Show A A TRAGIC ENDING OF AN UNJUST CRIMINAL conviction what strong circumstantial evidence did in the te case cage of a trusted clerk ue ile died when men ile he learned that he was innocent before the law the following thrilling story comes from the lips lip of a w well all known member of the pennsylvania bar A very bad and dishonest failure had occurred in which a certain trusted clerk seemed to have been guilty of the larger share of the crime he with his employer was arrested and charged with tho the crime the clerk stoutly protested his bia innocence and denied all knowledg know knowledge ledl e of the th fraud or any connection tion with his employer empl cyer however there was a chain of bf circumstantial cum evidence woven around him which was exceptionally strong and which his counsel could not break down although he was firmly convinced himself of his bis innocence the clerk was convicted and sent to jail for a term of years after being confined in prison for about a year the poor fellows mind began to weaken and finally lie he broke down completely he waa taken from prison and transferred to a hospital for the insane all the time the clerk continued to protest his innocence inno cerce after he be had been confined confined in the hospital three or four years certain facts in the failure were elicited which clearly proved that the unfortunate clerk was entirely innocent of having committed any crime of course steps were immediately taken to mccure the pardon of the man the fares facts were laid before the pardon board at their next ine meeting eting and an order was aven for his immediate release it now became the delicate duty of the counsel in the case to break the happy intelligence to the pardoned clerk but the question anat confronted them was what could bo be done to restore his reason and would he believe the news if his mind could not be restored he could not be taken away what could bo be done after a consultation between the counsel on both sides of the case it was agreed to call upon the poor clerk and make an attempt to rouse him from the apathy and lethargy into which he had fallen this they decided to do by accusia accusing him again of the theft of the funds whenever this subject was broached he always roused himself aud and becaria greatly animated always vi vigorously gor denying it while his mind was aroused by this stimulus it had been decided that one of the counsel was to announce that the matter mailer had bad been fully investigated and his innocence fully established the parties to this strange drama assembled in the room of the stricken man he sat silent and immovable with his bis head in his hia hands As the old and ever rankling charge of dishonesty fell upon his ears the effect was exactly that which had been foreseen and expected he slowly raised his head looking his pseudo accuser strai straight glit iu in the eye he repeated in a loud tone of voice with a rising inflection and with great energy I 1 it is a lie the critical moment had bad come the lawyer who had prosecuted him and secured his incarceration then stepped up to him and said you aie le right it is a lie and you stand before the community a vindicated man I 1 havo have the order for your release in my pocket then the lawyers stood off to the effect hoping that the joy at the prospect of release and vindication would have the effect of putting the clerk again in his hia right mind but no sign of joy joy I 1 overspread the mares mans features his face bore its usual stolid expression it seemed to have no apparent effect upon him the clerk turned his face toward th the speaker as if he be did not understand him then his head fell forward and the man mai was precipitated upon the floor at tin the feet of the lawyers A single glance sufficed he was dead green dal bag |