“I do, sir, perfectly,” replied I.
“Perhaps then you will inform us by what means
a diamond ring and twenty pounds in money came into
your possession?”
“Honestly, sir,” replied I.
“Will you state, as you are a poor countryman,
with whom you worked last—what parish you
belong to—and whom you can bring forward
in proof of good character?”
“I certainly shall not answer those questions,”
replied I; “if I chose I might so do, and satisfactorily.”
“What is your name?”
“I cannot answer that question either, sir,”
replied I.
“I told you yesterday that we had met before;
was it not at Bow Street?”
“I am surprised at your asking a question, sir,
from the bench, to which, if I answered, the reply
might affect me considerably. I am here in a
false position, and cannot well help myself. I
have no friends that I choose to call, for I should
blush that they should see me in such a state, and
under such imputations.”
“Your relations, young man, would certainly
not be backward. Who is your father?”
“My father!” exclaimed I, raising up my
hands and eyes. “My father! Merciful
God!—if he could only see me here—see
to what he has reduced his unhappy son,” and
I covered my face, and sobbed convulsively.
By the committing of magisterial mistakes
I am personally and penally committed—I
prepare for my trial by calling in the assistance
of the tailor and the perfumer—I am resolved
to die like a gentleman.
“It is indeed a pity, a great pity,” observed
one of the magistrates, “such a fine young man,
and evidently, by his demeanour and language, well
brought up; but I believe,” said he turning to
the others, “we have but one course; what say
you, Mr Norman?”
“I am afraid that my opinion coincides with
yours, and that the grand jury will not hesitate to
find a bill, as the case stands at present. Let
us, however, ask the witness Armstrong one question.
Do you positively swear to this young man being one
of the persons who attacked you?”
“It was not very light at the time, sir, and
both the men had their faces smutted; but it
was a person just his size, and dressed in the ame
way, as near as I can recollect.”
“You cannot, therefore, swear to his identity?”
“No, sir; but to the best of my knowledge and
belief, he is the man.”
“Take that evidence down as important,”
said Mr Norman, “it will assist him at his trial.”
