Year: 1876

It was when first began to practice,
commenced the Judge, Lighting a cigar.
was admitted and opened an Office in
the village now city-of C., in the
spring of 1856. / had had but little
business, and the case you have men
toned proved the key to my future sue
cess. was sitting il my Office, trying
to keep comfortable, the clock already
pointing to 1870, when the door opened
and the keeper Of the county Jail en-
tered.


eve have q guest at our house who
is quite anxious to see you, and request
ed me to bring you up to him if you had
not retired"


1 gladly put on my coat to accompany
the jailer, for needed every cent I
could earn just 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
was ready to go he would come and let
me out. The huge door closed with
clang, the bolt was sprung, and 1 was
alone with my would-be client.


As 1 had supposed, as soon as the
jailer was out of hearing the prisoner
came forward. He was young, gentle
manly-appearingf fellow, apparently about
"a years of age. Extending his hand
to me he said


"I 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 1 feel that you will take
an interest in my case. 1 have been ar
rested for the murder of Mr.. Richards,
the President of the Farmers Bank, of
K, and for the robbery of the bank.
Will you not lend me your assistance"
/ assured him that would do all in
my p3wer for him if he desired to re-
tain me. He suddenly interrupted me
by saying:


"Beg your pardon, sir, do wish to
retain you to defend me in my trial, and
trial must, of course, take place." say
ing which he handed me five solid double
eagles.


CT have heard but few of the clrcum-
stances of the tragedy" he continued,
Gas it occurred this very evening, and
fear that there are some things that
will appear to be against me, but 1 trust
that you will bring me out all right. Do
all you can, sir; employ more counsel,
if necessary, but clear me, for 1 am in
nocent."


Iassured him that had no doubt but
we would clear him, and added:


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


"Well, 1 had quarrel with Mr..
Richards last evening, but it did not last
long. I will tell you the whole story,
sir. / am clerk in the Farmers Bank
of K. of which Mr.. Richards was
President. have been employed there
nearly five years, and I think have at
tended to my duties to the entire salts
faction of all the officers of the bank,
and have been liked very much by them
all, particularly by the President, who
has invited me to his house many times.
Now, Mr.. Richards, you must under
stand, has a daughter, several years
younger than am, a lady with whom 1
have not only become intimately ac-
uuainted, but for whom L have con-
ceived a strong attachment. Her father
discovered that was deeply in love with
CLARA Richards, and saw, presume,
that she was not wholly Indifferent to
me. Last summer 1 dined at their
house, by invitation of Mr.. Richards,
and during the evening 1 told Clara the
state of my feelings, and was overjoyed
to learn that she reciprocated my love.
We agreed that / should ask her father s
consent to our marriage as soon as
should be able to support wife. You
see am telling you all, " said the pris-
oner.





"That is right" said I" in fact it
is all-important that you should tell me
ALL"


"Last evening called on Mr.. Rich
ards, and boldly asked him to consent
TO our engagement. He was very angry,
said was an impudent fellow, declared
/ should never again speak to Clara, and
in short he insulted me, accusing me of
taking advantage of his kindness to in
gratiate myself into the heart of his only
child. Finally, i, too, got angry, and
can hardly remember now what / said
only remember 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
"a 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 clerk from
their employ under similar circum-
stances. but as / was honest, capable,
and faithful he would keep me, on con-