The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-02-11


trial for forgery at Liverpool in 18-- till
your appearance at Worcester as the e'late
| Mr.. Steels's housekeeper?"
She gazed hopelessly at me.
"Answer me woman.
"Iwas living at different places; cam
exactly say where now"
! severe you not married in the name Of
Sharper"
eyes"
elbow long previously had you ceased
to bear your name of Steele?'
A frightened glance was all her answer,
swell, never mind; it was somewhere
about the time that unpleasant business oi
the embezzlement in Mr.. Pearson's Office
occurred. You were ehouse-keeper then,
think. After that it would OF course be
disagreeable to bear the same name; and
you did wisely to get rid oft as soon as
you could, and | suppose your cousin was
of the same opinion"
Her face worked convulsively as went
on thus coolly but she said nothing This
rather perplexed me; had depended up
on discovering something from her own
incautious replies, and her wary cunning
baffled me. At last was obliged TO let
her down without having produced any
stronger effect than that Of destro ying. her
credit with the jury.
Another witness, for whom ws were not
prepared, now came forward, and deposed
that on the very same day of the fire Mi
riam went to her house and purchased a
'bolting' of straw, and a large bundle OF
matches, all of which she declared were
for her mistress, but portions Of which, as
it turned out, had been found in the burn
ing room. All my tact failed in shaking
her testimony; it was evidently tue and
she proved having delivered the straw
which she took up stairs by Miriam's di-
rections, and put under her bed in her
room. She asked for what purpose it was
wanted, and was told that Mrs. Sharpe
was about to make some nsw mattresses
"unbeknown to her husband" and there.
fore desired that it should be hidden out
of his way The girl, she said was
crying. and upon being asked why she did
so said that her mistress had be en- very
cruel to her and that she wished herself
dead, drowned, burnt, or poisoned, or any
thing
This closed the case for the pros scuion;
and could see that, although the jury
had been dissatisfied with some of the evil
dsnce, yerfffs last testimony had decided
them against us. Their faces wore the
hard, resolute expression of men who have
made up their minds to punishment Oh,
the agony ofthat poor girl as she saw ittool
81 would not run the risk of calling
George Sharpe" whispered Mr.. Peget:
the jury are dead set against us, and the
Judges, too, think; and if he does you no
good, as fear he will not, he'll ruin the
case wholly-you had better trust to your
self"
But dared not; one more look at that
beseeching face, and the impulse to call
Sharpe came so strongly upon me that
gave way to it. Very few, but as prompt as
could imagine, or utter, were the words l
addressed TO the jury. and then urged, !
know not how, | called George Sharpe.
He was a long time coming, and when at
last he made his appearance, it was only
by the help OF crier, and in most pitia-
BILE state, that he could enter the boX;--he
looked like some one who had been sud-
denly stricken with death; he shook fright
fully, his eyes glared, his teeth chattered,
and his mind seemed wandering.
"Your name is Steele, | think-George
Steele!" said, quietly.
He stared vacantly; then said, "yes,
George Steele; you're right, sir, George
Steele" i '- '-
"You are cousin, | think. of your wife,
and of the late Mr.. William Steele, the sur.
geonP
"Yes."
"Do you remember how long it was af-
ter your trial at Liverpool that you chang
ed your name?"
"No," he answered helplessly.
"Had not Mr.. Steele another sister be-
sides your wife--one who displeased him
by marrying?"
"Yes, Miriam's mother
An exclamation from his wife. who stood
in box behind, startled him little, but
he shook his head dismally, and said, as
if to himself, "It's no goodr' Deg
"What was her name-Mrs rs-?"
and turned over my brief as if to look
for il. rs alast& lH .4N N.e W.
"Mrs. Blackwood, she married young
Will Blackwood, the squire's son, as had
been courting Martha afore Fanny left
school," ltE
The whole thing was now plain -legible
TO my mind as if had tupon my brief
but, as fact after fact rapidly followed,
corroboratsd and explained each other, |
began to fear that | should lose the con-
nection, and not shape my questions so a,
bring out the truth for the jury. III
''When was it that you first knew the
child LETT Of Mr.. Steele's door to!be his sis
ter Mrs. Blackwood's childl" p eai9' 2 g.
"Not for good while; but Martha knew
II soon after Dlfg 1tN IEsfaAtN. eftitttt f}