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

sorry your wife's tuscan isn't done, Mr.
Harris, but we've been so busy
"Did she seem regular at work, as ifshe
had been at it some time?"
eyes, sir, there was lots of bonnets
about as she had been securing and press.
ling"
"When YOU took her into custody. what
did she say?"
81 told her nothing at first, only as she
was suspected of setting fire to the house,
and then she looked all amazed, dumb.
founded. as it were, but after q bit she said
very steadily like, Il know nothing of it,
never had such a thought"
The next witness was the servant-girl.
Her testimony was clear and short. She
had seen Miriam 20 10 her bedroom at the
usual tins, had retired herself Immediately
after, and slept soundly until aroused by
her mistress, who told her that Miriam had
set the house on fire, and had run away.
She was very much frightened, and by her
mistress's orders went to the constable.
She did not see tho burning rooms until
her return with the man for whom she had
been sent; she wished to do so but her
mistress refused to let her. She knew OF
the quarrel that had taken place in the
evening between Mrs. Sharpe and Miriam.
and heard the former say that her appren-
tce should ''rue the day she had set her
cap at her master" 1t was unusual to
work at the bonnet-pressing and securing
at night, but once or twice before, Miriam
had worked all night by her mistrsss's or
ders. Mrs. Sharpe was a regular Turk to
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-
venged. or any such thing, and would not
believe it. There was not much burned !,
only a cupboard door and shelves in one
room, and an o'd bedstead in another;
Aers was lot Of straw and matches un-
der the bed; Miriam had no call with
either.
The apprentice was called next. She
was bold, impudent-looking girl, dressed
in very snowy style. and stared round
the court in most lnsolent manner. She
took the oath in great Aippancy, and when
she turned round cast look at Miriam
which betrayed all the hatred of her heart,
and its cause-she was jealous.
She swore to many conversations with
the prisoner on the day previous TO the
fire, in each of which she had declared her
resolution to be revenged upon Mrs Sharpe,
although she did not say why. Never saw
Mr.. Sharpe pay her attention, although
she did all in her power to attract him.
Considered her great firt, and very art
ful girl. Purchased tinder.box and six
penny-worth of matches few days before
the fire. She said she wanted them for
particular purpose. Don't know where
she got the money, unless it was from the
young lawyer up the street, who was al.
ways after her. Would swear that on the
very night before she left work. Miriam
said, ''You'll hear something before morn
ing as will make you stare" Asked what
she meant, but got no answer, except
vow to be revenged on her mistress. This
took place at the garden.gate.
There is an old fashioned lodge at the gate,
open to the road. People can sit and rest
in it; anybody there would see all the peo.
Pile who came down the garden walk.
They could not help seeing.
Cross-examination did very little with
this witness, except to show the bitter feel.
ing with which she regarded Miriam, to
elicit the fact that the young lawyer had
formerly been lover OF her own but had
deserted her for Miriam, and that her own
character was far from stainless.
Then came Alice Sharpe the only wit
ness from whom | had any hope; and
what that hope was, was even to myself so
vague and underlined an idea, that could
not shape it into any practical and tangi-
Bile form. With hestating step and fur
tive glance Alice Sharpe now entered the
box and certainly never looked upon a
more cunning. ruthless, determined coun.
tenance than hers.
She was evidently i'll at ease, for she
cast an anxious, apprehensive gaze round
the court, and trembled visibly. My hopes
rose as saw this. 4.
There was something she wished to con.
ceal, something she feared would come
out, and knew better than she did that
there is no place like court Of justice 10
facilitate discoveries, or unmask lie. oa
y Hei*oft xhl *sus* a.* s" *tA.
! At last the exsmina alton in -ohief was
concluded, and rose az Mrs. Sharpe was
hastily quitting the box. "Stop," said,
III 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, to light. At first put few unim-
portant questions, and then said, "You
lived with your late brother-master, |
mean-twslve years or thereabouts, did
you not" ~ aaesIe e o85
Her face became livid white ,5and she
muttsrsd some indistnct reply. Whether
wisely done or not, felt that | had now
thrown off, the mask. and rnust he nrena r.