 CHAPTER XXXI. With the greatest forethought and the best taste, Luisa had forwarded to her mistress the most simple and unassuming garb which the boudoir contained amongst its miscellaneous articles of female attire. Dressed in the garments which suited her sex, Eliza was a fine and elegant woman, above the common female height, yet graceful in her deportment, and charming in all her movements. Her shoulders possessed that beautiful shape, and the contours of her bust were modeled in that ample and voluptuous mould which formed such essential elements of superb and majestic loveliness. Although so long accustomed to masculine attire, there was nothing awkward, nothing constrained in her gait, her step was free and light, and her pace short, as if that exquisitely turned ankle and long narrow foot had never known ought save the softest silken hose, and the most delicate prunella shoes. In a word, the beauty of Eliza Sidney was of a lofty and imposing order, a pale high brow, melting hazel eyes, a delicately chiseled mouth and nose, and a form whose matured expansion and height were rendered more commanding by its exquisite symmetry of proportions. The Morning Journals published an account of the extraordinary attempt at fraud detected at the bank on the previous day, and the utmost curiosity was evinced by an immense crowd that had collected to obtain a view of the prisoners, especially the female one, as they alighted from the separate cabs in which they were conveyed to the mansion house for re-examination. Eliza's countenance was flushed and animated, and the expression of her eyes denoted profound mental excitement. Stevens was ghastly pale, the lawyer maintained a species of sullen and reserved composure. The police office at the mansion house was crowded to excess. St. Peter Laurie presided, and on his right hand was seated the Earl of Warrington. Mr. Pakenham was also present, in company with the solicitor of the Bank of England. The moment the prisoners appeared in the dock, Eliza in a firm tone addressed the magistrate and intimated her intention of making the most ample confession in accordance with her promise of the preceding day. She was accommodated with a chair, and the chief clerk proceeded to take down the narrative which detailed the origins and progress of this most extraordinary conspiracy. Alas, that so criminal a tale should have been accompanied by the music of that flute-like voice, and that so foul a history should have emanated from so sweet a mouth. Those words of guilt which trembled upon her lips resembled the slime of the snail upon the leaf of the rose. When the confession of Eliza Sidney was fully taken down and signed by her, the Earl of Warrington solicitor entered into a statement which placed the magistrate in full possession of the facts of the case. We shall now proceed to acquaint our readers with the complete history formed by these revelations. The late Earl of Warrington was a man of eccentric and peculiar habits. An accident in his infancy had rendered his person deformed and stunted his growth, and, being endowed with tender feelings and acute susceptibilities, he could not bear to mingle in that society where his own physical defects were placed in strong contrast with the fine figures, handsome countenances, and manly forms of many of his aristocratic acquaintances. He possessed a magnificent estate in Cambridgeshire, and in the country seat attached to that domain did he pass the greater portion of his time in solitude. The bailiff of the Warrington estate was a widower and possessed an only child, a daughter. Letitia Hardenidge was about sixteen years of age when the Earl first took up his abode in Cambridgeshire in the year 1790. She was not good-looking, but she possessed a mild and melancholy expression of countenance and an amiability of disposition which rendered her an object of interest to all who knew her. She was fond of reading, and the library at the neighbouring mansion was always open to her inspection. The reserved and world-shunning Earl soon became attracted towards Letitia Hardenidge. He found that she possessed a high order of intellect, and he delighted to converse with her. By degrees he experienced a deep attachment towards a being whose society often relieved the monotonous routine of his life, and the gratitude which Letitia entertained towards the Earl for his kindness to her soon partook of a more tender feeling. She found herself interested in a nobleman of high rank and boundless wealth, who was compelled to avoid the great world where the hummage shown to his proud name appeared to him to be a mockery of his physical deformity. She ministered to him with all a woman's devotedness during a tedious and painful malady which seized upon him shortly after his arrival in Cambridgeshire, and at length her presence became, as it were, necessary to him. They loved, and although no priests blessed their union, they entertained unalterable respect and affection for each other. That dread of ridicule which had driven the Earl from society, and which with him was a weakness amounting almost to folly, prevented the solemnization of his nuptials with the woman he loved. She became pregnant, and the day that made the Earl the father of a daughter rogged him of the mother of that innocent child who was thus born in sin. Letitia Hardnidge, the Earl's natural child, grew up in health and beauty. The father was dotingly attached to her, and watched her growth with pride and adoration. She was sixteen years of age when Frederick, the Earl's nephew, and heir presumptive to the title and vast estates of the family, arrived in Cambridgeshire to pay his respects to his uncle on his emancipation from college. The young man's parents had both died in his infancy, and he was entirely dependent upon the Earl. Letitia Hardnidge passed as the niece of the Earl of Warrington. Frederick was acquainted with the real history of the young lady, and previous to his arrival at the mansion of his uncle, he was not prepared to treat her with any excess of civility. He was brought up in that aristocratic school which looks upon pure blood as a necessary element of existence, and as a loan entitled to respect. But he had not been many days in the society of Miss Hardnidge before his ideas upon this subject underwent a complete change, and he could not help admiring her. Admiration soon led to love. He became deeply enamored of her. The Earl beheld this attachment on his part and was rejoiced. A union between the two cousins would secure to his adored daughter that rank in social position which he was most anxious for her to occupy. As the wife of the heir presumptive to the richest earldom in the realm, her origin would never be canvassed nor thought of. But Letitia herself returned not the young man's love. By one of those extraordinary caprices, which so often characterize even the strongest female minds, she had taken a profound aversion to her suitor, and being of high and independent disposition, not even the dazzling prospect of wealth and title could move her heart in his favour. There was a farmer upon the Earl's estate of the name of me. He had a son whose Christian name was Stanford, a handsome but sickly youth, and by no means comparable to the polished and intellectual Frederick. Nevertheless, Letitia entertained for this young man an affection bordering upon madness. The Earl discovered her secret and was deeply afflicted at his daughter's predilection. He remonstrated with her and urged the necessity of conquering her inclinations in this respect. It was then that she showed the temper and the spirit of a spoiled child and declared that she would follow the dictates of her own mind in preference to every other consideration. The Earl swore a most solemn oath that if she dared marry Stanford Sidney, neither she nor her husband should ever receive one single shilling from him. Reckless of this threat, indifferent to the feelings of that father who had cherished her so fondly, the perverse girl one morning abandoned the paternal home and fled with Stanford Sidney, on whom she bestowed her hand. The blow came like a thunderbolt upon the head of the old Earl. He was naturally of a delicate and infirm constitution, and this sudden misfortune proved too much for his debilitated frame. He took to his bed, and a few hours before his death he made a will consistent with his oath. He left all his property to his nephew, with the exception of forty-one thousand pounds, the amount of his savings since he had inherited the title. This will ordained that his nephew should enjoy the interest of this aunt, but that should Letitia bear a male child to Stanford Sidney, such issue should, upon attaining the age of twenty-one years, receive as his portion the above sum of forty-one thousand pounds. Such was the confidence which the old Earl possessed in his nephew that he left the execution of this provision to him. It was also enacted by that will that should the said Letitia die without bearing a son to the said Stanford Sidney, or should a son born of her die previously to attaining his twenty-first year, then the sum alluded to should become the property of Frederick. The old man died, a prey to the deepest mental affliction, indeed, literally heartbroken, shortly after making this will. Frederick, who was honor and integrity personified, determined upon fulfilling all the instructions of his uncle to the very letter. The fruits of the union of Stanford Sidney and Letitia Hardinage were a daughter and a son. The name of the former was Eliza, that of the latter was Walter. Eliza was a strong and healthy child, Walter was sickly and ailing from his birth. Shortly after the birth of Walter, the father, who had long been in a deep decline, paid the debt of nature. Letitia was then left a widow with two young children and nothing but a small farm for her support. Her high spirit prevented her from applying to the Earl of Warrington, the man whose love she had slighted and scorned, and thus she had to struggle with poverty and misfortune in rearing and educating her fatherless progeny. The farm which she tenanted was situated in Berkshire, whether she and her husband had removed immediately after the death of the father of Stanford. The farm belonged to a gentleman of the name of Stevens, a merchant of respectability and property in the city of London. It was the year 1829 that Robert Stevens appeared at the farmhouse to announce the death of his father and his inheritance of all the landed property which had belonged to the deceased. The widow was considerably in arrears of rent. Stevens inquired into her condition and prospects, and learned from her lips her entire history, that history which, from motives of disappointed pride, she had religiously concealed from her children. She was well aware of the provisions of the late Earl's will, but she had determined not to acquaint either Eliza or Walter with the clause relative to the fortune until the majority of the latter. Towards Stevens she did not manifest the same reserve, the revelation of that fact being necessary to convince him that she possessed good perspective chances of settling those long arrears which she was in the meantime totally unable to liquidate. Robert Stevens was immediately attracted towards that family. It was not the beauty of Eliza which struck him, he was a cold, calculating man of the world, and considered female loveliness as mere dross compared to sterling gold. He found that Walter was an amiable and simple-hearted youth, and he hoped to turn to his own advantage the immense inheritance which awaited the lad at his majority. He accordingly treated Mrs. Sydney with every indulgence, forgiving her the arrears already accumulated and lowering her rent in future. He thus gained an immense influence over the family, and when a sudden malady threw the widow upon her deathbed it was to Stevens that she recommended her children. Stevens manifested the most paternal attention towards the orphans and secured their unbounded gratitude, attachment, and confidence, but his designs were abruptly menaced in an alarming manner. The seeds of consumption which had been sown by paternal tradition in the Constitution of Walter germinated with fatal effect and on the 14th of February, 1841 he surrendered up his spirit. Scarcely had the breath left the body of the youth when Stevens, by that species of magic influence which he had already begun to exercise over Eliza, induced her to assume her brother's garb, and she was taught to believe, even by the very side of his corpse, that immense interests were connected with her compliance with his wish. An old woman was the only female attendant at the farmhouse, and she was easily persuaded to spread a report amongst the neighbors that it was the daughter who was dead. Eliza did not stir abroad. Stevens managed the funeral, and gave instructions for the entry in the parish register of the burial of Eliza Sidney. And as Eliza immediately afterwards repaired to the villa at Clapton, the fraud was not suspected in the neighborhood of the Berkshire farm. Stevens duly communicated the deaths of Mrs. Sidney and Eliza to the Earl of Warrington, and obtained an introduction to this nobleman. He called occasionally in Grovesner Square during the interval of four years and nine months which occurred between the reported death of Eliza and the 26th of November 1835, and invariably took care to mention not only that Walter was in good health, but that he was residing at the villa. His lordship, however, on no occasion expressed a wish to see the young man, for years had failed to wipe away the impression made upon Fredric's mind by the deceased Letitia Hardinge. When Stevens introduced the disguised Eliza to the nobleman as Walter Sidney upon the morning of the 26th of November, the Earl entertained not the least suspicion of fraud. He knew that Stevens was the son of an eminent merchant, and that he was well spoken of in society, and he was moreover anxious to complete a ceremony which only recalled painful reminiscences to his mind. Thus, so far as his lordship was concerned, the deceit was managed with the most complete success, and there is no doubt that the entire scheme might have been carried out, and the secret have remained forever undiscovered, had not a private warning been communicated in time to the Bank of England. Such was the complete narrative formed by the statement of the Earl of Warrington through his solicitor and the confession of Eliza Sidney. The history excited the most extraordinary interest in all who heard it, and there was a powerful feeling of sympathy and commiseration in favor of Eliza. Even Lord Warrington himself looked once or twice kindly upon her. The examination which elicited all the facts detailed in the narrative, and the evidence gone into to prove the attempt to obtain possession of the money at the Bank of England occupied until four o'clock in the afternoon, when the magistrate committed Robert Stevens, Hugh Mac Chisell, and Eliza Sidney to Newgate to take their trials at the approaching session of the central criminal court. CHAPTER 32 THE SESSIONS OF THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT COMMENCED The street of the Old Bailey was covered with straw, and the pavement in the neighborhood of the doors of the court on one side and of the public houses on the other was crowded with policemen, the touters of the barristers and attorneys practicing criminal law, and the friends of the prisoners whose trials were expected to come on that day. The press-yard, which is situated between the solid granite wall of Newgate and the courthouse, was also flooded with living waves which rolled onwards from the street to the flight of steps leading into the gallery of the Old Court. In former times, prisoners who refused to plead were pressed beneath immense weights until they would consent to declare themselves guilty or not guilty. This odious punishment was inflicted in that enclosure, hence its name of the press-yard. It cannot be necessary to describe the courthouse with its dark, somber walls and its huge ventilator at the top. Alas, the golden bowl of hope has been broken within those walls, and the knell of many a miserable wretch has been wrung upon its tribunals from the lips of the judge. The street of the Old Bailey presents quite an animated appearance during the sessions, but it is horrible to reflect that numbers of the policemen who throng in that thoroughfare upon those occasions have trumped up the charges for which prisoners have been committed for trial in order to obtain a holiday and extort from the county the expenses of attending as witnesses. At the time of which our tale treats the sheriffs were accustomed to provide two dinners for the judges every day, one at three and the other at five o'clock, so that those who could not attend the first were unable to take their seats at the second. Mero puddings, beef steaks, and boiled rounds of beef invariably formed the staple commodities of these repasts, and it was the duty of the ordinary chaplains of Newgate to act as vice presidents at both meals. This ceremony was always performed by those reverent gentlemen, the ecclesiastical gourmands contrived during sessions to eat two dinners every day, and wash each down with a very tolerable allowance of wine. We said that the sessions commenced. On the Monday and Tuesday the recorder in the Old Court and the common sergeant in the new tried those prisoners who were charged with minor offenses. On the Wednesday the judges upon the rota took their seats on the bench of the Old Court. Richard Markham's name stood first for trial upon the list on that day. He was conducted from Newgate by means of a subterraneous passage running under the press-yard into the dock of the Court. The hall was crowded to excess, for the case had produced a profound sensation. The moment Markham appeared in the dock every eye was fixed upon him. His countenance was very pale but his demeanor was firm. He cast one glance around and then looked only towards the twelve men who were to decide upon his fate. Close by the dock stood Mr. Monroe. Whittingham was in the gallery. The Baronet, Chichester, and Talbot lounged together near the reporter's box. The jury were sworn and the counsel for the prosecution stated the case. He observed that the prisoner at the bar was a young man who, upon his majority, would become possessed of a considerable fortune, but that in the meantime he had no doubt fallen into bad company for it would be proved that he was arrested by the police at a common gambling-house in the evening of the very same day on which he had committed the offense with which he was now charged. It was but natural to presume that this young man had imbibed the habit of gaming and, having thereby involved himself in pecuniary embarrassments, had adopted the desperate and fatal expedient of obtaining money by means of forged banknotes rather than communicate his situation to his guardian. Where he procured these forged notes, it was impossible to say. It would, however, be satisfactorily proved to the jury that he passed a forged note for five hundred pounds at the banking-house of Maceur Blank, and that when he was arrested a second note for fifty pounds was found upon his person. Several concurrent circumstances established the guilt of the prisoner. On the evening previous to his arrest the prisoner dined with Sir Rupert Harbourow, Mr. Chichester, and Mr. Talbot, and when these gentlemen proposed a walk after dessert the prisoner requested them to accompany him to a common gaming-house in the quadrant. They refused, but finding him determined to visit that den they agreed to go with him, with the friendly intention of taking care that he was not plundered of his money, he being considerably excited by the wine he had been drinking. Air he set out the prisoner inquired if either of his companions could change him a fifty-pound note, but neither gentleman had sufficient gold to afford the accommodation required. Now it was not fair to presume that the prisoner intended to pass off upon one of his friends the very forged fifty-pound note subsequently found upon him. On the following day the prisoner, the moment he was released from custody on the charge of being found in a common gaming-house, hurried home and ordered his servants to prepare for his immediate departure for the Continent. He more over wrote two letters, which would be read to the jury, one to a lady and the other to his guardian, and both containing unequivocal admission of his guilt. The learned counsel then read the letters and commented upon their contents at some length. There were several expressions, he said, which clearly tended to self- crimination. Circumstances of a very peculiar nature and which I cannot at present explain compel me to quit London thus abruptly. I could not have remained in London another minute with safety to myself. I conceive it to be my duty, inconsequence of rumours which may shortly reach you concerning me, to inform you that I have this moment only awoke to the fearful perils of the career in which I have for some weeks passed, then blindly hurrying along, to let length yesterday, I am penitent, deeply penitent, let this statement induce you to defend and protect my reputation. The last paragraph but one which concluded so abruptly with the words, till at length yesterday, clearly pointed to the crime with which the prisoner was now charged, and the last paragraph of all undeniably implored Mr. Monroe, the young man's guardian, to hush up the matter the moment it should reach his ears. The clerk at the banking house, who changed the five hundred pound note for the prisoner, then gave his evidence. At length Sir Rupert Harborough was called into the witness-box, and he deposed that the prisoner had dined with him on the evening previous to his arrest, that he very pressingly solicited him, Sir Rupert, and Mr. Cheechester, and Mr. Talbot, to accompany him to the gambling-house, and that he, moreover, inquired if either of them could accommodate him with change for a fifty-pound note. Mr. Cheechester was called next. He stated the line of defense adopted by the prisoner at Bow Street, and positively denied having ever given the prisoner any notes to change for him. Markham's counsel cross-examined this witness with great severity. What are you, Sir? A private gentleman. What are your means of substance? I receive an allowance from my father. Who is your father? Now take care, Sir, how you answer that question. He is a commercial man, Sir. Is he not a tradesman? Well, he is a tradesman, then, if you like it. Yes, I do like it. Now upon your oath, is he not a pawnbroker in Brick Lane, Bethnal Green? He is a goldsmith in a large way of business, and lends money occasionally. Ha! complacently observed the counsel for the defense. Go on, Sir, lends money occasionally. Upon real security, I suppose, added Cheechester, taken considerably aback by these questions. Upon deposits. Let us give things their proper names. He lends money upon flannel petticoats, watches, flat irons, etc., observed the barrister with withering sarcasm. But I have not done with you yet, Sir. Was your father, this very respectable pawnbroker, ever elevated to the peerage? He was not, Sir. Then how come you by the distinction of honourable prefix to your name? Mr. Cheechester hung down his head and made no reply. The counsel for the prisoner repeated the question in a deliberate and emphatic manner. At length Mr. Cheechester was fairly bullied into a humble acknowledgement that he had no right to the distinction, but that he had assumed it as a convenient West End appendage. The cross examination then proceeded. Did you not travel under the name of Winchester? I did, in Germany. With what motive did you assume a false name? I had no particular motive. Did you not leave England in debt, and were you not afraid of your bills of exchange following you abroad? There is some truth in that, but the most honourable men are frequently involved in pecuniary difficulties. Answer my questions, Sir, and make no observations. You will leave me to do that, if you please. Now, Sir, tell the jury whether you are not accompanied by a valid or coachman in your German trip? I am always accustomed to travel with a domestic. A man who runs away from his creditors should have more delicacy than to waste his money in such a manner. When you were at Baden-Baden, were you not involved in some gambling transactions which compelled you to quit the grand duchy abruptly? I certainly had a dispute with a gentleman at cards, and I left the town next morning. Yes, and you left your clothes and your servant behind you, and your bill unpaid at the hotel? But I have since met my servant, and paid him more than double the wages than do. You may stand down, Sir, said the counsel for the defence, a permission of which the witness availed himself with surprising alacrity. The counsel for the prosecution now called Mr. Whittingham. The poor butler ascended the witness box with a rueful countenance, and, after an immense amount of badgering and baiting, admitted that his young master had meditated a sudden and abrupt departure from England the very day upon which he was arrested, in his cross-examination he declared that the motives of the journey were founded upon certain regrets which Richard entertained at having permitted himself to be led away by Maceer Chichester and Talbot and Sir Rupert Harbourow. And my lords, ejaculated the old domestic, elevating his voice, Master Richard is no more guilty of this here circumvention than either one of your lordships, but the man that did it all is that there Chichester which built his walley to shambles, and that Wolger fellow Talbot which called me a tulip. This piece of eloquence was delivered with much feeling, and the judges smiled, for they appreciated the motives of the honest old domestic. The officer who arrested Markham proved that he found upon his person, when he searched him at Bow Street, a pocketbook containing between thirty and forty pounds in notes and gold together with a note for fifty pounds. A clerk from the Bank of England proved that both the note for five hundred pounds changed at the bankers and the one for fifty just alluded to were forgeries. The case for the prosecution here closed, and the judges retired to partake of some refreshment. Markham had leisure to think over the proceedings of the morning. He was literally astounded when he contemplated the diabolical perjury committed by Sir Rupert Harbourow and Mr. Chichester, but he entertained the most sanguine hope that the discredit thrown upon the character of the latter would render his testimony worthless. He shuddered when he reflected how ingeniously the counsel for the prosecution had grouped together those circumstances which told against him, and then again a ray of satisfaction animated his countenance when he remembered that his counsel would speedily show those circumstances in a new light. The judges returned, silence prevailed throughout the hall, and the prisoner's counsel rose for the defense. Richard seated himself in the dock and prepared to listen with the greatest attention to the speech of his advocate, and Whittingham placed his hand in a curved position behind his ear in order to assist that organ on the present important occasion. The counsel for the defense began by giving some account of the family and social position of the prisoner, who was born of parents accustomed to move in the first rank of life, and who was the heir to a fortune of no inconsiderable amount. During his minority, his guardian, who was then present, had promised to allow the prisoner six hundred pounds a year. With these pecuniary advantages, it was absurd to suppose that young man of education, a young man whose noble and honorable feelings had been the object of remark on the part of all his friends, and who had only to express a want to his guardian in order to receive its immediate gratification. It was absurd to imagine that such an individual would enter either into a conspiracy with others or plan by himself for the purpose of raising money upon forged notes. No, this young man was one of a most generous and confiding disposition, and, as he had seen but little of the world, he was totally unacquainted with its wiles and artifices. Thus he was made the dupe of some designing villains at his very outset upon life. The whole history of the present transaction was to be summed up in a few words. A gang of conspirators had hit upon the desperate mode of passing forged notes in order to retrieve their ruined fortunes. Not as magnanimous as the highwayman who perils his own existence while he perpetrates a crime, these men required a tool of whom they might make use, and who could be at any time sacrificed to save them. This instrument, this scapegoat, was the prisoner at the bar. The witness, whose real name was Chichester, but who by his own confession had travelled on the Continent under another denomination, was not a person on whom the jury could place any reliance. He had assumed a distinction to which he was by no means entitled. He had affected all the arrogance and importance of a man of rank and fashion, whereas he was the son of a pawnbroker in the refined locality of Brick Lane, Bethnal Green, endowed with much impudence, clever in imitating the manners of his superiors, and well versed in all the intricacies and subtleties of the world, this possessor of assumed distinctions, this swaggering imitator of a class far above him, this adventurer with fascinating conversation, ready wit, amusing anecdote, and fashionable attire, this roux of the present day, with jewelry about his person and gold in his pocket, allowing ever an engaging smile to play upon his lips, and professing unmitigated disgust at the slightest appearance of vulgarity in another, this individual, this Mr. Chichester, was the principal witness whom the Council for the Prosecution had brought forward. But no English jury would condemn a fellow creature upon such testimony, the testimony of one who was compelled to fly ignominiously and precipitately from Baden on account of some rascality at cards, and who left his domestic in a strange land, penniless, ignorant of the language, and surrounded by the odium which also attached itself to the name of his master. The prisoner had no motive in passing forged notes because he was wealthy, but Mr. Chichester had a motive because he evidently lived far beyond the means which his father could allow him. The learned Council here related the manner in which Richard had been induced to change the larger note and had become possessed of the smaller. He then proceeded to observe that the letters addressed to Mrs. Arlington and Mr. Monroe related to the fact that the prisoner's eyes had been suddenly open to the characters of his associates and to the career of dissipation in which they were leading him. The phrase upon which so much stress had been laid, till at length yesterday, alluded to the suicide of a young officer which had taken place while the prisoner was at the gambling house whether he had been invagaled instead of invagaling others. He could not have remained in London another minute with safety to himself. And why? Because these associates whom he had accidentally picked up would not leave him quiet. They regularly beset him. He was penitent, and he hoped that Mr. Monroe would defend and protect his reputation. Yes, when the newspaper reports conveyed to the knowledge of that gentleman the fact that his word had been arrested in a common gambling house and fined for being there, the letters were written hurriedly and were ambiguous, thus they were susceptible of more than one interpretation. Let the jury interpret them in favor of the prisoner. It was better to send a dozen guilty men back again into society, terrible as that evil would be, than to condemn one innocent person. Then, with regard to the precipitate departure, the witness Whittingham had shown, in his cross-examination, that the prisoner's object was to escape from the three men whose characters were suddenly unveiled to him. It was said that the prisoner had requested those three individuals to accompany him to the gaming house, and that they at first refused. Oh, amazing fastidiousness, especially on the part of Mr. Arthur Cheechaster, who had been compelled to decamp from Baden for cheating at cards. Then it was stated that the prisoner asked for change for a fifty-pound note, and it was said that he would have availed himself of that accommodation to pass a forged note. Why, he, the learned counsel, had already explained how that fifty-pound note came into the prisoner's possession, his own gold having been transferred by Mr. Cheechaster to Sir Rupert Harborough's writing desk. The learned counsel concluded, by asking how it happened, that no other forged bank of England notes, no copper plates to print them with, no materials for such a fraud, were found at the prisoner's house? Could it be supposed that a young man with his prospects would risk his reputation and his safety for a few hundreds of pounds? The idea was preposterous. The prisoner's counsel entered into a few minute points of the evidence which told in favor of his client, and wound up with a powerful appeal to the jury on his behalf. Richard followed, with an absorbing interest, the able defense made for him by his counsel, and his soul was filled with hope as each fact and argument in his favor was divested of all mystery and lucidly exhibited to the consideration of the court. Mr. Monroe was summoned to the witness box, and he proved the statements made by the prisoner's counsel relative to the pecuniary position of his ward. Snogles, the Osler, followed, and very freely stated all the particulars of his late master's precipitate decantment from Baden. Thus terminated the case for the defense. The counsel of the prosecution, according to that odious right which gives the accusing party the last word in those instances, where the defendant has called witnesses, rose to reply. He stated that neither the wealth nor the social position of an individual afforded a certain guarantee against crime. Besides, the law must not always be swayed by the apparent absence of motives, because some of the most extraordinary deeds of turpitude upon record had never been traced to a source which could satisfactorily account for their origin. The perpetration was the object which the jury had to keep in view, and the use of evidence was to prove or deny that perpetration by some particular individual. A forgery had been committed, and money was obtained by the prisoner at the bar through the agency of that forgery. The defense had not attempted to deny that the prisoner was the individual who had thus obtained the money. The point to be considered was whether the prisoner knew the note to be a forged one, and he, the learned counsel, considered that an assemblage of circumstances of a most unequivocal nature stamped the prisoner with that guilt. Mr. Cheechester's evidence went to show that he himself never gave any notes to the prisoner. Even if Cheechester were proved to be a disreputable person, there was nothing beyond the prisoner's mere assertion made through his counsel to prove that he had received the two notes from Cheechester. Mr. Cheechester had certainly assumed another name during his German tour, but it was for the purpose of avoiding arrest in a foreign land upon bills of exchange which might have been sent from England after him. He had, moreover, assumed the distinction of honourable, the foolish vanity, but by no means a crime, for half the Englishmen who were called captain were no more captains than he, the learned counsel, was. The senior judge now summoned up the evidence to the jury, and the most profound interest was still manifested by all present in the proceedings. The learned judge occupied nearly two hours in his charge to the jury, whom he put in possession of all the points of the case which it was necessary to consider. The jury retired and debated for a considerable time upon their verdict. This was the dread interval of suspense. Richard's countenance was deadly pale, and his lips were firmly compressed in order to prevent any sudden ebullition of feeling, a weakness to which he seemed for a moment inclined to yield. Mr. Monroe did not entertain much hope, the summing up of the judge had been unfavourable to Markham. As for Whittingham, he shook his head dolefully from time to time, and murmured, loud enough to be heard by those near him, Oh, Master Richard, Master Richard, who would ever have propagated an opinion that you would have been brought into such a fixture as this? It's all along of them fellers which call butlers tulips. How singularly reckless is the mind of man with regard to the destinies of those to whom he is not connected by any ties of blood or friendship. While the jury were absent discussing their verdict, the various barristers assembled round the table began chattering together and laughing and telling pleasant anecdotes as if the fate of a fellow creature was by no means compromised at that moment. The counsel for the prosecution, who had done his duty by exerting all his talents, all his energies, and all his eloquence to obtain the conviction of a youth who had never injured him and whom he had never seen before, coolly took up a newspaper and perused it with evident gratification, while at a little distance from him stood the individual whom he had so zealously and earnestly sought to render miserable for life. How strange! How horribly depraved and vitiated might be that state of society in which hundreds of talented men are constantly employed, with large recompense, in procuring the condemnation of their fellow creatures to the scaffold, the hulks, or eternal banishment. And what an idea must we entertain of our vaunted condition of consummate civilization when we behold these learned men calling to their aid every miserable chicanery, every artificial technicality, and every possible exaggeration, to pursue the accused prisoner either to the platform of the gibbet, to loath some dungeons, or to the horrors of Norfolk Island? Does society avenge, or does it merely make examples of the wicked to warn others from sin? If the inquirer who asks himself or us these questions would only attend the central criminal court, he would hear the banister for the prosecution imploring, coaxing, and commanding the jury to return such a verdict as will either condemn a human being to the scaffold, or separate him forever from home, wife, children, kindred, and friends. He would find men straining every nerve, availing themselves of every miserable legal quirk and quibble, torturing their imaginations to find arguments, calling subtlety and mystification to their aid, shamefully exaggerating trivial incidents into important facts, dealing in misrepresentation and false deduction, substituting and dovetailing facts to suit their purposes, omitting others which tell against their own case, almost falling upon their knees to the jury, and staking their very reputation on the results. And all these dishonorable, disgraceful, vile, and inhuman means and efforts exerted and called into action for the sake of sending a fellow creature to the scaffold, or separating him forever from the family that is dependent on him and that will starve without him. Oh, God, is it possible that man can have been made for such sad purposes? Is it possible that the being whom thou hast created after thine own image should be so demon-like in heart? Oh, if the prisoner standing in the dock had inflicted some terrible injury upon the honor or the family of the Barrister who holds a brief against him, then were it easy to comprehend that profound anxiety on the part of this Barrister to send the trembling criminal to the gallows? But no, that Barrister has no revenge to gratify, no hatred to assuage, no malignity to appease. He toils to take away that man's life with all his strength, with all his talent, and with all his energy, because he has received gold to do his best to obtain a conviction. Ah, what a hideous traffic and flesh and blood! And if anyone were to say to that Barrister, thou art a bloodthirsty and merciless wretch, he would answer coolly and confidently, No, on the other hand, I subscribe to philanthropic institutions. The jury returned and the feeling uppermost in their minds was satisfaction at the prospect of being so speedily dismissed to their respective homes where they would pursue their efforts after wealth and speedily forget the youth whom they had condemned to punishment and whose prospects they had blasted, for their verdict was guilty. And the judges hastened to terminate the proceedings. Richard was commanded to rise and receive the sentence of the court. He obeyed with a kind of mechanical precision, for his mental energies were entirely prostrated. The voice of the judge addressing him, reigning like the chimes of distant bells in his ears, the numerous persons whom he beheld around, appeared to be all moving and agitating like an immense crowd assembled to witness an execution. He stood up as he was commanded, and the judge proceeded to pass sentence upon him. He said that the court took his youth into consideration and that there were circumstances which would render a very lenient sentence satisfactory to that society which had been outraged. The court accordingly condemned him to two years imprisonment in the Guiltspur Street compter without hard labour. That's all, said the spectators to each other, and they appeared disappointed. The audience then separated. End of Chapter 32, Recording by Rosie Chapter 33 of the Mysteries of London This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Michelle Eaton The Mysteries of London by George Reynolds Chapter 33, Another Day at the Old Bailey Richard was conveyed back to Newgate in a state of mind which can be more easily imagined than described. The judges returned in their handsome carriages to their splendid abodes The prosecuting barrister, that zealous and enthusiastic defender of social morality, hastened to the temple to entertain a couple of prostitutes in his chambers and the various lawyers engaged about the court hurried to their respective homes to prepare writs relating to fresh cases of turpitude and crime for the morrow Richard had shaken hands with Monroe and Whittingham over the parapet of the dock. He would not be allowed to see them again for three months They still believed in his innocence although 12 men that afternoon had declared their conviction of his guilt On the ensuing morning the trial of Eliza Sidney, Robert Stevens and Hugh Mac Chisel took place As on the preceding day the court was crowded from floor to roof The bench was filled with the ladies and daughters of the alderman There was a full attendance of barristers and extra reporters occupied the box devoted to the gentlemen of the press The case had created an extraordinary sensation not only in consequence of the immensity of the state played for by the prisoners but also on account of the remarkable fraud practised by one of the most lovely women that had ever breathed the air of this world Eliza was dressed with extreme simplicity but great taste a straw bonnet with a plain ribbon and closed her pale but charming countenance There was a soft and bewitching melancholy in her eyes and her moist red lips were slightly apart as if she breathed with difficulty She was a woman of a strong mind as we have said before and she endeavoured to restrain her emotions to the utmost of her power She did not condescend to cast a look upon her fellow prisoners nor during the trial were her glances once turned towards them Stevens appeared to be suffering with acute mental pain His countenance was cadaverous so pale and altered was it even his very lips were white Mack Chisell still retained an air of dogged sullenness approaching to brutal indifference The Earl of Warrington was in attendance When called upon to plead Stevens and the lawyer replied not guilty Eliza answered guilty in a firm and audible voice As the entire facts of the case are known to the readers we need not enter into any fresh details Suffice it to say that when the jury had delivered their verdict of guilty against the two male prisoners The Earl of Warrington rose and in a must-feeling and handsome manner interceded with the court in behalf of Eliza Sydney Eliza herself was quite overcome with this unexpected generosity and burst into a flood of tears The foreman of the jury also rose and observed that though the female prisoner had taken her case out of their hands by pleading guilty the jury were nevertheless unanimous in recommending her to the favourable consideration of the court The judge proceeded to pass sentence he said Robert Stevens you have been guilty of one of the most serious attempts at fraud which, in a commercial country and a civilised community could be perpetrated you have moreover availed yourself of your influence over a young and confiding woman an influence obtained by a series of kind actions towards her mother her late brother and herself to convert her into the instrument of your guilty designs the court cannot pass over your case without inflicting the severest penalty which the law allows the sentence of the court is that you be transported beyond the seas for the term of your natural life the culprit staggered and lent against the dock for support a momentary pause ensued at the expiration of which he partially recovered himself and said my lord, I acknowledge the justice of my sentence but permit me to observe that the female prisoner Isa Sidney is innocent of any attempt to defraud up to a few hours before we called upon the Earl of Warrington to sign the release and obtain the bank receipts she was ignorant of the real objects which I had in view even then when I unveiled my designs she shrank from the part she had to perform and I was compelled to make use of all the specious arguments and all the sophistry I could call to my aid to blind her as to the real nature of the transaction my lord, I make these few observations in justice to her I have nothing now to lose or gain by this appeal in her behalf Stevens sank back exhausted in a chair which had been placed in the dock for the accommodation of Isa Sidney and the lady herself was melted to fresh tears by this proof of latent generosity on the part of the man who had been the means of placing her in her present sad position the judge continued you have been found guilty of aiding and abetting at the last moment in the consummation of a deed of almost unpardonable fraud you have taken advantage of a profession which invests him who practices it with an appearance of respectability and gives him opportunities of perpetrating if he be so inclined enormous breaches and abuses of confidence you stand second in degree of culpability to the prisoner Stevens the sentence of the court therefore is that you be transported beyond the seas for the term of 15 years there was another momentary pause and the judge then proceeded as follows while the most breathless silence prevailed Eliza Sidney your share in this unfortunate and guilty business has been rather that of an instrument than a principle still you had arrived when you first assumed a masculine disguise at the years of discretion which should have taught you to reflect that no deceit can be designed for a good purpose your readiness to confess your guilt the testimony of your fellow prisoner on your behalf the recommendation of the jury and the intercession of the prosecutor however way with the court still a severe punishment must be awarded you for if we were to admit the plea that a person between 20 and 30 is not responsible for his or her actions justice would in numerous cases be defeated and crime would find constant apologies and extenuation the sentence of the court is that you be imprisoned for the space of two years in her majesties jail of Newgate Eliza had anticipated transportation she had made up her mind to banishment for at least seven years from her native crime the observation of the judge that a severe punishment must be awarded her had confirmed her in that impression the concluding words of the functionary had therefore taken her by surprise a surprise so sudden that it overcame her her mother fallen but she felt herself suddenly supported in the aroma of a female who conducted her to a seat in the dock and whispered kind and consolatory words in her ear Eliza raised her eyes towards the countenance of this unexpected friend and to her astonishment encountered the soft and sympathising glance of Diana Arlington do not be alarmed Miss Sydney whispered the enchantress the Earl of Warrington will do more for you than you may anticipate her influence with the home secretary and obtain a mitigation of your sentence oh how kind in him thus to interest himself in my behalf murmur Eliza and I who am so unworthy of his commiseration do not say that we have made enquiries and we have found how you have been deceived we have seen your faithful servant and she has told us enough to convince us that you was more to be pitted than blamed one thing I have to communicate which will console you I have taken Louisa into my service a thousand thanks my dear madam said Eliza the thought of what was to become of her has made me very unhappy this is indeed one subject of comfort but I saw Louisa yesterday why did she keep me in the dark in this respect we enjoined her to maintain the strictest silence returned Mrs Arlington we were determined to see how you would act up to the very last moment in this distressing business that you had friends who cared for you and how have I obtained this generous sympathy enquired Eliza pressing Diana's hand with an effusion of gratitude the Earl loved your mother and blames himself for his neglect of her children whose welfare would have been dear to his deceased uncle said Diana gravely and for myself she added blushing anything which interests the Earl also interests me believe me I shall never forget this kindness on your part neither shall I ever be able to repay it observed Eliza I am now going to a protracted incarceration in a terrible prison she continued mournfully and God only knows whether I may survive it but until the day of my death shall I pray for you and that good nobleman who forgives, pities and consoles me he does he does said Mrs Arlington deeply affected but fancy not that your confinement will pass without being relieved by the visits of friends I shall call and see you as often as the regulations of the prison will permit and I again renew the promise which the Earl has authorised me to make relative to his intercession with the secretary of state in your favour Eliza again poured forth her gratitude to Diana and they then separated the former was conveyed back to Newgate the latter hastened to the humble Hackney coach which she had purposely hired to take her to the Old Bailey as soon as the case of Stevens Mac Chisel and Eliza as Sydney was disposed of William Balter was placed at the bar to take his trial for the murder of his wife the miscreant as the newspapers had called him all along wore a sullen and hardened appearance and pleaded not guilty in a brutal and ferocious manner the only feature of interest in the case was the examination of his son his little son as a witness against him the poor boys seemed to comprehend the fearful position in which his father was placed for he gave his evidence with the utmost reluctance there was however a sufficiency of testimony direct and circumstantial to induce the jury to find the prisoner guilty without a moment's hesitation the judge put on the black cap and proceeded to pass upon the culprit the awful sentence of the law having expatiated upon the enormity of the prisoner's guilt and admonished him to use the little time that remained to him in this world for the purpose of making his peace with heavens william bolter to be taken back again to the place from whence he came and then to a place of execution where he was to be hanged by the neck until he should be dead and may the lord, added the judge solemnly have mercy upon your soul there was some years ago amongst ruffians of the very worst description a custom of abusing the judge or black guarding the beak as it was called when they received the award due to their crimes in the felons dock this miserable and vain bravado an affectation of recklessness which even the most hardened would scarcely feel was revived by bill bolter upon the present occasion taking a sight at the judge the murderer commenced a string of horrible abuse laden with imprecations and epithets of a most shocking and filthy nature a shudder passed through the audience as if it were one man at that revolting display on the part of a wretch who stood upon the edge of the tomb the officers of the court speedily interfered to put an end to the sad scene and the convict after a desperate resistance was carried back to Newgate where he was lodged in one of the condemned cells while these important cases were being disposed of in the old court two others, which it is necessary to notice were adjudicated upon in the new court before the recorder the first was that of Thomas Armstrong who was fortunate enough to be acquitted for want of evidence George Montague, a principal witness against him not appearing the other was that of Cranky Jem and the Resurrection Man it is needless to enter into particulars in this matter suffice it to say that the former was convicted of a daring burglary upon the testimony of the latter who turned King's evidence Cranky Jem was sentenced to transportation for life he having been previously convicted of serious offences and the Resurrection Man was sent back to Newgate to be discharged at the termination of the sessions the business of the court was concluded in a few days and Richard was removed to the Guildsburg Street compter there he was dressed in the prison garb and forced to submit to a regime peculiarly trying to the constitution of those who have been accustomed to tender nurture the gruel which constituted his principal element created a nausea upon his stomach the thin and weak soup was far from satisfying the cravings of the appetite Richard was good but doled out in miserably small quantities and the meat seemed only offered to tantalise or provoke acuteness of hunger the Resurrection Man was set at Liberty Stevens Mac Chisel and Cranky Jem were removed to the Hulks at Woolwich previous to the sailing of a convict ship for New South Wales Eliza Sidney remained in Newgate Bill Balter the murderer also stayed for a short season in the condemned cell of that fearful prison End of Chapter 33 Chapter 34 of The Mysteries of London This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Michelle Eaton The Mysteries of London by George Reynolds Chapter 34 The Lesson Interrupted The moment the trial of Richard Markham was concluded Sir Rupert Harborough and Mr Chichester bade a cold and hasty adieu to Mr Talbot and left the court together They wended their way up the old Bailey turned into Newgate Street and then proceeded down Butcher Hall Lane towards Bartholomew Close For in that large dreary square did Mr Chichester now occupy a cheap lodging This lodging consisted of a couple of small and ill furnished rooms on the second floor When the two gentlemen arrived there it was way past five o'clock The trial had lasted the entire day and a dirty cloth was laid for dinner in the front apartment Black-handled knives and forks a japaned pepper box pewter salt cellar and mustard pot and common white plates with a blue edge constituted the service The dinner itself was equally humble consisting of mutton chops and potatoes flanked by a pot of porter The baronet and the fashionable gentlemen took their seats in silence and partook of the meal without much appetite There was a damp upon their spirit They were not so utterly depraved as to be altogether unmindful of the detestable part they had played towards Markham and their own affairs were moreover in a desperate condition A slip-shod, dirty, familiar girl cleared away the dinner things and the gentlemen then took to gin and water and cigars For some minutes they smoked in silence till at length the baronet stamping his foot impatiently upon the floor exclaimed My God, Chichester, it's nothing to be done I really don't know answered that individual You heard how juicidly I got exposed today in the witness box and after that I should not dare show up at the west end for weeks and months to come even if the sheriff's officers weren't looking out for me Well, something must be done observed the baronet, here am I playing at hide and seek as well as you All my horses sold, my furniture seized my carriages made away with, my plate porn and not a guinea, not a guinea left What should you say to a trip into the country demanded Chichester after a pause London is too hot for both of us at least for the present Indeed, my surprise is that we were not arrested on those infernal bills coming out of the court but as I was saying, a trip into the country might do more good to be sure this is no time for the watering places we might however pay a visit to Hastings, Bath and Cheltenham on a venture and what could we do for ourselves there Why, pick up flats to be sure You know Chichester that I am not able to work the cards and dice as you can then you must learn as I did and who will teach me Why, myself to be sure could you have a better master than Arthur Chichester But it would take so long to understand all those manoeuvres I should never have the patience Oh nonsense, Harbra Come, what do you say, three days practice and we will be off But the money, the funds to move with cried the baronet impatiently truly reduced to my last guinea Oh, as for that, return Chichester I will engage to get a £20 note from my father tomorrow and with that supply we can safely start off on our expedition Well, if you can rely upon doing this observed the baronet we will put your plan into execution so let us lose no time but please to give me my first lesson That's what I call business, cried Chichester Rising from his seat and drawing the curtains while the baronet lighted the two tallow candles that adorned the wooden mantelpiece Chichester locked the door of the room and then produced from his writing desk the necessary implements of a gambler packs of cards, dice boxes and dice Having reseated himself, he took up a pair of dice in a box and said Now, my dear fellow, be a good boy and learn your lesson well you will soon meet your reward I am all attention, observed the baronet In the first place, I shall show you more continued Chichester and as you know the game of hazard well enough I need say but little more on that head there are two ways of securing the first is to hold one of the dice between the four and middle fingers or the middle and third fingers against the side of the box so that one finger must cover the top of the dice in this way, you see I understand, said the baronet attentively watching the proceedings of his companion who by certain clever and adwatt manipulations with the dice box illustrated his oral descriptions This system is not so easy as the second which I shall presently show you continued Chichester because the die must be kept cleverly inside the box so as not to be seen The second way of securing is by taking hold of one of the dice by the little finger and keeping it firmly against the palm of the hand while you shake the box so as to be able to drop it skillfully upon the table at the proper moment from the box along with the other this is the way I shall soon understand, said the baronet of course by being able to secure one die you may make it turn up any number you choose when you mean to practice this dodge continue Chichester call five for a main because you can secure the four and there is only the six on the loose die that come up against you if you have a good stake to get secure a five every time because when the main is six to five or seven to five or eight to five or ten to five you must win every time because you can't possibly throw out while time five is secured but will not the ear tell the pigeon that there is only one die rattling in the box demanded the baronet look at this box, exclaimed Chichester it has two rims cut inside near the bottom the one die shaking against them produces the sound of two dice are there not some peculiarities about these dice asked Sir Rupert pointing to a pair which Chichester had placed apart from the rest yes, those are unequal dice and are so well made that no one except a regular Sharper could detect them they are bigger at one end than the other and the sixes are placed on the smaller squares because you must play with these dice to win upon high numbers which are on those smaller squares the dice will, in nine cases out of ten fall upon the larger squares and thus show the high numbers uppermost and these dice inquired the baronet taking up two others loaded ones replied Chichester these are to throw low and so the two sides which have got four and five on them are loaded how are they loaded? asked Sir Rupert the corner pip of the four side next to the five side is bored very neatly to a certain depth the same is done on the corner pip of the five side adjoining the four side thus the two holes so bored meet each other at right angles one of the holes is covered over with some strong cement quick silver is then poured in and the other hole is covered over with the cement the spots are blackened and your dice are ready for use these being intended to throw low you must call a main and take the odds accordingly well said the baronet I think I can now safely say that I know enough of the elements of your grammar to enable me to practice myself let us devote half an hour to the working of cards the ways of managing the card said Chichester taking up a pack and shuffling them are numerous these for instance are longs and short all the cards above the eight are the least thing longer than those below it I have a machine which was invented on purpose to cut them accurately nothing under an eight can be cut you see with these cards lengthways and that packs so carefully wrapped up in the paper oh these are my concave and convexes all from the two to the seven are cut concave eight to the king are cut convex by cutting the pack breadthways a convex card is cut by cutting it lengthways a concave one is secured I have often heard of the bridge said Sir Rupert what does that mean oh the bridge is simply an easily done reply Chichester shuffling the pack which he had in his hand you see it is nothing but slightly curving a card and introducing it carelessly into the pack shuffle the cards as your opponent will you are sure to be able to cut the bridged one I could do that without study observe Sir Rupert Harbara is my initiation now complete there are several other schemes with the cards answered Chichester but I think that I have taught you enough for this evening one famous device however must not be forgotten you have heard of the way in which Lord Daruse lately attempted to cheat his noble companions at the club the plan practised by him is called Sauterlaku and enables the dealer to do what he chooses with one particular card that was selected for his purpose now look how it is done for I can better show practically than explain verbally scarcely was this portion of the lesson accomplished when steps were heard ascending the stairs and immediately afterward a heavy fist knocked with more violence than courtesy at the parlor door the baronet and Chichester both turned pale they can't have found us out here murmured the one to the other in a horse and tremeless toe what shall we do we must open happen what will I unlock the door two ill looking men entered the room Mr Arthur Chichester said one he isn't here we don't know him my name is Davis asked the landlady if it is not cried Chichester hurriedly and in a manner which only served to convince the officer that he was right come come none of that there gammon said the bailiff I know you well enough my name's Garnel and I'll stand the risk of your being Chichester here's execution out against you for £447 I suppose that you can pay so you'd better come off at once where to? demanded Chichester seeing that it was no use disputing his own identity any longer where to? cried the officer whiter white cross to be sure where the devil would you go to can I not be allowed to sleep in a sponging house no this is an execution and a large sum mind I don't dare do it well then here goes for white cross street said Chichester and after exchanging a few words in a whisper with the baronet he left the house with the sheriff's officers end of chapter 34 chapter 35 of the mysteries of London this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Nancy Beard the mysteries of London by George Reynolds chapter 35 white cross street prison a cold drizzling rain was falling as Chichester proceeded along the streets leading to the debtor's prison the noise of patterns upon the pavement the numbers of umbrellas that were up the splashing of horses feet and carriage reels in the kennels the rush of cabs and the shouting of omnibus cads were all characteristic of a wet night in a crowded metropolis Chichester shivered more through nervousness than actual cold and he felt an oppressive sensation at the bottom of his stomach as well as at the chest the officer endeavored to console him by observing that it was lucky he'd been taken so close to the prison on such a rainy night the ruined young man envied many a poor wretch whom he passed on his way for he knew that it was far easier to get into a debtor's jail than to get out of it at length they arrived at the prison it was now nine o'clock and the place viewed by the flickering light of the lamp at the gate of the governor's house wore a melancholy and somber appearance the prisoner was introduced into its small lobby where an elderly turnkey with knee-bridges and gaiters thrust a small loaf of bread into his hand and immediately consigned him to the care of another turnkey who led him through several alleys to the staircase communicating with the receiving ward the turnkey pulled a wire which rang a bell on the first floor who rings cried a voice at the top of the stairs Sheriff's debtor or the chichester L.S. replied the turnkey in a loud sing-song voice chichester afterwards learned that he was mentioned as a sheriff's prisoner in contra distinction to one arrested by a warrant from the court of requests and that L.S. meant London side an intimation that he had been arrested in the city of London and not in the county of Middlesex having ascended a flight of stone steps chichester was met at the door of the receiving ward by the steward thereof this steward was himself a prisoner but was considered a trustworthy person and had therefore been selected by the governor to preside over that department of the prison the receiving ward was a long low room with windows secured by bars at each end there were two grates but only one contained any fire the place was remarkably clean the floor the deal-tables and the forms being as white as snow the following conversation forthwith took place between the new prisoner and the steward what is your name Arthur Chichester have you got your bread yes well put it in that pigeon-hole do you choose to have sheets tonight on your bed? certainly then that will be a shilling at the first night and six pence every night after as long as you remain here you can moreover sleep in the inner room and sit up till twelve o'clock those who can't afford to pay for sheets sleep in a room by themselves and go to bed at quarter to ten you see we know how to separate the gentleman from the riffraff and how long shall I be allowed to stay up in the receiving ward? that depends do you mean to live at my table I charge six pence for tea the same for breakfast a shilling for dinner and four pence for supper well I shall be most happy to live at your table in that case write a note to the governor to say that you are certain to be able to settle your affairs in the course of a week and I will take care he shall have it the very first thing tomorrow morning but I am sure of not being able to settle in a week do as you like you won't be allowed to stay up here unless you do oh, in that case I will do so at once can you oblige me with a sheet of writing paper? certainly here's one a penny if you please chichester paid for the paper wrote the letter and handed it to the steward he then cast a glance around the room and saw three or four tolerably decent looking persons warming themselves at the fire while fifteen or sixteen wretched looking men dressed for the most part as laborers were sitting in the forms round the walls at a considerable distance from the blazing grate the steward perceiving that the new prisoner threw a look of inquiry towards him said those gentlemen at the fire are sheriff's debtors and live at my table those chaps over there are court of request men and haven't shilling to bless themselves with so of course I can't allow them to associate with the others how many prisoners upon an average pass through the receiving ward in the course of one year about three thousand three hundred is near as I can guess all the debtors receive each so much bread and meat a week the prison cost the city close upon nine thousand pounds a year nine thousand a year spent to lock men up away from their families exclaimed chai chester that some would pay the debts of the greater portion of those who are unfortunate enough to be brought here that you may well say that return the steward while I have the prisoners who come here are poor working men snatched away from their labor and obliged to know that their wives and children will starve during their absence that man over there with the little bundle tied up in a blue cotton handkerchief is only arrested for eight pence the costs are three and six pence he is actually a prisoner then for four and two pence exactly the man next to him is arrested for three pence the balance of a chandler's shop debt his costs are five shillings but the case of that poor devil who was crying so up in the corner is the worst it appears that he had an account at a tally shop and paid one shilling a week towards its liquidation he was in full work and earned 18 shillings a week and so he regularly gave his wife the money every Saturday night to put away for the tally man but the woman is fond of tippling and she spent the money in gin well, the tally man takes out a summons from the court of requests the wife receives it and is afraid to tell her husband next week comes the rules this the woman also hides hoping somehow or another to get together the debt and costs and settle it unknown to her husband but no such thing so this morning as the poor fellow was going home to dinner he's arrested for four shillings debt and six shillings costs this was cruel indeed observed chichester to whom all these details were perfectly new yes, continued the steward but that is nothing to the things that I have heard man tell up in this room loan societies, tally shops and the low petty fogging lawyers keep this place well filled it was now a quarter to ten and the poor wretches who could not afford to pay for sheets were huddled off to bed chichester and the gentleman who boarded at the steward's table remained up smoking cigars and drinking ale until twelve chichester was then introduced into a large room containing ten or a dozen beds whose framework was made of iron one miserably thin blanket a horse cloth and a straw mattress and pillow were all provided for each couch by the corporation of the city of london oh how generous how philanthropic how noble to tear men away from their homes and give them straw wrapped up in coarse ticking to sleep upon on the following morning he woke early and rose with every bone aching from the hardness of his bed he performed his toilet in a species of scullery attached to the receiving ward and the enjoyment of this luxury was attended with the following dispersement towel, two pence use of soap, one pence loan of razor and leather box one pence breakfast consisting of coffee and dry toast was then served up those who bordered with the steward sat down and commenced a desperate attempt upon the provisions and those who fancied an egg or a rasher of bacon with their meal paid two pence extra the conversation was entirely associated with the prison affairs it appeared as if those men when once they set foot in the prison discarded all thoughts of the great world without which they had been snatched away even when the morning newspaper came in attention was first directed by a strange kind of sympathy to the list of bankrupts and to the law notices the latter of which afforded them the pleasing and interesting intelligence of who were that day to appear before the commissioners of the insulvent court at five minutes past nine a violent ring at the bell called the steward in haste to the door this was the summons of a turnkey who came to remove new prisoners to the respective departments of the establishment to which they belonged thus they were classified into middle sex sheriffs debtors London sheriffs debtors and city freemen who were also sheriffs debtors and London court of request debtors and middle sex court of requests debtors chai chester was ordered to remove to the poultry ward on the London side the governor declining to comply with the request contained in his letter it will be seen from what we have already said that white cross street prison is essentially different from the bench descriptions of which have been given in so many different works and the leading features of which are so familiar to a large portion of the community either from hearsay or experience if a man cannot muster four or five pounds to transfer himself from the custody of the sheriffs to that of the judges by a hapious corpus writ he must remain in white cross street prison while the more wealthy debtors enjoys every luxury and privilege in the bench and yet we are constantly assured that there is the same law for the poor as there is for the rich the system of imprisonment for debt is in itself impolitic unwise and cruel in the extreme it ruins the honest man and destroys the little remnant of good feeling existing in the heart of the callous one it establishes the absurd doctrine that if a man cannot pay his debts while he is allowed the exercise of his talents his labor and his acquirements he can when shut up in the narrow compass of a prison where his talents, his labor and his acquirements are useless how eminently narrow-sighted are English legislators they fear totally to abolish this absurd custom because they dread that credit will suffer why? credit is altogether begotten in confidence and never arises from the preconceived intention on the part of him who gives it to fail himself of this law against him who receives it larceny and theft are punished by a limited imprisonment with an allowance of food but debtors who commit no crime may linger and languish and starve in jail the poultry ward was a long dark low room with seven or eight barred windows on each side sawdust upon the stone floor a dozen or fourteen small tables arranged like those of a coffee house around the walls the room was full of debtors of all appearances from the shabby gentile down to the absolutely ragged here a prisoner was occupied in drawing up his schedule for the insolvent debtors court there an emaciated old man was writing a letter over which he shed bitter tears at another table a young farmer's laborer looking man was breakfasting off bread and cheese and onions which he washed down with porter close by was a stout seating looking person with grey hair who did not seem to have any breakfast at all in this nook a poor pale wretch was reading a newspaper in that corner another individual was examining a pile of letters several were gathered around the fire in the scullery or kitchen attached to the ward preparing their breakfasts and others were lounging up and down the room laughing and talking over the amusements of the proceeding night up in the sleeping rooms the steward of the poultry ward had just finished his breakfast when the turnkey introduced Mr. Chaichester well Mr. Thames said the steward quite delighted to see the prisoner I began to think we should have none down this morning pray take a seat sir this invitation was addressed to Chaichester who sat down accordingly the steward after exchanging a few observations with the turnkey produced a book from a drawer in the table and addressing himself in a semi-mysterious tone to Mr. Chaichester said these are our rules and regulations the number is required to pay an entrance fee of one pound and six pence and this goes towards the fund for paying the officers and servants of the ward providing coals and administering generally to the comforts of the place I am quite satisfied with the justice of the charge said Chaichester and he paid it accordingly I suppose you will live at my table inquire the steward same charges as upstairs in the receiving ward oh certainly answered Chaichester have you anybody here of any consequence at all? not particularly at this moment Lord William Priggins stayed a couple of days with us and went over to the bench yesterday morning who is that gentleman walking up and down the narrow court outside inquired Chaichester glancing towards a window through which might be seen a tall slim young man with black moustachio a long faded cut dressing gown a dingy velvet skull cap and pantaloons hanging low and loose because the owner had forgotten his braces oh that is Count Picchontos a celebrated Russian nobleman who was cleaned out some weeks since at a west end hell and got into prison for his hotel bill and who is that respectable old gentleman with a bald head and dressed in black? that is a clergyman the Reverend Henry Sharper he is an excellent preacher they say and the best secure of a die that ever I saw in my life and that very sickly pale faced youth who seems to be scarcely twenty he is only twenty-one and a month he was arrested the day after he came of age for blank acceptances which he had given during his minority the tune of three thousand pounds and for which he never received more than three hundred and that quiet looking old gentleman at the table opposite he is a chancery prisoner committed for contempt it appears that he was one morning walking by the auction mark and saw a large posting bills announcing the immediate sale of an estate consisting of thirteen houses somewhere in thinsbury under a decree of the court of chancery my gentleman had an aginny in his pocket nor the means were raised in one at the time nevertheless he walked into the mark as bowed as brass strode upstairs to the auctioneer's room and bid for the estate there were plenty of competitors but he didn't care he bid anyway and at last the estate was knocked down to him for four thousand three hundred pounds when sales are effected under an order of the chancellor no deposit money was required this may seem a range to you but it is not the less effect so off walks my gentleman quite rejoiced at his bargain the first thing he does is to go and collect all the arrears of rent he can from the tenants of the houses and to strain upon those who couldn't or wouldn't pay lord what a game he did play to be sure he called in to request the services of after brokers in thinsbury and made the tenant cash up to the very last farthing that was due well the lawyers implored for the sale of the estate drew up the deeds of conveyance and the abstract of the title but my gentleman never meant to pay in so at last the chancellor getting tired of his excuses and finding that he would not disgorge the amount he had already received for rents nor yet come down with the shilling towards the purchase money clapped him into limbo under some form or another and so here he is in this manner did the steward of the poultry ward render the new prisoner familiar with the leading characters of the prison in addition to the few instances of flagrant dishonesty or coupleable extravagance which were pointed out to chai chester information was given him of many very many cases of pure and unadulterated misfortune the churchyard has known no sorrow the death chamber has known no anguish equal to that acute and poignant suffering which many an inmate endures the walls of that prison if he be an affectionate father he thinks of his absent little ones and he feels shocked at the cold cruelty of the rules which only permit children to visit their incarcerated sire twice a week on Wednesday and Sunday and then only for three hours each time if he be a kind husband and possesses a tender and a loving wife he dreads the fatal hour of five of an evening which is the signal for all strangers and visitors to leave these walls misery lank, lean, palpable misery is the characteristic of white cross street prison the legislature says we only allow men to be locked up in order to prevent them from running away without paying the debts they owe then why treat them as felons why impose upon them rules and regulations the severity of which is as galling to their souls as the iron chains of Newgate are to the felons flesh why break their spins and crush their good and generous feelings by compelling them all to herd together the high and the low the polite and the vulgar the temperate and the drunkard the cleanly and the filthy the religious and the profane the sedate and the rebald oh excellent legislators do you believe that a man ever went out of the debtor's jail more moral and better disposed than he was when he went in the answer to this question will in one word teach you the efficacy of imprisonment for debt chichester walked out into a large stone paved court attached to the ward and bearing the attractive but somewhat elusive name of the park at twelve o'clock the beer men from the public houses in white cross street were allowed admittance and then commenced the debauchery of the day the seats around the park were soon crowded with prisoners and visitors drinking smoking laughing and swearing many poor wretches who could not boast a much strength of mind but were in reality well disposed took to this occupation to kill care and who will blame them not you proud peer who bury your vexations in crystal goblets sparkling with the choices juice of eponese grape nor you fine gentlemen who seek in gaming at your club a relief from the anxieties and petty troubles which now and then interrupt your wise even tenure of your way in the course of the day Mr. Chichester wrote a very penitent letter to his father the pawnbroker lamenting past follies and promising future good conduct the postscript contained an intimation that prison was bad enough when one possessed plenty of money but that it was ten thousand times worse when associated with empty pockets this precious epistle succeeded in inducing the old gentleman as Chichester denominated his father to loosen his purse strings and remit a few pounds to supply immediate wants Chichester was thus enabled to live at the stewards table and smoke his cigars and drink his ale to his heart's content in a small community like that of a ward in white cross street as well as in the great world without as the most money is the most looked up to which is a phrase perfectly understood and almost synonymous with respected and thus Mr. Chichester very speedily became the star of that department of the prison to which he had been assigned end of chapter 35 recording by Nancy Beard Kingston, New York Chapter 36 of the mysteries of London this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Ravi Shankar the mysteries of London by George Reynolds the execution from the moment that Bill Bolter had been removed from the condemned cell after his trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of his wife he preserved a sullen and moody silence two turnkeys sat up with him constantly according to the rules of the prison but he never made the slightest advances towards entering into conversation with them the chaplain was frequent in his attendances upon the convict but no regard was paid to the religious consolations and exhortations of the reverend gentleman the murderer ate his meals heartily and enjoyed sound physical health he was hail and strong and might in the common course of nature have lived until a good old age by day he sat with folded arms meditating upon his condition he scarcely repented of the numerous evil deeds of which he had been guilty but he trembled at the idea of a future state one night he had a horrid dream he thought that the moment had arrived for his execution and that he was standing upon the drum suddenly the board gave way beneath his feet and he fell an agonizing feeling of the blood rushing with the fury of a torrent and with a heat of molten lead up into his brain seized upon him his eyes shot sparks of fire and in his ears there was a loud droning sound like the moon of the ocean on a winter's night this sensation he fancied lasted about two minutes a short and insignificant space to those who feel no pain but an age when passed in the endurance of agony the most intense then he died and he thought that his spirit left his body with the last pulsation of the lungs and it was suddenly world downwards with tearful rapidity upon the wings of a hurricane he felt himself in total darkness and yet he had an idea that he was plunging precipitately into a fearful gulf around the sides of which hideous monsters immense serpents formidable bats and all kinds of slimy reptiles were climbing at length he reached the bottom of the gulf and then the faculty of sight was suddenly restored to him at the same moment he felt fires encircling him all around and a horrible snake coiled itself about him he was in the midst of a boundless lake of flame and as far as his eyes could reach he beheld myriads of spirits all undergoing the same punishment writhing in quenchless fire and girt by hideous serpents and he thought that neither himself nor those spirits which he beheld around or any shape which he could define and yet he saw them plainly pulpably they had no heads no limbs and yet there was something more nameless trunks all naked and flesh colored and unconsumed and indestructible amidst that burning lake which had no end in a few moments this dread scene changed and all was dark again the murderer fancied that he was now groping about in convulsive agonies upon the bank of a river the stream of which and thick like blood the bank was slimy and moist and overgrown with huge osiers and dark weeds amidst which loathsome reptiles and enormous alligators were crowded together and it was in this frightful place that the murderer was now spiritually groping his way in total and cold black darkness at length he slipped down the slimy bank and his feet touched the river which he now knew to be of blood he grasped convulsively at the osiers to save himself from falling into that horrible stream a huge serpent sprang from the thicket and coiled itself about his arms and neck and at the same moment an enormous alligator rose from the river of blood and seized him in the middle of his jaws he uttered a fearful cry and awoke this dream made a deep impression upon him he believed that he had experienced a foretaste of hell of that hell with all its horrors in which he would be doomed forever and ever without hope without end and yet by a strange idiosyncrasy of conduct he did not caught the consolation of the clergyman he breathed no prayer gave no outward and visible sign of repentance but continued in the same sullen state of reserve before noticed still after that dream he dreaded to seek his bed at night he was afraid of sleep for when he closed his eyes in slumber visions of hell varied in a thousand horrible ways presented themselves to his mind he never thought of his children and once when the clergyman asked him if he would like to see them he shook his head impatiently death he shuddered at the idea and yet he never sought to escape its presence by conversation or books he sat moodily brooding upon death and what would probably occur hereafter until he conjured up the imagination all the phantasmagorical displays of demons, spectres and posthumous horrors ever conceived by human mind on another occasion the friday before the monday in which he was executed he dreamt of heaven he thought that the moment the drop had fallen from beneath his feet a brilliant light such as he had never seen on earth shone all around him the fire atmosphere was illuminated as with gold dust in the rays of a powerful sun and the sun and moon and stars all appeared of amazing size immense orbs of lustrous and shining metal he fancied that he winged his way upwards with a slow and steady motion a genial warmth prevailing all around and sweet odours delighting his senses in this manner he soared on high until at length he passed sun, moon and stars and beheld them all shining far, far beneath his feet presently the sounds of the most ravishing sacred music accompanied by choral voices hymning to the praise of the highest fell upon his ear his soul was enchanted by these notes of promise of hope and of love and, raising his eyes he beheld the shining palaces of heaven towering above vast and awe-inspiring piles of clouds he reached a luminous avenue amidst those clouds which led to the gates of paradise he was about to enter upon that glorious and radiant path when a sudden change came over a rare spirit of his dream and in a moment he found himself dashing precipitately downwards amidst darkness increasing in intensity but through which the sun, moon and planets might be seen at immense distances if allured and ominous red down down he continued falling until he was pitched with violence upon the moist and slimy bank of that river of tepid blood whose margin was crowded with hideous reptiles and whose depths swarmed with wide-mouthed alligators thus past the murderer's time dread meditations by day and appalling dreams by night once he thought of committing suicide and thus avoiding the ignominy of the scaffold he had no shame but he dreaded hanging on account of the pain whereof he had experienced the dread sensations in his dreams besides death is not quite so terrible when inflicted by one's own hand as it is when dealt by another he was however closely watched and the only way in which he could have killed himself was by dashing the back of his head violently against the stone wall then he reflected that he might not do this effectually and so he abandoned the idea of self-destruction on the last day of his life he attended the chapel a condemned sermon was preached according to custom the sacred feign was filled with elegantly dressed ladies, the wives daughters and friends of the city authorities and joined the prisoner's repentance and concluded by assuring him that it was not even then too late to acknowledge his errors and to save his soul God would still forgive him if God could thus forgive him why could not man oh, wherefore did that preacher confine his observations to the mercy of the Almighty why did he not address a terrible lecture to bloodthirsty and avenging mortals off what use was the death of that sinner surely there is no moral example in a public execution there is, says the legislature we will see presently oh, why could not the life of that man stained with crime and red with blood though it were have been spared and he himself allowed to live to see the horror of his ways and to admire virtue he might have been locked up for the remainder of his existence bars and boats in English chales are very strong there was enough air for him to be allowed to breathe it and there was enough bread to have spared him a morsel at the expense of the state we cannot give life we have no right to take it away on the Sunday afternoon the murderous children he had not asked for them but the authorities considered it proper that they should take leave of him the poor little innocents were dressed in the workhouse garb the boy understood that his father was to be hanged on the following morning and his grief was heart-rending the little girl could not understand why her parent was in that gloomy place nor what horrible fate awaited him but she had an undefined and vague sense of peril and misfortune and she cried also the murderer kissed them and told them to be good children but he only thus conducted himself because he was ashamed to appear so unfeeling and brutal as he knew himself to be in the presence of the ordinary the governor, the sheriffs and the ladies who were admitted to have a glimpse of him in his dungeon the morning of the second Monday after the sessions dawned it was the one fixed by the sheriffs for the execution of William Bolter, the murderer at four o'clock on that fatal morning the huge black stage containing the drop was wheeled out of a shed in the press-yard and stationed opposite the debtor's door of Newgate a carpenter and his assistant then hastily fitted up two perpendicular spas and one horizontal beam which formed the jibbit there were already several hundreds of persons collected to witness these preliminary arrangements and from that hour until eight o'clock multitudes continued pouring in from every direction towards that spot the focus of an all-absorbing interest man, that social domestic and intelligent animal will leave his child crying in the cradle, his wife tossing upon a bed of pain and sickness and his blind old parents to group their way about in the dark in order to be present at an exhibition of a fellow creature's disgrace, agony or death and the law encourages this morbid taste in all countries termed civilized whether it be opposite the debtor's door of Newgate or around the guillotine erected at the Barrière Saint-Jacques of Paris whether it be in the midst of ranks of soldiers drawn up to witness the abominable inflection of the lash in the barracks of Charing Cross all the buttons cut off a deserter's coat in the Place Fendone whether it be to see a mal-factor broken on the wheel in the domination of the tyrant who is called Europe's Protestant sovereign or to behold the military execution of a great general at Madrid whether it be to hear an English judge in the nineteenth century unblushingly condemn a man to be hanged, drawn and quartered and his dissected corpse disposed of according to the will of our sovereign Lady the Queen or to witness some miserable peasant expire beneath the note in the territories of the Tsar it is vindictive, cowardly mean and ignorant it is vindictive because its punchments are more severe than the offences and because its officers descend to any dirtiness in order to obtain conviction it is cowardly because it cuts off from the world with a rope or an axe those men whose dispositions it fears to undertake to curb it is mean because it is all in favour of the wealthy and reserves its thunders for the poor and obscure who have no powerful interest to protect them and because itself originates nearly half the crimes which it punishes and it is ignorant because it erects a gibbet where it should rear the cross because it makes no allowances for the cool calculating individual who commits a crime but takes into its consideration the interests of a passionate man who assassinates his neighbour in a momentary and uncontrollable burst of rage thus forgetting that the former is the more likely to be led by redaction to virtue and that the latter is a demon subject to impulses which he can never subdue from an early hour a glittering light was seen through the small, grated window above the debtor's door for the room to which that door belongs is now the kitchen there was something sinister and ominous in that oscillating glare breaking through the mists of the cold December morning and playing upon the black spars of the gibbet which stood high above the already dense but still increasing multitudes towards eight o'clock the crowd had congregated to such an extent that it moved and undulated like a stormy ocean but oh what characters were collected around that gibbet every hideous den every revolting hole every abode of vice squalor and low debauchery and vomited forth their horrible population women with young children in their arms pickpockets of all ages swell mobsmen prostitutes, thieves and villains of all degrees were gathered there on that fatal morning and amidst that multitude prevailed mirth and laughter and gaiety crybalt language, obscene jokes and filthy expressions were heard around even to the very foot of the gallows and even at that early hour intoxication was depicted upon the countenances of several whom the law had invited thither to derive an example to be enacted example indeed listen to those shouts of laughter they emanate from a group collected round a pickpocket only 12 years old who is giving an account of how he robbed an elderly lady on the preceding evening but ah what are those moans accompanied with horrible oaths and implications two women fighting they are tearing each other to pieces and their husbands are backing them in another direction a simple looking countryman suddenly discovers that his handkerchief and purse are gone in a moment his hat is knocked over his eyes and he himself is cuffed and kicked and pushed about in a most brutal manner near the scaffold the following conversation takes place I wonder what the man who is going to be hanged is doing at this moment it's now half past seven he's about receiving sacrament well if I were he I'd send the old purse into the devil handpitch into the sheriff yeah so would I for my part I should like to live such a life as Jack Shepard or Dick Turpin did even if I did get hanged at the last it was something noble and exciting in the existence of a higherman and then at last what admiration what admiration on the part of the crowd what applause when he appears upon the drop yes if this fellow belter had conducted himself with being a burglar why'd only murdered those who resisted him I should have cheered him utterly but to kill his wife there's something cowardly in that and so I shall hiss him and so shall I quarter to eight poor devil's minutes are barely well numbered I wonder what he's about now the pinioning will begin directly I dare say that must be the worst part oh no not a bit of it you may depend upon it that he is not half so miserable as we are inclined to think him a man makes up his mind to die as well as to anything else but what devil noise is that oh some fool of a fellow singing per song about a man hanging and imitating all the convulsions of the poor wretch my eyes and the people do laugh five minutes to eight they won't belong now at this moment the bell of Saint Sepulchre's church began to toll the funeral knell that same bell whose ominous sound had fallen upon the ears of the wretched murderer where he lay concealed in the vault of the old house the laughing, the joking, the singing and the fighting now suddenly subsided and every eye was turned towards the scaffold the most breathless curiosity prevailed suddenly the entrance of the debtor's door was darkened by a human form the executioner hastily ascended the steps and appeared upon the scaffold he was followed by the ordinary in his black gown walking with slow and measured pace along and reading the funeral service while the bell of Saint Sepulchre continued its deep solemn and foreboding death note the criminal came next his elbows were bound to his sides and his wrists fastened together with thin cord he had on a decent suit of clothes supplied by the generosity of Tom the cracksman and on his head was a white nightcap the moment he appeared upon the scaffold a tremendous shout arose from the thousands and thousands of spectators assembled to witness his punishment he cast a hurried and anxious glance around him the large open space opposite the northern wing of Newgate seemed literally paved with human faces so he continued down the old Bailey and Giltspur Street as far as he could see the houses facing the prison were crammed with life, roof and window it seemed as if you were posted upon a rock in the midst of an ocean of people ten thousand pair of eyes were concentrated on him all was animation and interest as if a grand national spectacle was about to take place hats off was the universal cry the multitudes were determined to lose nothing the cheapness of an amusement augments the pleasure derived from it we wonder that the government has never attempted to realize funds by charging a penny apiece for admission to behold the execution at Newgate in such a country as England where even religion is made a compulsory matter of taxation and that executions would form a fund calculated to thrive bravely while the executioner was occupied in fixing the halter around the convict's neck the ordinary commenced that portion of the burial service which begins thus man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery he cometh up and is cut down like a flower in death as it were a shadow and never continuous in one's day the executioner having attached the rope and drawn the nightcap over the criminal's face disappeared from the scaffold and went beneath the platform to draw the bolt that sustained the drop in the midst of life we are in death of whom we may seek for succour but of thee, oh lord here the drop fell a dreadful convulsion appeared to pass through the murderer's frame and for nearly a minute his hands moved nervously up and down perhaps during those 50 seconds the horrors of his dream were realized and he felt the blood rushing with the fury of a torrent and with the heat of molten lead up into his brain perhaps his eyes shot sparks of fire and in his ears was a loud droning sound like the moon of the ocean on a winter's night but the convulsive movement of the hands soon ceased and the murderer hung a lifeless corpse the crowd retained its post till nine o'clock when the body was cut down then did that vast assemblage of persons of both sexes and all ages began to disperse the public houses in the old Bailey and the immediate neighborhood drove a roaring trade throughout that day end of chapter 36