The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

te °° THE MYSTRIEZS OF THE COVRT. Eney ww Ge the fifty sovereigns which she had kept back them, while Lettice still continued in a state -wpconeciouspess, deposited the purse in the woman's pocket. . Deing done, Mrs. Webber opened the front house and began spreaming out, “ Mur- with all her might and main. The alarm like wildfire along the street — several per- ed in—and as Lettice Rodney was startiod life by the women’s ories, she found her- object of execration and abhorrence pn the dozen individuals surrounding her —— accuped of murder ! No pen can describe the confusion, the horror, ut a, 2 f é uh TEES aot . : 4 house. The neighbours were flocking in ; and the spectacle of the corpee, bent motionless over the table, with the weapon sticking in the back, pro- duced a fearful sensation. “ Murder!’ cried Lettice, flinging around her wild and almost frensied louks: “ J commit mur. der! Wo, no—that abominable woman”—pointing to Mrs. Webber—“and the two villains who were with her———” “Wretch!” exclaimed the housekeeper; “ you know that you killed the poor old gentleman be- cause be found out that you were a cheat—and you fell into a fit when, alarmed by the noise, I came down and discovered the dreadful deed.” Lettice was overwhelmed with the accusation: she strove to speak, but she could not—a faintness eame over her—and she would have again fallen, had she not been supported by the arms of two ice constables who now took her into custody. thie piteous condition, bordering upon uncon- sciousness, she was borne away to the station- house, followed by a concourse of persons, all under the influence of dread horror at the deed which had been committed, as well as of amazement that one so young, so beautiful, and so genteel-looking should have committed such a stupendous crime. On reaching the station-house, Mrs. Webber preferred the charge—but was continuously inter- rupted by the passionate, frenzied, and vehemont ejaculations of Lettice Rodney. The latter was searched; and the purse, containing the fifty pounds, was found upon her. This was proslaiwed to be the old miser’e purse, not merely by Mira. Webber, but by the butcher, the baker, the grucer, and other tradesmen, with whom the deceased had been accustomed to deal, and who were now pre- sent while the charge was being preferred. Asa matter of course no one believed the unfortunate Lettice ey’s vehement averment of innocence and counter-accusation in respect to Mrs. Webber : she was consigned to a cell, where she passed the remainder of the night in a cundition uf mind bor- dering upon utter distraction. In the morning Lettice Rodney was placed before the magistrate, charged with the murder of Anthony Pollard. Meanwhile her boxes had been taken possession of at the railway-station by the police; and some letters were therein found, proving that her name was Lettice Rodney. On her own per- son nut merely the murdered man’s purse was dis- covered, but also the packet of papers belonginy to Mra. Rayner. The evidence given by Mre. Web- = before the magistrate was to the following ect :— the dismay which now prevailed in the miser's \ Seem ee ge — named Louisa Rayner, whom he had not however seen for many years. This Jady recently attained her majority, and was expected by Mr. Pullard to pay hin a visit and receive the funds that were due to her. Last evening the prisoner came to the house, announcing herself to be Mrs. Rayner ; and she was at firat believed to be what ahe thus represented herself. She had a long interview with my poor master; and about ten o'clock I went up to bed, leaving them together in the room where Mr. Pollard habitually sut. I did not immediately retire to rest, having needlework to do. Upwards of half-an-hour elapsed, when I heard the sounds of voices speaking very loud. I opened my dvor, and listened. Ny ears distinctly caught my master’s voice bitterly upbraiding the prisoner as an impvetress, and insisting upon knowing how she came to personate Mrs. Rayner, and how she get posecisiun of her papers. There was a great deal of this language on my master’s side, and much intercession on that of the prisoner. I heard Mr. Pollard threaten to give her into cun- tody; and then the duor of the room, which was previously open, was closed. I presumed it weg for fear of alarming me; and I thought to myse that Mr. Pollard meant to forgive her if she would confess everything. Presently it struck me that [ heard a cry—or rather a decp moan ;—then thw door was opened again—and feeling a certain degree of uneasiness, | hastened down stairs. The prisoner was in the passage: she louked dreadfully confused on beholding me—and as | glanced in at the door, I was filled with horror and dismay on beholding a dagger sticking in my master’s back. I seized upon the prisoner, calling her a murderess; and she fainted. The dagger belonged to my master: he was afraid of thieves and kept it for his defence. When sitting in that room at night- time, he generally laid it on the table near him: so that I have no doubt the prisoner snatched it up - and used it suddenly.” While Mrs. Webber was making this deposition, Lettice Rodney passed through all the extremes of feeling of which the human heart is sasceptible, — at one time crushed duwn by the weight of foaxful consternation, at another giving vent to the*most passionate declarations of innocenés, as well ag.of* Ww im- . accusations against Mrs. Webber herself, ploring heaven to interfere in her bebalf, Shen ap» pealing to the justice of man,—now confessing herself to be guilty of the intended eheat, but repudiating with abhorrence the graver and blacker clharge,—tben bureting forth into a paroxysm of the wildest anguish—and then sinking duwn into a numbed stupur, until suddenly starting up agnj in a fresh frenzy of words, louks, and geeticull tions. | When asker, with the usual caution, whether Letuce bad anything to say in her defence, she spoke with so much incoherence, that it was scarcely possible to unravel her words and obtain therefrom a coutinuous narrative. The magistrate was however paticut; and after much trouble, her story was elicited. She told how sbe had fallen in with Mrs. Rayner, aod explained the circuin- stances under which she was led to undertake the imposture: she told likewise how she had dis- covered the murder, and seen Mrs. Webber witn the two men ;—but no one believed this portion "ee The late Mr. Pollard ye guardian to a lady ; of her tale. The purse had been found upon her » ee ee qlinelmeguege ee —m ° Ce ee | SUE (SOL (C DOO Col