From Boniface to Bank Burglar; Or, The Price of Persecution: How a Successful Business Man, Through the Miscarriage of Justice, Became a Notorious Bank LooterWhite, George M. (George Miles)
History
From Boniface to Bank Burglar; Or, The Price of Persecution: How a Successful Business Man, Through the Miscarriage of Justice, Became a Notorious Bank Looter
White, George M. (George Miles)
Bank robberies -- United States; Criminals -- Biography; White, George M. (George Miles)
I now recall with what rapidity my case was called after the district
attorney had gotten Cummings out of the way. It was put forward with
all the vigor that I had clamored for six weeks prior, and excuses were
made that the delay was caused by the difficulty in framing the case.
As the time for the hearing drew near, I had a feeling that I was in
deadly peril, though Mr. Lynde assured me that there was no doubt that
I would not be held for the grand jury.
At last the day of the hearing before the magistrate came, and Shinburn
and I were taken into court. Mr. Lynde represented me, while Don H.
Woodward, a bright young attorney, had been retained by Shinburn. The
latter’s brother Frank, of Saratoga, had come East to look after his
interests. At times I had hopes that I would be free at the close of
the hearing, and again I would be despondent. I knew that I ought not
to be where I was, and it did seem to me that no circumstances ought to
be convincing enough to long imprison an innocent man. The discharge of
Cummings, by what means I never quite knew, created a grave doubt in
me; besides, I hadn’t much faith in the wisdom of the magistrate at the
hearing.
Mr. Lynde made a good representation for me, and so did Woodward for
Shinburn. In taking up my case, Mr. Lynde asked for a separate hearing
on my behalf, on the ground that the facts in the charge were vastly
different from those Shinburn must meet. This, District Attorney Lane
opposed with all his legal power and personal influence. All the
pleading that my attorney or I could do fell on unsympathetic ears,
apparently. My plea, as an innocent man, for the administration of
common, humane justice, was as futile as was Mr. Lynde’s. It was ruled
that Shinburn, the guilty, and White, the innocent, must be examined
together. And we were. The facts were against him, and I, with him for
a millstone about my neck, as it were, was held to await the action of
the grand jury. Shinburn, being guilty of the crime charged, had hoped
to escape, and it seemed to me that I had a right to.
Thus was I doomed to stand in the same prisoners’ dock with him, my
case tightly fastened to his with legal thongs,--the innocent and
the guilty to stand or fall together! What an unequal fight, what an
injustice, was dealt me!
In my declining years I often wonder, if there be a Supreme Ruler,--and
I believe there is,--whether, on the Judgment Day, there’ll not be an
awful reckoning for those who were so unjustly against me in my vain
battle to establish my innocence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account