The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 309: what you’re looking at

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

, - LIGATS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE. “ You received it from him ?” *T did.” “ How did you dispose of it?” “T took the infant into the park, and left it upon the bench near the pond.” * Do you remember the day ?” ** The 8th of February, 1775.” “ Did you ever see the child afterwards?” “T did.” * Where?” “Tn the barracks of St.James’s. I heard that it had been found by a Sergeant Gourlay of the Fusiliers, and consigned to the care of the wife of Corporal White. I employed two persons to represent the grandfather and grandmother of the infant, who went there to claim it.” “When was this?” “ About three days after I had expesed it. “ Are those persons living now ?” The learned counsel, who had taken notes of the witness’s looked over his brief, and resumed his seat—casting, as he did so, an anxious glance at the learned sergeant who was to cross-examine Mr, Splutter was one of the most dashing advocates of the day; a man who could weep by turns like a crocodile, or rave like a bully. He was the terror of witnesses, whom it was his practice either to frighten or bully, worry or confuse, till, by sheer exhaustion, they faltered in their evidence, or he wrung from them an admission to found an objection or a point upon. Fixing a hawk-like eye upon his customer, who he saw was evidently a cool one, he bade him, in a tone which was intended to express virtuous indigna- tion, to look at him. *T do.” “Straight in the face, sir; let the jury see your -countenance. No shifting—no blushing. There. Now tell me, Mr. Nicholas Prim, how many years have you disgraced the honourable profession of ?” “ Exactly fifty-six years; as you will find. if you refer to the Law List.” Splutter was chagrined at the witness’s manner. He had hoped to have annoyed or stung him. “Your practice seems to have been a very respect- able one ?” ‘Unfortunately not, sir.”’ “‘ Have you often been concerned in similar trans- actions?” “ Tn more than one.” “ Of course you did not move in this affair without some instigator? You were employed?” Prim remained silent. “JT say,” resumed Splutter, “ you were employed in this abduction, supposed or real, of a child whose very existence at the best is but hypothetical. Remember, ynan, that you are upon your oath!—nof that I sup- poss the recollection would make much difference, to your code of morality; which the intel- ligence of the jury, I doubt not, will do ample justice to.”” “J was employed.” “By whom ?” “Sir Walter Mowbray, who has long been my client ” There was a pause. The judges looked at each other, and it was evident that a very unfavourable impression respecting the wealthy old baronet pre- 2 vailed in court. The counsel was dumbfoundered. The answer was the last he expected or wished, as, instead of favouring, it injured his client’s case. “And do you really mean to tell me, their lord ships, and this intelligent jury—look at them, no shuffling—that the very respectable and distinguished gentleman you have named employed you to abduct, carry off, and mercilessly expose his own grandson?” “Certainly not. Sir Walter said that he doubted the validity of the marriage,” replied Prim, “even that the ceremony had taken place at all, for he never saw the certificate, and left the affair to be arranged by me, ia whom he placed implicit confidence.” “He knew that you had obtained the infant?”’ “ He did,” “ And your manner of disposing of it?” “No. Believing the child illegitimate, he gaye me a considerable sum of money to undertake the care of him, and never made, that I recollect, any inquiries afterwards.” | All this was delivered in a tone so firm and collected, that it produced an impression in favour of Colonel Hamilton in the mindsof the jury, Although examined and cross-examined, subjected to the most biting sarcasm, taunts, and insidious questioning, Prim never wavered or lost his temper for an instant. There was no shaking the admission of his guilt; on the con- trary, in coarse but forcible replies, he seemed to take a humiliating pleasure in painting his conduct in the frightful colours which its depravity merited. To have heard him, one would have thought him a speak- ing machine, so perfectly cold, passionate, and unmoved were his answers. Sergeant Splutter placed his hands behind the back of his gzown—a favourite attitude with him when aroused—and demanded, with a counte- nance flushed with passion, whether he really ex- pected him to believe him. “ Tam sure you do,” was the quiet reply. “ SureI do!” repeated the lawyer, in a tone of anger, “T deny, indignantly deny, your. impudent assertion, No, sir, f do not believe you; nor will these twelve honourable, intelligent, respectable jurors believe you; not a person in this court, 1 am sure, believes you, What,” he added, “Sir Walter Mowbray plot the destruction of his own grandson! Preposterous! incredible!” “Sir Walter Mowbray is in court. You can call him, if you think proper.” This was a hit there was no parrying, and the man of law grew absolutely red with passion. “How much do you expect for this conspiracy— for conspiracy,” he added, “ I do not hesitate to pro- nounce it—to foist one of your own children into an honoarable family ?” ; “ Thave no children.” The voice of deep agony with which Prim made this last reply was so hopeless, so truly wretched, that even those who had turned from him with an expression of disgust at his crimes felt moved to something like a sentiment of pity. It was the only occasion on which he displayed the least emotion. With a patience which would have rendered him worthy of the honours of a martyr, he bore the browbeating, ridicule, insults, and reproaches which the disappointed Splutter heaped upon him; he com- pelled him to expose the ulcers of his soul in every possible light, expatiate with minuteness upon his crime, nor spared him a single humiliation. Finding he could mako nothing of him, or ina single point shake his evidence, he sat down, furious, flushed, and disappointed. 307 | GOMIIGIOO Ss (E() im