Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-10
OLD BAILEY PRACTICE.


was descendant Of the ancient and honorable
Norman house of CostollOe (your Nagle and
your Nangle are varieties of ths CostellOe be it
knOwn.) He had received an excellent cduca-
ton, and possessed considerable legal knowl-
edge. He was shrewd of much seeming gravity:
- fellow OF infinite Jest "a living Joke; witty
himself, and the cause of wit in other men He
was. although his family had resided during
six centuries in ireland, true Norman.
lie had been, in the year l745 and subse-
quently, student of the Middle Temple, Lon
don, and had not denied himself any of the
pleasures, or, indeed, any of the adventures of
which the English metropolis afforded-that is,
TO the utmost extent of the means supplied by
his family. He thus acquired vast reputation
of particular kind among his cotemporaries
and even became the hero of a tale in which he
was made to appear a staunch JacObite, guilty
of high treason; in short, in harbOring the Pre-
tender in his chambers
In justice to the counsellor's character for
loyalty, it must be stated, however, that be IVES
maligned in that respect. L had heard and
laughed at the story myself, and had even told
1T once or twice with much success. / had oc-
caSiOn to refer one day, however, to some of the
old chronclers of France, and found in Bran
tome the adventure which had been ascrIbed to
COstelloo, related of the Duke Of Orleans the
brother of Charles VI. Continuing my inves-
LEGATIONS, hit upon it also in the :! Esrni His
tOriques of St. Folk and in an English YER
sion Of it by DR.. Gilbert in his Views of Soci-
ETY. in Europe
This story was specimen Of hundred
anecdotes of = The Counsellor, which refrain
from giving here, not, however because there is
any doubt of its correctness. Fortunately, there
Is one which Is not liable to the objection that
imposes silence on me respecting the others,
and which will serve to portray my hero in his
proper cOlors
His terms served, Costelloe was callel To the
bar In Dublin, whore he gave unquestionable
~. AE N.l L..s A.
Rn;e or taste, eSchewing equity or common law
he devoted himself to what is termed Old Bal
ley practice, and in which he was unrivaled
One morning, at the time when Costelloe was
IN the height of his reputation, the city of Dub
lin was frightened from its prOpriety by the
announcement that Gleadowe's bank had been
plundered of large sum of gold, by the chief
cashier, to whom its charge had been entrusted
The alleged cul prit was Immediately TAX en- into
custody, brought before the city magistrate
interrogated, and the proofs of his guilt being
held manifest, committed to Newgate. The
whole process was terminated by ii o'clock
a m
Before the prisoner had reached his destina-
tiOn, COstellOe was made aware of all the cir
cumstances Of the case by one of the commit
ting magistrate clerks, whom he kept con-
staDty in pay. This man had hardly left Ces-
telioe's house after acquitting himself Of his
duty, when the Counsellor received letter in
viting him to repair forthwith to Newgate to
zee Mr.. -, just brought in, who desired his
advice.
Costelloe proceeded at once to Newgate, for
such course was not then interdcted to prac-
titiOners by private resolutions of the bar but
even had II been he was not a man to be turned
from his purpose by any rule that interfered,
however slightly, with the indulgence of his
humOr He was there introduced to the cashier
of GleadOwes, man of serious sanctilnonious
men, and of some fifty years Of age. The
usual sGlutatiOn over, aud the door carefully
closed. COsteloe, with that wonderful eOnp
d'ori for which he was celebrated, saw at once
the species Of person he had to deal with and
begged to be informed why his presence had
been requested.
You have heard, probably, SIR" said the
man, - that L have been the cashier of Glea-
doves bank, and that ii is said large deficit
has been discovered in my accounts?''
. That you had been clerk of old Gleadowe
l was ignorant" replied Costelloe 81 but [
have just been informed that his cashier has
appropriated to himself one OF his money bags
In fact that the bank has been robbed by the
rascal of a whole heap of gold.''
. Rascal, That is a harsh word, sir'
Not if applicable"
Well, sir, shall not dispute terms, how
ever painful to an honest, conscientious man
TO bear them. am the party in question"
And you done the trick !'
''You sacked the swag?''
81 don understand you"
You We gotten the money -
Really, sir, cannot comprehend you"
You robbed the bank !''
Do you mean to insult me? | rob the
bank. cheat my employer, plunder my
benefactor, and preserve the fruits Of it No
sir; no have not a shilling in the world :;
Then, by -, you II be hanged
W hat can You mean ~
"lll make 1t as clear to you as that those
NaNNa
bank, you must have, at least, some of the
money, and can afford to pay me well for say
ing your life If you are innocent, and con-
sequently pennilcss, you will be weighed, as
was CahiT H0 GappHi."
"Weighed,''
In the city justice scales. This case il spo-
ken OF everywhere, with this addition that the
proofs against you are irrefutable'
Then there is no hope 1''
None, II you be what you saw yourseIf-
guIltless. for you cannot afford 10 retain me
who' probably, OF all the bar, could alone give
you "a chance"
Overwhelmed and horrifed the hvpocr;,e
after some hesitation, admitted that he was in
condition to remunerate the counsellor for
undertaking his defence. "What is your fee,
sir!" he asked.
- Ten per cent?
Ten per cent? Why, that is a thousand
pounds"'
So much the better for both Of MS"
After many futile attempts to beat down the
counsellor demand, the prisoner acceded TO
it, ara gave an order upon his wife for the
enormous sum of thousand pounds, ON an
understanding that if the counsellor's exer-
uons should fail, he would return nine hum
dred and htty younds Of it to-fks uido,ri
Immediately upon receiving this draft, Co.'S
teiioe LETT the prison, and, without waiting to
present IL, proceeded to the Crown Office stu
ate on South Cope street. on the site of the rear
orcourt:ydrd Of the present Commercial Build.
lngs, which at that period resembled In its
functions the head police Office of modern
times. he sitting magistrate had risen. bot
the chief clerk was at h;s desk when Costeiioe
entered. - Good morning, Mr.. johnson, . said
be. The clerk returned the salute. 'Any
thing in my way to-day, Mr.. johnson ,'' he
ssked with the most perfect nOHchGlaHce.
What, Counsellor, Have you not heard
of the robbery ~ GIea.lnMn's ~