Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1880 — A Jugglery of Justice. [ARTICLE]

A Jugglery of Justice.

On a bitter cold night, about two years ago, a poor, homeless and friendless Irishman, a stranger in Boston, opened a window of an unoccupied house on the Back Bay, crawled in and slept on the floor. In the morning he crawled out again and was nabbed by a policeman. He was arraigned, held and indicted upon the serious charge of “breaking ana entering in the nighttime.” On arraignment day he stood np without counsel, and frankly told the-court that he had no place to sleep, and crept into the house to avoid exposure. Although the arresting officer said that he did not question the statement of the prisoner, and added that, if he had been so disposed, there was nothing that could be stolen in the house, as even the lead pipe had been removed, the poor man was sentenced to the House of Correction for two years and six months. . In December last a law student, an Alsatian of pleasing address and unusual intelligence, attempted to swindle the Continental Clothing House by forging the name of Mr*. Ruth W. Pres-

coti, of No. 196 Beaeon street, to an order for clothing; A. Shuman A Co.. ar forging the name of Mrs. Leopold orse to an order for clothing; Macnllar, Parker A Co., by forging the name of Mrs. Henry Adams, of No. 91 Marlboro street, to a similar order, and A. N. Cook & Co., the furriers, by forging the name of Mrs. Henry B. Rogers, of No. 5 Joy street, to an order tor valuable furs. He succeeded in getting the good 8 upon some of these orders, but not upon all, owing to the vigilance of the police inspectors, who arrested him on the 9th of January, before his scheme was fully carried out. He was also held and indicted. On Monday he pleaded guilty in the same court and before the same judge. On account of his intelligence ana his plausible statement, to the effect that he desired to lead an honest life, he was permitted to go on probation. He was a leader m the French Commune, and was subsequently pardoned. He then came to America, and was employed in various menial capacities in Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York. In ()ct»>ber last he entered the Boston Law School, and it was while he was there that he deliberately planned one of the boldest swindles which has ever been attempted in this city. His discharge on probation was something of a surprise.—Boston Traveller.