Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-29

"S ior IL W catcn hoid on, there hadn t
been no body of fire.
You say you found the fire burning in two
rooms, the prisoners and the one under her en-
ploycr's; was there much light-much glare. I
mean through the windows, anything to attract
attention =
No SIR
1t was moonlight night, think
Yes sir
Was the freight then less visible from the
moon shining on the windows, than it otherwise
would have been!'
Yes SIR
How far was the outhouse where the prison.
or was working, at the end of the orchard from
the dwelling-house HHl
About three hundred yards, more or less.
In going in and ont Of the outhouse, as you
have just told the court the prisoner would Of
ten have occasion to do, ia .the. course Of er
work, was there anything in the appearance ol
the house to draw her attention!'
No sir; | shouldn't known there was fire,
outside of the house.
Did the prisoner express any surprise at see
ing you!'
| No sir; it seems there was bonnet of my
mistress altering at the shop, and she thought
had come for it, for she said, I'm sorry your
wife's tuscan isn't done, Mr.. Harris, but we've
been SO busy.
Did she seem regularly at work, as if she
had been at it some time!
Yes sir; there were lots of bonnets about, Us
she had been securing and pressing
" When you took her into custody, what did
did she say!
4 told her nothing at first, only that she
was suspected of setting fire to the house, and
then she looked all amazed, dumbfounded as it
were, but after bit she said very steady like,
- know nothing of it, never had such u
thought
The next witness was the servant girl.
Her testimony was clear and short. She had
seen Miriam go to her bedroom at the usual
time, had retired herself Immediately after, and
slept soundly until aroused by her mttress, who
told her that Miriam had set the house on fire
and had run away. She was very much fright.
ened, and by her mistress's orders went to the
constable. She did not see the burning rooms
until her return with the man for whom she
had been sent she wished to do so, but hel
mistress refused to let her. She knew of tht
quarrel that had taken place in the evening be
tween Mrs. Sharpe and Miriam, and heard th
former say that her apprentice should rue tn
day that she had dared to set her capat he
master 1t was unusual to work at the bonne
pressing and securing at night but once or twic
before Miriam had worked all night by her mis-
tress's orders. Mrs. Sharpe was regular Tur
TO her; aud her master worried the life out 0
her. she led the life of galley-slave betweel
them Never heard her swear to be revenged
nor any such thing and would not believe it
There wasn't much burned, only cupboard
door and shelves in one room, and an old bed
stead in another; there was u lot Of straw ant
matches under the bed Miriam had no cal
with either.
The apprentice was next called. She was
bold, impudent-looking girl, dressed in yer,
snowy style, and stared around tho court in {
very insolcnt manner She took the oath will
great Aippancy, and when she turned rount
cast a look at Miriam WEIGH betrayed all the ha
tired in her heart, and in its cause--she was jeal
Gus.
She swore to many conversations with tn
prisoner on the day previous to the fire, in eacl
of which she had declared her resolution to b
revenged upon Mrs. Sharpe, although she di'
not say why Never saw Mr.. Sharpe pay he
any attention, although she did all in her powe
20 attract him. Considered her great flirt an
very artful girl. Purchased a tinder- r-box an
sxpenny worth of matches for her few day
before the fire. She said she wanted them for
particular purpose. Don't know where she &C
the money, unless it was from the young law
yer up the street, who was always after her
Would swear that on that very night before sf
left work, Miriam said You II hear somethin
before morning as'll make you stare Aske
what she meant, but got no answer, except
VOW to be revcnged on her mistress. This COZ
versation took place at he garden gate. Thcl
is an old-iashioned lodge at the gate, open I
the road. People can sit and rest in it; an
body there would see all the people who can
down the garden-walk. They could not he
seeing.
Cross examination did very little with th
witness, except the bitter feeling with which 81
regarded Miriam, to elicit the iact that Il
young lawyer had formerly been lover of h
own, but had deserted her for Miriam, and tn
her own character was far from stainless
Then came Alice Sharpe, the only witn'
from whom had any hope; and what tn
hope was, was even to myself SO vague and u
, undeined an idea, that could not shape it ii
practicable and tangible form. With ashesit
} ing step and furtive glance Alice Sharpe M
5 entered the box, and certainly never look
r upon more cunning, ruthless, determir
l countenance than hers.
She was evidently i'll at ease, for she cast
Q anxious, apprehensive gaze round the court
a trembled visibly. My hopes rose as saw Il
$ There was evidently something she wished
r conceal, something she feared would come o
n and knew better than she did that there is
% place like court of justice to facilitate disc
IS cries, or to unmask q lie.
% At first, while she was giving her evidence
looked steadily at her, and she became confn
it and nervous, and hurried on, and saw tina
o l hoped to succeed in eiiciting anything fir
7. her, it must be by setting her at ease so b
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