The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

= oon Og 8 Es Gow ee eee en ee eee” eee See 86s ee eee a TT TT ae O <6 e = © Om oe —. even 0 er wre we te ee ee meee, rw 1 Some weeks later I again saw the Burker pay a visit to the narrow alley; and an hour elapsed before he came out again. Subsequently Bill Soott the visit three or four times; and I have not the slightest doubt that these visits had reference to Mra. Webber. I learnt in the neigh- beurkood that she had lived for some years with her son-in-law and denghter; but so far from her having ever been on bad terms with them, or being rendered uneomfortable by Mr. Smediey, the con- trary wes supposed to be the case. A faw days ago Bartecy the Burker paid another vidlt to the alley; and on this ceeasion he remained at least two hours. Barly on the following morning «a hackney-coach wae fetwhed by Smedley—a number of boxes were brought ont—and Mra. Webber was just on the point of stepping into the vehicle, when I thought it at length time to interfere, in pur- suance. of a certain portion of my instructions feom the gentleman employing me. I sccordingly hastened to the spot, and esked Mre. Webber where she was going. She looked confused and frightened ; bat almost immediately recovered herself, saying that she wae only bent upon a little excursion for change of air. I glanced at the boxes, and saw that they were labelled, ‘ Bre. Smith, Dover’ I asked her why she took a fuse neme P She gave some evasive reply; bat again recovering her effrontery, demanded who I was. I told her thet 1 wae a detective officef, and gare her to understand that my mission was merely to prevent her from runving away from her recognisances, and to enforce her attendarice at thie trial. She did. not choose te her journey after re- Giving this intelligence; because I further stated - that if on arriving at Dover by the railway, she aftempted to embark on board a vessel, I should at ones take her into custody. She remained at Home fer the few days whieh intervened until it was for Ker te set off to coure to Liver- pect. Myself aud the other detective continued t6 watch the house unceasingly after the affair of teat intended journey; and in order thet Mrs. Webber might not give me the slip between Lon- don and Liverpool, I tool my pluee in the same carriage with herself.” Pho detective, whose evidence had produced a considerable sensation in court, was now cross- exumined by the counsel for the prosecution; and the following string of answers will show the nature of the questions: put :— “I bave been watching Mrs. Webber for six months. F decline to say what is the name of the gentleman who employed me: but this I will of my own acsord' declare—that my conviction is he never was the protector of the prisoner, nor Was improperly familiar-with lier, but merely took up her case from motives of humanity. I¢ is trne that he has psid all my expenses and hae rewarded me liberally. It is:‘no-unusnal'thing for the de- tevtives to be employed: by private individuals; nor is it unusual for them to be ttius cecapied 80 long a time. I know nothing, and did not mean to. infer anything, against the character of the Smedleys. It is perfectly truce that they passin their own. neighbourhood av respectable people, amd that Smedley is‘ at aptive member’ of a re- ligious' cougregation: It ise likewise: true that Mrs. Webber ie oonsifered'in the same neighbour. hood # respettable-woman.” THE MYSTERIES OY THE COURT. Here ended the cross-examination on the part of the prosecuting counsel: and the barrister for Let- tice Rodney’s defence said to the detective, “ You must now go out of court and out of hearing: but I shall require your attendance again pre- sently.” The officer accordingly issued from the tribunal ; and the coansel for the defence then addressed the judge in the following manner :— “My lord, EF am about to make an apptication of a somewhat extraordinary character. There is @ witness whose evidence is of vital importance to the present case; bat it is impossible she can give that testimony personally and orally before this solemn tribunal. Indeed, I will at once admit that hér intellects are in so weak 4 state that she would become bewildered and would icevitably break down. Bat she has been examined by two justices-of-the-péace: namely, Sir William Stanley and Mr. Simon Hillis—both gentlemen of the highest respectability ; and this examination took place in the presence of two physicians well known for their skill and experience with resp2ct to the insane ard in all psychological matters. The woman's deposition has been committed to paper: it is accompanied by attesting affidavits on the part of the two justices who received her evidence; and there are likewise affidavits from the medical gentlemen, to the effect that the woman's testi- mony is held by them to be perfectly credible. I now request permission to introduce that deposi- tion as evidence. Its value can be tested by - 6 ce oe - A “fina Wwe eo eee eee =_— == ere, — meee ——i—i—iaSti‘ia NC; - oe =e - 7s unmistakable means. If it should be found to constitute an indisputable link in the general chain of evidence, it stampe itself with trath: bat if, on the other hand, it should be found irrelevant and unsupported by collateral facts, it can easily be discarded; and your lordshrp will direct the jury, es well as their own discrimination wifi tell them, whether or not they are to attack any im- portance thereto.” The counsel for the prosecution objected to the production of sueh evidence; and the judge him- self appeared to consider it inadmissible: but the foreman of the jury expressed « hope that ins matter where a feilow-creature’s hfe was con- cerned, no objection would be raised inst the production of the evidente alluded to. The judge accordingly ruled in favour of its production; aod — the reader may conceive how breathless was the suspense which prevailed in the court—how deep was the anxiety of Lettice Rodney, who had re- mained in perfect ignorance of the natare of the defence’ to be set up on her behalf—and how serious were growing the guilty Mrs. Webber's apprehensions. The counsel for the defence unfolded a doez- ment which lay before him, and then spoke as follows :— “This deposition is to the effect that the female who made it, was in the town of Liverpool on the same night that the murder was committed. She was wandering about, when her wayward steps led her up 8 narrow lane into which open the vard- gates belonging to that row of houses where Mr. Pollard dwelt. She heard one of these gates open and stint; and with some feeling of curiosity which she carinot define, she remained at that gate. Voices’ were speaking immediately inside: they were conversing in an undertone —bust she listened, ed —™- ene es - (SOL (C DOO Col