Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-27

! he, you must keep silence; ana ADVISE you
to withdraw
81 WILL WILL" cried she: "but hear we not
his declaration? And will swear TO its ruth;
and so will NJ" Williams.
"rhis mus, not be-, rrjoined the judge
"Cons,ables do your duty, and keep order in
the court" But even the constabes were ten
der TO her, They only besought her to be qul-
ct; she sat down, and tire business proceeded.
"By the leni,y ofIhe court, and at the request
Of the board of excise" said the counsel for the
prosecution, "Thlmas Pe,ley is permitted to
| give evidence in this case We therefore with
/ draw our plea against him." The Judge here
upon charged the jury; and verdict OF not
guilty on both counts being returned, the appro-
yer Quilted the dock.
| Ii were needless 10 go infinitely through the
several parts of the trial, AND to repeat my own
evidence, or tina! Of The rest, who knew no more
to-daythan they had known when the prisoners
were first committed The counsel for the de-
! fence did what men could do 10 puzzle and CON
! found us. He whom we had retained for Brock
man, in particular, exercised a degree eli inge-
nuitv which perfectly astoushed me; and he
put several questions TO myself with the design
Of elciting from my replies that Brockman, al
all events, could no, lac implicated in the more
serious offence Il think you mentioned, sir"
said he, that, after The shots were fired, and
the shrek uttered you saw only two men beside
the body, whilst one was descending The hal
towards the group--Was he who was descend
ing tail man. on little man!"-"As far as
could Judge, tall man.
"Now, look at the three prisoners at the bar,
and at the witness who has lately quilted 1t, and
tell ne which of them comes nearest in height
to the recollection YOU have Of that man
looked round. 1rockman was full two inch
es taller than any Of: hem; yet dared not swear
that it was he. he3italed moment. "Nc
do not wish you to say which Of these persons
was really the man; for yet, we take 1t for
granted that he is hot present; but, supposing
these TO be the people implicated, which should
YOU imagine to have been that man.
To the question thus put, an objection was
raised by the counsel on the opposite side; but
the objection was overruled. Gas YOU now adj
dress me- answered Il should say that Will
liam Brockman's height corresponds most
nearly with that Of the person alluded to-"
God bless YOU, sir'' again exclaimed the
unhappy mother; but she was Immediately 81
fenced.
The rest Of the evidence being now disposed
Of, Thomas Felley mounted the witness-box,
and was solcmnly sworn He promised to speak
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, and prayed God to help him, as he kept
that promisc;h lie gave minute and circ,fmstan-
tai detail, Of which the following may be taken
as an accurate abbreviation.
He admitted that they were all four engaged
in smuggling expedition. He related the Cir
cumstance of the seizure as it had been de-
scrbed by the exciseman and myself: and OF
the flight Of those who carried the goods
These were his. brother Edward, William
Brockman, and myself GAS to Zacharah,"
said ne, eve left him in charge Of the boat,
and he never Joined us till all was over When
the witness uttered this, Brockman turned
round in the dock, and stared him full in the
face. a sort of flush passed over his checks,
but lie was no ways farther embarrassed, and
went on. "Thouph we fed at first in different
directions, we all three met in hollow about
stones throw to the right, and here entered in
to consultation as to what was 10 be done
Done, cried Brockman, who had drank rather
too freely, what should be done? You have pis
tolls, have 4 knife; there are three TO two;-
let us recover the goods. 10 this we objected;
but he sna,ched pistol from my belt, and swore
if we feared TO join him, he would so alone
He set off accordingly; we followed with the
sole view of preventing fatal consequences; but
before we could oyerlake him, he and the de-
ceased was wounded, and hed; but Brockman
pursued him, seized him like tiger, and threw
him, and Just as we reached him, succeeded In
cutting his throat. | wrested the knife from
his grasp, and in the struggle wounded him.
We were all about the body uncertain how to
dispose of it, when my brother arrived. He
mentioned having met the other exclscman,
and assured us ali Folkestone would be a-!oot
directly; so we cast the body from the cliff, and
then we though, Of escaping. But 1t seemed
better 10 hide thirst We accordingly descend
ed the glen; and buried it under the stones
where it was found"
Whilst this persons evidence was delivered
men seemed to hold their very breath with anxl-
etv: now that it came to close, a long sob or
sigh ran through the court. A fearful stiffness
followed it, and every eye was turned upon
Brockman The unfortunate youth, up TO this
moment, had hung down his head, as II in
shame; he now raised it proudly, and looked
calmly and resoutely round. My Lord" said
he slowly and with grea, hrmness, "the last
witness has uttered tissue OF lies. have
sworn not to betray the guilty, but am not he"
prisoner, you must be SILENT replied the
Judge; "you are in the hands OF counsel"
The cross-examination which the approver
endured, was indeed enough to cause an ordi-
| pakjnp The truth n