Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-06-26

|
fostering minister of greatness, and, therefore,
may well he supposed that his veneration wa
| mingled with awe in the presence of Harley
| whom. in common with the country round. b.
regarded as q corporeal Golconda, his riches BE-
ing roughly estiit1ated by him at the fabalou
amount of fifty millions, while others believe,
that he could pay off the national debt al pinch
and feel very little inconvenced
With measured steps. and stare Of inquiry Al
| each individual, Mr. Vaudeville Harley entered
the lodge, and placed himself in the magis;eria
chair
'Let me see" he said TO Basset, the clerk 81
| have not looked at the warrant. but think they
told me the charge was a serious one Setting
gins for hares, suppose?"
! ''Not quite so bad as that sir,'' answered Eas-
set, in low voice, ''though it lays her open to a
more severe penalty-thanls TO our lenient game
lawsv'
He said this with smile, as if il were only a
complimentary way of speaking, and the leniency
OF the garre laws, in point of fact. was subject
for anything but gratitude. ssShe is charged with
concealing birth, sir, under rather suspicious
circumstances"
''Oh!'' said Harley. with dense look. his eve,
in the interim, having wandered to the Times.
''Shall call the case on sir?''
"Ah! yes do.o
''Constable!''
''Here, mister, sir,'' cried Stuck, seizing his
forelock, and pulling bow.
"Brng the prisoner forward, and inform his
worship what is alleged against her."
Millicent-for the culprit was other--in
obedience to the clerks mandate, was brought to
the end Of the table, and formally accused.
''She is one of the colliery girls, see," said
Mr. Harley. glancing at her attire. "This case
should be referred to Mr. Belwood.''
"Both Mr. Belwood and Mr. Charles are in
London sir,' replied Bassett s'otherwise, as the
girl is in their employ, should not have troubled
you in the business"
''And is it possible so young creature can
have been found burying child?" said Mr. Har-
ley, who was really good natured man in gen.
eral. confining sharp practice to the funds.
"Why she is little more than child herself
You see how these good looking girls 60 to the
bad, Mr. Basset.''
s'Too true sir," answ cred Basset, gravely.
SWhat have You to say to the charge prison.
er?" asked Mr. Harley.
sNothing, please SIR"
'Nothing is not sufficient, prisoner, - remarked
Mr. Harley, who lishtened the tedium Of the mag
isterlal functions with occasional pieasantries,
introduced at the most serious moments. ssIt
won't do to commit these sort of things, and then,
on being called to account, says only "Nothing., !,
Here there was an exchange of smiles between
Basset and Fallowfat, on which Stuck, taxing
the hint, seemed ready to split his sides. SIN
Short" pursued Mr. Harley, ''you must say some
thing, and that something to the purpose. What
were you doing in the church yard?''
81 was buryin' the babby, s.r,' replied MILE;
cent
so no! now we come to it, l thought YOU
were doing something, though you can only say
nothing. Set that down, Mr. Basset, il you
please. | think it very important"
$50 it is, sir-a very great admissions" replied
Basset. ''Still there is evidence. l believe, to
prove that against her, there is little merit in
avowing it, Just bring the witness forward, Mr.
| Stuck"
! Thus summoned, Black Jem. after being duly
sworn, described the situation in which he had
. discovered Millicent.
"And your impression is, that she was there
! for the purpose she says?" asked Mr. Harlc v,
| with sagacious look.
''She was buryin' the babby, your worship, as
clear snuff" answered Black Jem.
! "Was iilr ciliid dead ?"
:'Dead as door nail, your worship"
''Do you suppose the prisoner to be its mo-
! ther?'
81 can't say, for that. She's reether young,
it's sartin but there be wenches in the pit who've
had babbies at her age. l know she's no good
"Oh you know it, do you p" said Mr. Harley
with waggish look. which had immediate efec
on the muscles of Fallowfat and Co. spray
! what particular ground have you for such
! Knowledge?"
ats under ground Pve seen most on her
your worship. I've been doggie over her now,
/ goin' on ten or eleven year-ever since she Were
little un; and can say, safe, there amt a
worse girl in the pitt
Then she must be on her way TO the bottom
less pitt said Mr. Harley. '"Bnt pray. my man,
had the child any clothes on, when il came into
I your hands ?"
'No, your worship, but it was wrapped up in
| summat. Here it be-
sAn India shawl" exclaimed Basset
In the general surprise at this discovery, one
noticed hasty movement of Mr. Thornhill, the
| surgeon, who suddenly evinced great agitation.
! and, being of a very excitable temperament, did
| not again recover himself.
ssThs seems very strange, Mr. Basset," said
Harley s'yet the girl, when you look at her wears
an air of such innocence, that upon my life, con-
sdering every circumstance, can't think i'll of
her; and, do you know, fancy some cunning
hand has made her tool in the business. Does
| there appear to have been any violence used?"
II really don't know, sir; but Mr. Thornhiil, /
believe, has examined the body"
Mr. Thornhill, who had been waiting with the
greatest inpatience to give evidence, was now
sworn.
"From careful examination, | can pronounce
the infant to have been still born,' he sad i'm
| plv to a question from Basset. "The birth was
| premature. and must have been recent"
.'You able 10 speak positively on these
| points, Mr. Thornhlll?"
| '.Most certainly
| to Mr. Harley. ..There can now be no suspicion
of infanticide and we have merely to inquire as
! to whether there has been any concealment."
| "Perhaps Mr. Thornhill, as the only practtion-
| er in the neighborhood. can throw some further
light on the affair" replied Harley, his quick eye
| d tectng uneasintss in the surgeons nanner.-
| ''The prisoner cannot be the infants mother, l
should think
81 can saw decidedly that she is not SIR" an
swered Thornhll. Il happen to know that she
was one of the sufferers from the late explosion,
which took place about the time the infant must
| have been born; and. what is more TO the pur-
| pose she was under treatment by me, in state OF
| insensibility,''
s.1his is indeed. conclusive az to her. But
have you, among your numerous patients, no clue
| to the real offender?"
81 cannot say have al this Moment" replied
Mr. ThornhilI. with some confusion.
''Pray, think again." said Mr. Harley, rathe
| increduously.
eft is unnecessary. sir" replied the irritabl,
surgeon 81 have give, you the best answer il
my power. With respect to this girl, beg II
| say it is not true that she is bad character, a
the last witness, who appears to be very vindict
i've against her, has just stated. learnt yester
j day from Mr. Phipps. the viewer of the coiery
that she was one Of the best conducted persons IN
Mr. Belwood's employment"
''I am very glad to hear that, at any rate, re-
! turned Mr. Harley. with glance at Milllcenf
who. however, maintained the same dogged, IN
different look.
sReally, sir, there seems very little against the