The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 198: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. 19% was unlocked. The Baroness appeared to have just wakened up from slumber; and she had on precisely the same dress in which she had dimmed. ‘When cross-examined, the lady’s-maid deposed that ahe had never seen any apparel of a mean nature, or which could serve as a disguise, in the possession of the Baroness: but there were several drawers which the Baroness was wont to keep locked, and to which she (witness) had not access. examined as to the manner in which they were summoned by the violent ringing of the bell on the night in ion; and when cross-examined, they both declared that the grief of their mistress appeared most natural,—not violent nor over- strained—but just such a kind of sorrow as under the circumstances she might have been supposed | to experience ; and they had not the faintest sus- picion of foul play until the arrest took place, this circumstance striking them with the sudden- ness of a thunder-clap. The deposition made by the aunt, and taken down by the examining magistrate when the case was first brought before him, was read by the elerk of the court; and it testified to facts already known to the reader. Then followed the ex- amination of the three surgical witnesses. Two of them persevered in their opinion that death had been produced by prussic acid: tho third still held to a contrary belief. This was one of the most interesting portions of the remarkable trial, and occupied some time. . Then began the speech for the defence, one of | the most able advocates of the French bar having b»en retained for the Baroness de Charlemont. He dwelt with emphasis and eloquence upon all the sshent points that told in her favour—the absence of any possible motive for the perpetration of such @ crime—the positive injury which she would have | re done herself in a pecuniary sense by removing the husband on whose life depended so large a portion ef the revenue she in common with him— tie fact that the chemist’s son had so frequently | @vpressed his dread lest he should have been mis- tiken in a matter of personal identity—the non- discovery of those articles of mean clothing which she was represented to have worn, and the diffi- culty of having disposed of such raiment during the short interval between her return from the , Chemist's (as charged in the indictment) and the | ransacking of all her drawers and boxes by the | pohce immediately after the arrest. The learned ' eounsel artimadverted strongly upon the attempt | the Royal Procurator to create the impression that , &murder of a husband had been committed in the | hope that the way would thus be cleared for mar- ' viage with the object of the prisoner's first affec- tions. He insisted that it was an important cir- cumstance in the prisoner’s favour that she had never seen the Count de St. Gerard, nor commu- micated with him, since her matriage,—as proved by that nobleman’s affidavit. In respect to the endeavour on the part of the prosecution to show that the prisoner could not prove how she had dis- posed of her time from nine o'clock until half-past ten on the night in question, that endeavour had qmpletely failed: for the inference to be drawn of the principal lady’s-maid, wes than howe salehetes, erhace odio heme ie bee chamber to prevent intrusion, had slept during the whole time. The learned counsel! then proceeded to dissect with much skill the surgical evidence which had been tendered—insisting that it was not even satisfactorily shown that the Baron de Char- lemont was murdered at all; and that as there was clearly a doubt upoa this point, the prisoner was entitled to the benefit thereof. He concluded a long and eloquent speech by calling upon the jury to acquit the Baroness, and relieve her from an imputation which could not be possibly sus- tained. Three or four witnesses for the defence were called. One was the magistrate who had effected the arrest, and who frankly admitted that the conduct of the prisoner on the occasion was unlike that of a guilty person. He also deposed to having insti- tuted the most rigorous search throughout the mansion and the garden—but that he had neithor discovered the phial which was to have been sold by the chemist, nor any article of the humble raiment which the of the poison was described to have worn. The gaol authorities were examined, and they spoke to the demeanour of the Baroness during the six weeks of her imprison- ment. Some of the late Baron’s papers were put | in to show that his wife was acquainted with his pecuniary circumstances, and therefore knew what would be the consequence, in this respect, of making away with him. It was likewise shown on the testimony of the valet, that the Baron had complained of illness ere retiring to rest on the night of his death. The King’s Procurator rose to reply, and briefiy repeated many of his former arguments, as well as answering those of the counsel for the defence. When he had concluded, the Judges retired to deliberate upon the summing-up; and after an absence of nearly an hour from the court, they returned—when the President delivered his address to the Jury. He was an upright and conscientious Judge, and carefully avoided suffering the Jury to perceive what was the impression of the bench. He pointed out all the facte that told for or against the prisoner; and though the summing-up was perfectly impartial, yet from the analyzation of the circumstances themselves it might be pro- nounced more favourable than otherwise to the Baroness. The President ceased; and the jury withdrew fo deliberate. It was now eight o'clock in the even- ing—the lamps were lighted in the court—a pro- found silence reigned. The auditory, amongst which were so many of the fashionable world of Paris, had remained in the judgment-hall the whole day, so intense was the interest excited by this remarkable trial. A careful study of the most expressive countenances wowd have shown that the general opinion was adverse to the Baroness de Charlemont—but yet that the jury could scarcely convict upon the evidence as it stood. And she— the accused — that beautiful creature of only twenty-two years of age — apparelled in her widow’ s-weeds,—there she sat in the ignominious dock, her countenance concealed from the general view. But every one knew full well that powerful emotions must be agi in her bosom, and that she must feel that her life depended upon the flat maid, | about to be pronounced by a majority of the twelve men who had retired from the jury-box. At length the door behind that box opened: one (COL (C DOO CS (COL