Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-10

ly cautious wording, and, abrupt peremp,
tory tone. coming from servant to hei
former master suggested nothing. haC
carefully reckoned the number of sheet:
of paper sent into the cell, and now or
recounting them found that three were
missing. The turnkey returned immedi
ately, and asked for the two other letter.
written. The woman denied having writ.
ten any other, and for proof pointed to
the torn fragments of the missing sheets
lying on the floor, These were gathered
up and brought to me, but could make
nothing out of them, every word having
been carefully run through with the pen,
and converted into an unintelligible blot.
The request contained in the actually
written letters was one simple enough in
itself, merely, that Mr.. jackson would
not on any account fail to provide her, in
consideration of past services, with legal
assistance on the morrow The first
nine words were strongly underlined and
l made out, after good deal of trouble,
that the word 'pretence' had been par
TALLY effaced, and account substituted
for IL.
'She need not have wasted three sheets
of paper upon such nonscnsical request
as that, observed the turnkey 'Old
Jackson wouldn't shell out a sixpence to
save her or anybody else from the gal
lows
Il am of a different opinion but tell
me, what sort of person is this former
master of hers 2
'All know about him is that he's a
cross grained old curmudgeon living about
a mile out of Farnham, who scrapes mo-
ney together by lending small sums upon
notes -of.hand at short dates, and at thun-
dering interest. Flint jackson folks
about here call him.
AT all events, forword the letter at
once, and tomorrow we shall see-what
VIC shall see. Good evening"
1t turned out as l anticipated. a few
minutes after the prisoners were brought
into the justice-room, Guilford solicitor
of much local celebrity arrived, and an
nounccd that he appeared for both the in
culpated parties. He was allowed pri-
vate conference with them, at the close
of which he stated that his clients would
reserve their defence. They were at
once committed for trial, and l overheard
the solicitor assure the woman that the
ablest counsel on the circuit would be re-
tanned in their behalf.
had no longer doubt that it Was my
duty 10 know something further of this
suddenly generous Flint Jackson, though
how to set about it was q matter of con-
siderable difficulty. There was no legal
pretence for search warrant and
doubted the prodencc Of proceeding upon
my own responsibility with SO astutc an
old fox as jackson was represented to
be for, supposing him to be a confede
rate with the burglars, he had by this
time in all probability sent the stolen pro
pcrtv away-to London in all likelihood i;
and should find nothing, the consequen-
ces Of ransacking his house merely be-
cause he had provided a former servant
with legal assistance would be serious
Under these circumstances l wrote to
headquarters for instructions, and by re-
turn of post received orders to prosecute
the inquiry thoroughly, but cautiously,
and to consider time as nothing as long
as there appeared chance of fixing
jackson with the guilt of receiving the
plundcr. Another suspicious circum-
stance that have omitted to notice in its
place was that the Guilford solicitor ten
dored bail to the prisoners TO any rea-
sonablc amount, and named Enoch jack
son as one of the surcties. Bail, was,
however, refused.
There was no need for overhurrying
the business, as the prisoners were COM
mitted to the Surrey Spring Assizes, and
it was now the season of the hop-harvest
"A delightful and hilarious period about
Farnham when the weather is fine and
the yield abundant. !, however, lost no
time in making diligent and minute in
quiry as to the character and habits of
jackson, and the result was full con-
viction that nothing but the fear of being
denounced as an accomplice could have
induced such a miserly, iron-hearted
rogue to put himself to charges in defence
of the imprisoned burglars.
One afternoon, whilst pioneering the
matter, and at the same time enjoy
ing the prettest and cheerfulest or rural
sights. that of hop-picking, the aPotheca-
ry at whose house l was lodging-we
will call him Hr. Morgan; he was a
Welshman-tapped me suddenly on the
shoulder, and looking sharply round, l
perceived he had something he deemed
Of importance to communicate.
What is it?' said quickly.
'The oldest thing in the world. There's
Flint Jackson, his deaf old woman, and
the young people lodging with him, all
drinking and boozing away at yon ale
house.
Shew them to me, you please
A few minutes brought us to the place
of boisterous entertainment, the lower
room of which was suffocatingly full of
tipplers and tobacco smoke. We never
theless contrived to edge ourselves in ;
and my companion stealthily pointed out
the group, who we're seated together near