The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 265: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

—_ maiameneeese 86 “Genel len greiner __ om —s Uh dt ewe wei, Get ete “pial ae ey Stee ee Some weeks later I again saw the Durker pay a visit to the natrow alley; and an,hour elapsed before he came odf arain. Subsequently Bill Scott repeated the visit three or four times; and I have not the alightest doubt that these visits had references to Mrs. Webber. I learnt in the tetyh- bourhood that sho had lived for aomo years with her son-in-law and daughter; but so fat from her having over been on bad ferma with them, or being rendered uncomfortable by Mr. Sinedley, the oon- trary was supposed to ‘be the casc. A few Gays “fo Barney the Burkor paid another visit to the alloy; aud on this godasion he remainel ‘at least two hours. Early of the following morning « hackney-coach was fetched by Smedley-~s number of boxes were brought out~-and Mrs. Webber was ju on the point of stepping into the vehicle, when I thought it at length time to interfere, in pur- punnce of a certain portion of my instructlous from the gentloman e1aplosing me. [ accordingly hastened to the apot, dad asked Mra, Webber where she wae going. She looked confused and frightaned ; but almost itng@iiiely recovered herault, saying timt she was Gifs tipdn a little excursion for change of gir. Tgiiiticed at the boxes, and saw that ue ero labelled, ‘ Mrs. Smith, passengor, Dover.’ . I asked her why éhe took a fuse name ?P Sha zave sume evasive reply; but again recovering her offrontery, demanded who I was.e I told her that I was a detective offcer, and gave her to understand that my mivaion was merely to prevent bet from running away from ber recognizances, and to enfurce her ettendanca at this trial. She did not choose to pursue het journey after ro- ceiving this intelligence ; beeauée I further stated that if on arriving at Dover by the railway, she attempted to embark on board a vessel, I should at once také her into custody. She remained at home for the fuw days which intervened uatil it was necessnry for her to set off to come to Liver- pool. Mvysclf and the other detective continued to watch tho house uncuasingly after the affair of that intended jouruey; and in order that Mra, Webber might not give me the slip between Lon- don and Liverpool, J touk my placo in the same carriage with horgelf.” Tho detective, whose evidenee had produced a consklerable sensation in court, was now ¢rubss- examined by the counsel (Sr the proaccation; and the following string of answers will shdw the nature of the questions put :— “T have been watching Mrs. Wobbor for sit months. I decline to say what ia the name of the yeutloman who evfipluyed tia: but this I will of my own dcoord declare —that my conviction is he never was the protector of the prisoner, nor was iroproperly familiar with her, but merely took up ber caso from motives of humanity. It is truc that he has paid all my etponses and has rewarde.t me hberally. 1¢ is no unusuul thing forthe de- tectives to be employed by private individuals; nor ig it anuéddl for then tu he thus o¢eapied so leng a time. J know nothing, and did no¢ méan to infer anything, against the aharacter of tho Smwnedieys. TH MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Here ended the cross-examination on the part of the prosecuting counsel: and the barrister for Let. tim» Rodney’s defence said to the detective, “ You must now go out of court and out of hearing: bub £ shall requirs your attenlance again pree sently.” The officer accordingly issue from the tribunal, and the counsel for tle defence thon addressed the judge in the following manner :— “ My lord, I am about to make an application of a somewhat extraordinary character. There is a witnesa Whote evidence is of tital importance to the present case; but it is impossible ahe can give that testimony personally and orally before this solemn tribunal. Indeed, I will at once admit that Her intellects are in so weak a state tht she would become bewildered and would inevitably break down. But she has been examined by twa justioes-ol-the-peace: namely, Sir Willian Stanicy and Mr. Simon Ellis—both gentlemen of the highest respectability; and this examination took place in the presence of two physiciaps woll known for their akill and expérienco with respect to the insane and in all psycholozical mutters. The woman’s deposition has been committed to paper: it is accompanied by attesting atfilavits on tho part of the two justices who received her evidence ; and there aro hikewise alfidavite froin the medieal gentlemon, to the effect that the woman's toesti- mony is held by them to be perfectly oredible. I now request permixsion to introduce that deposi- tion as evidence. ‘Its value can bo ,tested by unmistakable means. If it should be found to cunstitute an indisputable link in the gencral chain of evidences, it stamnps itself with truth: but if, of the other hand, it should be found irrelevant and unsdpported by collateral facts, it can easly be discarded; and your lordship will dirset the jury, aa well as their own discrunoimation will tell thom, whether or hot they are to attach any im- portands thereto.” The counsel for the prosecution objected to the production of such evidence ; aud the judve him. salf appeared to consider it inadmissible: but tho foreman of the jury expressed a hope that ina matter where a fellow-creature’s lito was con- cerned, no gbiection would be raised agatnst tno production of the evidence alluded to. The judge accordingly ruled in favour of its production ; and the reader nay conce:ve bow breathless was tho . susponso which prevailed in the court —how deep was the anxioty of Lettice Kodney, who had re- mained in perfect ignorance of the natare of tho defenve to be set up on her behalf—and how serious wero growing the guilty Mrs. Webbor’s kpprehensions. , The counsel for the defrnce unfolded a docu- ment which lay before him, and then spoko as follows :— *'Pnis deposition is to the effect that the fernale who mada it, was in the town of Liverpool on the same nicht that the murder was committed. She wis wandering sbout, when her wayward steps led her up # narrow lana into which open the card- It is perfectly true that they pags in! gates belonging to that ruw of houses where Mr. their own neighbourhood as respectable people, | Pollard dwelt. She heard ohe of these gates open and that Smedley is an active niember of a fe-| and shut; and with some feeling of curtosity ligious congregation. It is likowiso® trad that} which she catinot define, she remained at that gate. Mrs, Webber is comsiddted in the same neighbaar-| Vuices were sperking immediately inside: they hood a respectible woman.” L us were conversing in an under-tone —but she listened, (C a eee ——— ~—_-—e Se — = cs ei = ~~ am =—-4 fl NOG SS