The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

Bann eee eee the fifty sovereigns which she had kept back then, while Lettice still continued in a state Coposited the purse in the Mire. Webber opened the front o house and began spreaming out, “ Mur- ” with all her might and main. The alarm wildfire along the street — several per- in—and as Lettice Rodney was startled ‘to lie by the woman’s cries, she found her- eelf the object of execration and abhorrence en the part of a dozen individuals surrounding her—— ehe was accaped of murder ! No pen oan describe the confusion, the horror, and the dismay which now prevailed in the miser's bouse. The neighbours were flocking in ; and the spectacle of the corpse, bent motionless over the table, with the weapon slieking in the back, pro- duced a fearful seneation. “Murder!” oried Lettice, flinging around ber wild and elnost frenzied looks: “J commit mur- der! Wo, no—that abominable woman”—pointing to Mrs. Webber—“and the two villains who were with her——” “'Wretoh !” exclaimed the housekeeper; “you know that you killed the poor old gentleman be- eause he 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 d Lettice was overwhelmed with the accusation : che 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 lice constables who now took her into custody. this piteous condition, bordering upon uncon- eciousness, 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, ao beautiful, and so genteel-looking should have committed such a stupendous crime. On r the station-house, Mrs. Wobber preferred the charge—but was continuously inter- rupted by the passionate, frenzied, and vehement ejaculations of Lettice Rodney. The latter was ezarched; and the purse, containing the fifty pounds, was found upon ber. This was proslaiwed to be the old miser’s purse, not merely by Mrs. 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 pf course no one believed the unfortunate Lettice Rodney's vehement averment of innocence and counter-accusation in respect to Mre. 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 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- eon not merely the murdered man’s purse was dis- covered, but also the packet of papers belonging to Mrs. Rayner. The evidence given by Mrs. Web- ber before the magistrate was to the following 207 named Louies Rayner, whom he had not however seen for many years. This Jady recently atteined her majority, and was expected by Mr. Pollard to pay hin a visit and receive the funds that were due to her. Last evening the prisoner came te the house, announcing herself to be Mrs. Hayner ; and she was at firat believed to be what she thus represented herself. She had a long interview with my poor master; and about ten o’clock J went up to bed, leaving them together in the room where Mr. Pollard habitually sat. J did not immediately retire to rest, having needlework to do. Upwards of half.an-bour elapsed, when I beard the sounds of voices speaking very loud. I opened my dvor, and listened. My ears distinctly caught my master's voice bitterly upbraiding the prisoner as an impvetress, and insisting upon knowing how she came to persunate Mrs. Hayner, and how she git posecssiuon 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 cus- tody; and then the dvor of the room, which was previously open, was closed. I presumed it w for fear of alarming me; and I thought to myse fs, that Mr. Pollard meant to forgive her if she would confess everything. Presently it struck me that [ heard a cry—or rather a deep moan ;—then the door was opened again—and feeling a certain degree of uneasiness, | bastened down stairs. The prisoner was in the passage: she looked dreadfully confused on beholding me—and as I glanced in at the door, 1 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 fur his defence. When sitting in that room at night- time, be generally laid it on the table near him: so that I have no doubt the prisoner enatvhbed it up: and used it suddenly.” While Mrs. Webber was making this deposition, Lettice Rodney passed through all the extremes of teeling of which the human heart is snsceptible, — ee RS SSS sp SSPE danaseaman? THE MYSTRIES OF THE COURT. at one time crusiied duwa by the weight of foagfal - consternation, at another giving vent to the most passionate declarations of innocendés, es well aa of accusations against Mrs. Webber herself,—mow im- ploring heaven to interfere in her behalf, Then ap- pesling to the justice of man,—now confessing herself to be guilty of the intended acheat, bus repudiating with abhorrence the graver and blacker charge,—tben bursting forth into a paroxysm of the wildest anguish—and then sinking duwn into a numbed stupor, until suddenly starting up agu} in a fresh frenzy of words, louvks, and gesticulle tions. When asked, with the usual caution, whether Letiice bud anything to say in her defence, she spoke with so much incoherence, that it waa scarcely possible to unravel her words and obtain therefrota a coutinuous narrative. The wagistrate was however paticut; and after much truuble, her story was elicited. She told how she had fallen in with Mrs. Rayner, and explained the circum. stances uuder which she waa led to undertake the imposture: she told likuwise bow she had dis. covered the murder, and seen Mre. Webber wita the two men ;—but no one believed this portion effect :— ‘" The late Mr. Pollard WY gusrdian to a ledy | of her tale. The purse had been found upon hee - _ (COL (C DOO CS (COL