The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-12-04

ira of her. Dut, unfortunately, this wa
my own convic.on; could see no way 0
working i, out, or Of bringing jury to $
desirable conclusion, and the more salts
fled became, the more uncomfortable
was also, because, ! knew that nothin,
that was not very plain and unmstakablt
would, except By great chance, be accept
ed by Lord Crans,oun.
!, One help bad, and next to common
sense witnesses il is the greatest that
counse! can haye--a shrewd, clever, prac
.ical attorney.
Il was afternoon before the trial cam
on. shall never forget my sensations, a
saw the prisoner come up to the bar. Sh
was not simply pretty, she was beautiful
tar, slight and delicate as high born lady
and graceful exceedingly. There was
general murmur in court as she appeared
and even the old Judge was soitened. Oh
what | felt! knowing that under God he
life was in nv hands. was very nervous
The pen held, feigning to make notes
,rembled in my hand. and ! shiyered fron
lhead TO foo, as if ague stricken. The con
stable was the first witness called. Hi
evidence was short and clear. He state
that he was sent for at twelve o'clock a
nigh, to apprehend Miriam Lyndon, tn
prisoner, who was accused Of having Sc
| fire to her masters house; that when b
reached the place he found it burning in
side, in room which he was told was tn
Iprisoner's bedroom, and in another immedi
a,cly under the chamber Of her employers
That upon searching the house the prsone
was not to be found; but that after litil
delay she was discovered in on out.huild
ling, at some distance from the house
pressing bonnets.
The man was turning TO leave the DO.
when il struck me that | might put qnes
/ ton or two with effect, and therefore de
sired him to stay.
"When you reached Sharpe's house,
commenced, "wha, had been done to ex,in
guish the fire? Was there any engine 0
people ihere?'
sNo. sir, none; nothing had been dom
as seed the fire was dying out Of itself
few pais of water would have put it on
altogether; the straw b'azed a bit fierce a
first. but there was nothing for it to catcI
hold on, there hadn't been no body Of FIRE.
.You say YOU found the fire burning i,
two rooms. the prisoners md the one un
der her employers; was there much light
much glare mean through the windows
any thing TO attract attention"
"No, sir"
Il, was light, moonlight night, think
.Yes, sir."
"Was the freight then less visible iron
the moon shining on the windows, than j
would otherwise have been?"
"Yes, SIR"
.How far was the ou,honse where III
prisoner was working at the end Of th
orchard, from the dwelling -houso?'
"About three hundred yards, more o
less"
sin going 10 and out Of the clubhouse, q
you have just told the Court the prisoner
would often havc occasion to do, in tn
course OF her work. was there any thing il
the appearance Of the house to draw her a,
,en,ion?'
mo, sir; | shouldn't have known Their
was fire outside ofthe house."
.Did the prisoner express any surpris
a, seeing your
"No. sir, il seems that there was bon
net of my mississes altering at the shop
and she though, I'd come for il, for she said
I'm sorry your wile's tuscan isn't done
Mr.. Harris, but we've been SO busy"
.Did she seem regularly at work, as j
she had been at il some time?'
"Yes, sir; there was lots Of bonnets abou
as she had been securing and pressing"
"When YOU took her into custody, wha
did she say?"
81 told her nothing at first, only as sh'
was suspected of setting fire to tho house
and then she looked all amazed, dumb!ound
ed as it were, but after a bit she said yer,
steadily like, 81 know nothing oft ! nev
er had such thought"
The next witness was the servant girl
| Her testimony was clear and short
She had seen Miriam 60 to her bedroom .
| The usual time, had retired herself immedi
ately after, and slept soundly until aroused
by her mistress, who told her that Miriam
had set her house on fire, and had run a
way. She was very much frightened. an'
by her mistress's orders went To the con
stable. She did not see the burning rooms
until her return with the man for whom
she had been sent; she wished to do go bu
her mistress refused TO let her. She knew
of the quarrel that had taken place in tht
evening between Mrs. Sharpe and Miriam
and heard the former say that her appren
,ice should .:rue the day she had set he
cap at her master" 1t was unusual 4
work at the honnet-pressing and scourn!
at night. but once or twice before, Miriam
had worked all night by her mistress's or
ders. Mrs. Sharpe was regular Turk Il
her: and her master worried the life of her
she led the life of black slave between
them. Never heard her swear TO be re
venrcd or any such thing, and would no
believe it. There wasn't much burned
only cupboard door and shelves in on
room, aud an old bedstead in another; ther'
wns lot Of straw and matches under th'
bed; Miriam had no call with either.
TIL. apprentice was called next. Sh'
was bold, impudenl. looking girl, dressed
in very snowy style. and stared round tn
court in the most insolent manner. Sh'
took the oath with great fiippancy, nm
when she turned round cast a look at MI
rinm which betravcd all the hatred OF he