties to the entire sat.
isfaction of all the officers of the bank, and
have been very much liked by them all, par
ticularly by the president, who has invited me
to his house great many times. Now Mr..
Richards, you must understand, has daugh-
ter several years younger than am lady
with whom have not only become intimate
ay acquainted, but for whom have conceived
a strong attachment. Her father discovered
that was deeply in love with Clara Rich
ards, and saw, presume, that she was not
wholly Indifferent to me. Last Sunday
dined at their house, by invitation of Mr..
Richards, and during the evening told Clara
the state of my feelings, and was overjoyed to
learn that she reciprocated my love. We
agreed that should ask her fathers consent
to our marriage as soon as should be able to
support wife, You see, sir, am telling you
ALL" said the prisoner.


"That is right" 1 said; Gin fact, it is all
important that you should tell me all"


"Last evening, called on Mr.. Richards,
and boldly asked his consent to our engage.
ment. He was very angry; said / was an
impudent fellow; declared 1 should never
speak to Clara again and in short he insult
ed me, accusing me of taking advantage OF
his kindness to ingratiate myself into the
heart of his only child Finally I, too, got
angry, and can hardly remember now what
said; only l know did not threaten him
AT the close of our conversation he left the
room, and went directly to my room and to
.bed. This morning / went as usual to the
bank, and as soon as Mr.. Richards came
.down.he took me into his private Office, and
said to me that most men would discharge a
clerk from their employ under similar cir.
,cumstances, but as I was honest, capable and
faithful, he would keep me, on condition that
would forget my presumptuous fancy.


"sWhy,' said he, Clara has more for pin,
money than your salary and then, after in
forming me that I would no longer be re-
ceived at his house, he told me to return to
my desk Nothing unusual occurred during
the day until just before we closed, when we
received an unusually large cash deposit. Al
was on the point of leaving the bank, Mr.
Richards called me, and said l.:


"'Howard, here is package containing
$4,000 I wish you to take to Mr.. Martin
cashier of the City Bank of G. You car
explain to him about our vaults not being any
too secure, and apologize for coming at such
an unreasonable hour and ask him as per
sonal favor to me to receive the funds on de
post. Take receip pit and return in the morn
ing; you can take the six o'clock train thi:
evening"


81 had little money on deposit at oul
bank, and, having payment due on my lif'
insurance in c., drew one hundred dollars
and thought 1 would pay that before l re
turned l took the package containing th'
nine thousand dollars, and after receiving
some money for my expenses, started. l ar
rived at my destination about halfpast 81,
o'clock, and went directly to Mr.. Martini
house, but found that he had gone up town
and later was going to the theatre. Where
upon sought the principal hotel, thinking
might see him there, but was disappointed
here and there. 1 walked around where
thought would be most likely to meet hin
until about halfpast eight, and then returned