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Show ""l0' " .k rK0Jsl THE Cowr Records Young Silas Wntklns stolo a ham a theft most reprehensible, Ami then engaged n, counselor, (which certainly wns sensible.) They plunged him In a dungeon deep, a dungeon grim nnd tcrrorful, Tho while his lawyer went to court upon n mission enorrul. t And when he found nt onco tho wholo proceeding could bo "busted," he Sued out a hntxns corpus nnd took Hlinx out of custody. In court hln lenrned counsel urged with dignified suavity Tho dnngeis of sunsi-ninly hnato In matters of such gruvlty. The prosecution's bitterness ho held unjustifiable, " 'TIs Justice, with her blinded eyei!, Iiefoia whom wo nro trlnblel" And nfter hours of nrgumont. with growing hent nnd frlctlonal, lie took n chnngo of venue on a question Jurisdictional. Wherent the counsel got n stay of trial for a year or two. To find a missing witness, (who wns dead, I havo a fear or twol) Tho years rolled nn, they tried him and unmercifully depleted him Th" commonest of larcenlstsj-the Jurors then convicted him. "No chance for Bllns!" cried his lawyer. "Yes. I say. Indeed ho has!" Upon tli" which he went to court and got a supeiscdeas, "Good cheer:" snld be to 811ns. "You will soon bo on your feet again. While Silas gae a ball bond nnd was straightway on tho sticot attain. A monstioiis abstract then they fll"d. the luwjer mnde a noise nnd fuss. Until, within a ynr or two. the couit gave them a syllabus, Which, stripped of all Its verbiage and law and technicality. But unlllnncd the vctdlct based on Silas' proved rascality. . .1 'T "Odds blood'" cried Silas' counsel to his client. "When I've read you tbU, You"ll see the ntlro finding simply reeks with Haws nnd prejudice. To Jail shall any eltlzou for stealing of a hock bo sent? Stralghtwitv. the which, be went to court and tiled another document. "No sheriff shall ntiest lilm, Sir. nn anv legal sham as grim As this, and If a Shcilff tries, I'll certainly mandamus blm!" Again upon the solemn court, with masterful urbanity, lie ui'd-d a close Inquliy by nn expert on Insnnlty. Who felt the Lumps on Silas' bend, who found piofund lascallty, Who In a year made his toport of "obvious notmollty." Long Silas' counsel studied It, by methods not rewnlable, And finally concludtjl the decision whs appealable! Good Silas gavo another bond to stay his Jail processional. Good Silas' counsel labored with an ardor qultu professional, Until ho got nn order from the highest court available. ("That, as tho statutes rnd, thelo was a question If t'wns Jallable.) Tho court below should try agiln. nnd UioukU they might acquit It, or Cor.vlct It. they must try again" so stHtd tho remittitur! Tho witnesses, thoso gray old men. ro-allcd the ancient history Of Silas' crime with halting speech, nnd deep and dark the mystery To them of why they were recalled; with quavering tones, In truthfulness They told nnnln tho old. old tnlo of SlUs" erring youthfulncss. The Jurors held be could not change his spotB; but. Ilko the leopard, he, Bo Silas' counsel straightway held ho had been twlco In Jcopnidy! A las I So Intricate a case, with all the, points Involvnblo! When Death took Silas and to dust found him to bo resolvable. Took blm for reasons, good, pwhaps, but which were not rcvealable. And Silas' counsel found, slack, tho Judgment not nppenlable! Hut back to court bo strode when sure that Charon o'er hart ferried him, And cried: "I want a nol pros, for my client wo have burlfd blm! . J. W. Foley, In New York Times. |