Year: 1878

Once in my life. and once only,
allowed myself to be put np as Cam
didate for an office aud l had the tor
tune to be elected to fill the Office of
district attorney-an cffice OF little
honor. of little pay, but of plenty of
hard work. had accepted the place
at the earnest solicitation of the judges
Of the supreme court, because they
feared if did not man would get ii
who was in no way qualified to per-
form the duties thereto appertaining !:
and, having allowed my self to be
placed in charge of the legal interests
of our section of New Hampshire, l
resolved to perform the duties without
fear or favor. trusting that right and
justice would bear me out.


l had been in the Office about six
months, and L had succeeded in con
vincing few, at least, Of our good
people, that they had prosecuting
officer who could not be easily cor
rupted, when man named Mario
Cropt was arrested for horse stealing,
and one or whose first moves, after
being arrested, was to send for me. l
went, and found him IN jail, one of the
most sinister looking fellows 1 had
ever seen. He was, as l afterward
learned, half-breed, his mother hav-
ing been a Mohawk Indian, and his
father Virginia slave driver. Mario
was born in a wigwam somewhere in
the wilds of the Alleghanies, and had
been brought up TO manhood by men
and women who lived by plunder and
begging.


At the age of one-and-twenty, or
thereabouts, he left the tribe; and
since then, now some ten years, he had
lived by his wits, in the exercise OF
which he had stolen horses and sheep
and other four-legged things. In short
he was villain of tho very deepest
dye-so born, bred, matured. lie was
rather short of stature, but compact.
broad shouldered, heavy-limbed aud
muscular, presenting figure of brute
strength such IS is mot often seen.
His face bore very strongly the Mo-
haw k stamp, the Indian standing out
above all else but there was certain
cast of broad, grasping shrewdness
which betrayed the admiXture of
white blood.


Mario Cropt, when he knew me for
the officer VINO was to present his case
to the grand jury, and who was also
to appear against him in court, assum-
ed very confidential manner, and
commenced by intimating that he
could give me chance to make a
pretty good thing If l would use
my influence in his favor, he was sure
he should get clear. This was the first
time he had ever been arrested in that
part of the country, and he did not
exactly understand our method of do
ing business. But one thing he could
assure me, if l would like $1,000 he
could get it for me.


asked him what he meant.


'Bshv said he, poking his finger
into my breast-snd the end of that
single forefinger cane with u force
equal to blow of fist from some
men don't go for to be backish wi
me. l know, and we both know
moneys money; and you may as well
hsye it as any body. Let it of easy,
and I'il say Il thousand dollars. I've
got it, mister; and l can fetch it in no
time, too. Now, what dye say! Is
il go?'


looked at the rascal, and he must
have discovered from that single
glance that he had approached the
wrong man, for his countenance fell,
and fierce light flashed in his eye.


You'd better do it!' he whispered.


But l only sought to make him un
derstand that I would sooner sell my
life than my honor; and without wait
ing to listen to his treaty left him.


w ltUIn u Wcch ~ tnAt llIlC OIOPt
was brought before the grand jury,
and as he came into the jury room he
found an opportunity 10 speak pri-
vately with me.


sLook here, mister,' he whispered;
8 I'll make it two thousand. You'd
better think op'tl'


l made a motion to push him away,
when he grasped my arm, and pressed
his lips close TO my ear.


mister Leverett,' he hissed--and l
could feel his words burn with me
it's liberty or prison. With you, it's
my liberty or your death!'


He looked at me with a look that
was more potent than a score of oaths
and then turned away with the sheriff.


The business before the grand jury
was very quietly done. The prisoners
foul threat had excited me, and
brought forward the witnesses against
him, and questioned them promptly