Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-09-05

and fur,ive glance, Alice Sharpe now en-
tered the box, and certainly never look
ed upon more cunning, ruthless, deter
mined countenance than hers. ........
She was evidently i'll at ease, for she
cas-, an anxious, appretensive gaze round
the court, and trembled visibly. My
hopes rose as saw this. There was
something she wished to conceal; some
thing she feared would come out, and L
knew better than she did, that there is
no place like a court Of justice to facili.
tate discoveries, or to unmask a lie.
A, FIRST, while she was giving her evi.
dence, l looked steadily al her, and she
became confused and nervous, and hur.
ried on, and saw that il | hoped to sue
coed in eliciting any thing from her, it
must be by setting her at ease; so buried
my face in my hands, and feigned to read;
but through the division between two
fingers, | maLaged unseen, to keep keen
watch over her. The effect of this re.
lease from Surveillance, was Immediately
apparent. She thought, that she had
battled me, and that felt ms self beaten;
and this idea frightened her coun,enance,
strengthened her voice, and unloosed her
tongue. Thenceforth she spoke freely,
and her evidence against the prisoner
was, il j, could be believed. perfectly
conclusive Of guilt. She positively de.
MED having sent the girl TO work in the
house, and swore to having found
tinder-box and matches concealed in
Mlriam's bed after The discovery of the
fire, as also some of the same matches
(which she recognized from being made
Of different wood to that generally en-
ployed for the purpose) by the heap of
straw which had been used to set the
close, and bedstead on fire.
She said all this in tlippani, malici-
ous manner, every now aud then casting
her eyes furnvely upon me, hut recev-
ing reinsurance by seeing how complete.
ly appeared 10 be absorbed. While
she was speaking a note was passed over
TO me by one of the senior counsel, who
had been watching her a,ien,ively. 1t
ran thus:-"I am not quite sure, but
believe this woman was tried fve-and-
thirty years since. a, Liverpool. for aiding
in the forgery of a check. Her accom-.
pllce was cousin, sort Of clerk in
some office; bu. they were acquitted in
consequence ofan error in the indictment.
| recognise her by that mark upon her
right cheek and temple, which she was
suspected Of receiving upon The occasion
of some dlsreputable quarrel. and by
that singular pronunciation; but her name
then was Martha Steele"
] turned round and handed this to the
attorney, and ir a few seconds the man
who had written il came round aud spoke
to me. When | next turned toward the
witness box, saw her displaying an old
pocket-book Of her husbands, which she
said had been found among the articles
in Miriam's box, and which had been
missed for some days. II was an old
book, with green shagreen cover, and
as glanced at il saw in silver studded
nails the initials G.. S. npon it. resum.
ed my sea, csrelessly. looking a, her with
the utmos. Indifference could assume.
! hoped to throw her off her guard. and
all unconscious!y Mr.. Ashley played in.
to my hands most admirably.
A, last the examinalion-in- chief was
concluded. and | rose as Mrs. Sharpe
%%as hastily quitting the box. Stop" |
said, Il must have little conversation
with you now"
cast one look at the prisoner. The
misery of her face gave me new courage,
and | mentally prayed for help to bring
the truth 10 light. At first put few
urimportant questions. and then said.
"You lived with your late brother. mas
ter. mean-twelye years, or therea-
bouts, did you not!"
Her face became livid white, and she
muttefed some indislinct reply. Whether
wisely done or not, felt that had now
thrown off The mask, and must be pre-
pared to make the most of every word,
or even change of feature. "Why do
you not answer me" said, s,ernly.
Another mu.,ered sentence.
"Speak louder" said the Judge.
"Yes," replied the woman.
"What did you do from the time Of
your trial for forgery at Liverpool, in
lS- till your appearance in Worcester.
as the late Mr.. Sleeie's house keeper!"
She gazed hopeless;y q me.
"Answer me, woman"
81 was living in different places; ]
can't exactly say where now"
"Were YOU no, married in the name
of Sharpe!"
"Yes."
allow long previously had you ceased
to bear your own name Of Steele!'
A frightened glance was all her an,
swer.
"Well, never mind; il was somewhere
about the time that unpleasan. business
Of the embezzlement in Mr.. Pearson's
office occurred. You were housekeep-
er then, l think. After that i, would Of
course be disagreeable TO bear the sane
name; and you did wisely to get rid of il,
as soon as you could, and suppose your
cousin was of the same opinion"
Her face worked convulsiyely as |
went on thus coo!ly, but she said moth
ing. This rather perplexed me; had