The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

118 THE COURT OF LONDON The jury, however, seemed to take quite a different view of the matter; so that without much deliberation, and also without leaving the box, they returned a verdict of wilful murder against Paul Dysart. Every eye was turned upon the prisoner to behold how he received the record which heralded the crowning act in the drama, namely, the condemnation to death. A sudden pallor overspread his features, as if a spasm convulsed him at the moment; but the next instant he was calm, collected, and confident as before. It was at first a frightful shock to be found guilty of murder, the bare mention of which terrible word was enough to make the gallows and all the dread paraphernalia of death spring up before his startled imagina- tion; but this feeling was promptly relieved by the recollec- tion that his wife held a document which could compel the prince regent to open the doors of his dungeon and recall him forth to freedom. The recorder put on the black cap, and in the usual stereotyped form of verbiage pronounced the awful sentence of the law, which was that Paul Dysart should be taken back to the place whence he came, and thence to a place of execu- tion, where he should be hung by the neck until he was dead; and the recorder concluded by expressing a hope that the Lord would have mercy upon his soul. Execrable imposture! vile barbarism! diabolical iniquity! Man proves merciless in his vengeance, and yet hopes that God will be merciful. But should not man follow the example of this Almighty Power whom he invokes? It was now four o’clock in the afternoon. Dysart was conveyed back to Newgate, the recorder went to dine with Lord Herbert, the common-sergeant took his place upon the bench, and the trial of petty felons occupied the rest of the evening. The crowd dispersed, each individual remarking to his friend, ‘‘ I wonder when he will be hung.” Meantime the governor of Newgate proceeded to his drawing-room, where Lady Ernestina was seated; and, inas- much as it suited her purpose to manifest the deepest anxiety relative to the result of the trial, he fancied it to be incum- bent upon him to break the tidings as gently as possible. Then she fell into a strong fit; and when she had performed this little piece of tragedy, she wildly demanded to see her dear, dear husband! CORVICLIOOKS (EO)