The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-08-01
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E,xpERIENcEs OF A BARRIsTER.
. .rHE WRIT OF HABEAs CoRPUs.r

1.-THE WRIT OF HaBEAs CORPUS
In ihe month. Of February Of the year lol-
lowing that which witnessed the successful
establishment of the claim of SIR Harry
Co,npton's infant son to his magnificent pat
risnds,y, Mfr. Samuel Ferret was travelling
past with all the speed he could command
towards Lancashire, in compliance with
sammons from Lady Compton, requesting,
in urgent terms, his immediate presence at
the castle. II was wild and bitter weather,
and The roads were in many places render
ed dangerous, aud almost impossible, by
,he drifting snow. Mr.. Ferrett, however,
pressed onwards with his habtuaI energy
and perseverance; and spite Of aJLe1emenlal
and po.tboy opposisisH, Succeeded in ac-
<.oinpisiiing his journey in much less time
than. under the circumstances. could have
been reasonably expected. But swiftly as,
for those slow times, he pushed ou, ii is nee
cssary should anticipate, by biief period,
his arrival at his destination, in order 10 put
the reader in possession of tho circunstan.
ces which had occasloned the hurried and
pressing message he had received.
Two days before, as Lady Compton and
no, sister, who had been paying visit 10
Mrs. Allington at the Grange, were return
;na hame towards nine o'clock in the evening,
,bey observed. as the carriage turned sharp
anale of the road leading through Compton
P.rk. a considerable number of flighted lam
ferns, hy persons apparently in eager but be-
wildered pursuit of some missing object. The
carriage was stopped. aud in answer 10 the
seryani's Inquiries il was replied that Major
Rrandon,s crazy niece lad escaped from
herunce's house; and although, traced by
e.snow tracks as far as the entrance to
the bark had not vet been recovered. Mrs.
Rrandon had offered reward of len pounds
- whoever sholId secure and reconduct her
home; heace the hot pursuit OF the fugitive,
who Il was now supposed must be concealed
;nihe shrabberies. Rumors regarding this
vaf.,tunate young lady. by no means favor
ada To the character Of her relatives as per-
cons Of humanity. had previously reached
Iadr Conp,on's ears; and she determined
10 avail herself, if possible, of the present op.
portunity to obtain aPersonal interview with
the real or supposed lunatic. The men who
badbeen questioned were informed that on
10 tho castle servants could be allowed to
scarch for the missing person, either IN the
aft or ,hrubberies; and that If there, she
,youd he taken care Of aud restored TO her
ST;ends in The mnrning. The coachman was
,ben ordered to drive OIL; but the wheels had
pn, made half dozen revolutions, when a
Load shout at some distance in the direction
of the park, followed by succession OF
p;ercing screams, announced the discovery
and CAPTURE Of the object of the chase. The
horses !, ere urged rapidly forward; and ere
more than minute had elapsed the car
! sriaoe drew up within few yards OF The
hunted girl and her captors. The instant
Il stopped. Clara Brandon, liberated herself
bv = frenzied effort from the rude gasp in
which she was held by an athletic young
man, sprang wildly towards IT, and with pas
sionatc en,reaty implored mercy and pro
protection. The young man, son of Mrs
Braudnns by former husband, Immediate
/, rc.scized her, and with fierce violence ell
,j,.arnred to wrench her hand from the han
d,. # The carriage door, which she clutchec
w., desperate ,enacity. The door flew
o,,.n, the sudden jerk d'sengagcd her hold
and she struggled vainly in her caPl"r's pow
erful grasp. "Save me! save me" she fran
tically exclaimed, as she felt herself borne
oG. "You who are. they sar, as kind ant
good as sou are beautiful and happy, save
me from this cruel manp
Lady Compton. inexpresslveIy shocked
by the piteous spectacle presented by tht
unhappy g:rl-her scanty clothing soiled
disurraved, and torn by the violence Of he
struggles; her long faSen iresses flowing dis
orderly oyerker face and neck in Ia g'et
DISAGREEMENT; nd the pale. haggard, wll'
cxnress;on of her countcnance- for
few moments incapable Of speech. He
sister was more collected; "VIoIet," she IN
stantly demonstrated, edo not permit 'h'
brutal violence