The weekly Butte record., 1858-12-18
The Timely Witness.

III TIE year lSl4, during lne COuIS w IL
at Clerkenwell Assizes, England, there
came up by the evening mail stage an
ordinary looking person who halted IN
tavern at the town of B, where
trials were being heard, and who IN
formed the landlord that he should pro
ceed on the following day, if the wealth
er was not too bad.
He booked himself as Henry Edge
ford, Of Leeds his baggage was duly
bestowed, and nothing out Of the com
mon appearance indicated itself in his
manner Or habits. He spoke pleasant
ly, mixed with the coming and establish
ed guests Of the house, and as the
weather seemed gloomy and forbidding
in the morning "a circumstance that
might easily have been foretold on the
evening he arrived, by the way, he de-
cided to remain over another day.
Among the cases which had been pre-
scented by the grand jury of the borough
at the present sitting of the court, was
one for highway robbery, charged upon
a man who answered to the name of
Burrows, and whose trial had commence
ed on the day Of Edgeford's arrival.
Time appeared to hang heavily upon
the new comer's hand, and he seemed
to be anxious to proceed on his journey
but the weather wonld not permit, and
he found himself reluctantly compelled
to tarry at B. His landlord desi-
rous to amuse him, and retain his Wis
itor as long as possible, informed him
that the town or vicinity, offered but
poor encouragement ordinarily for the
amusement Of strangers, and especially
to those who were bred in and accus-
toned to city life but just at the time
The court was in session, and among the
presentations was the case Of enc John
Burrows, who was being tried for an al
legged robbery on the highway, the de-
tails Of which would no doubt interest
him for the moment. But the stranger
had no taste for the marvellous and
didn't care to attend court.
The subject was freely discussed at
table, however, both at breakfast and
lunch hours, and Edgeford was induced
at last to 90 to the court house, to listen
to the closing evidence upon the capital
trial which had so deeply interested
every one else in the neighborhood, and
which was really a cause of Importance
and note.
In the meantime letters reached the
hotel for Henry Edgeford Esq, Of
Leeds, forwarded duly by the post from
London; and Mr.. Z. had spoken Of one
or two of his correspondents casually,
who had been recognized by other gen
tlemen, also tawying at the public
house where he was temporarily sojour-
ing. He had heavy letter Of credit
from his friend, as he called him, Hon.
Thos. Barring, and every thing about
the department and carriage Of Mr..
Henry Edgeforl denoted him the ac-
complished gentleman.
The case of Burrows, who was char
gcd with the high crime mentioned was
in this as set forth in the allegation.
Cn the night of June 10Th, 1914, the
Hon. Jonas NJ. P, was on his way
home in his post chaise, when his ami
nal was suddenly seized by man who
sprarg from hedgerow, near the
crossing of the Chafing and Barring
ton roads, who presented a pistol
against the person of the honorable NJ.
P. and demanded his money or his life.
1t was near the setting Of the moon,
and the only clue to the identity Of the
supposed robber was small cash on
the back of his hand, which the hon
orable gentleman observed at the time
the pistol was drawn upon him.
He had only four guineas about him
at that moment, and single ten pound
note upon the bank Of England. The
latter was not discovered by the robber
but the four gold coins were given up.
Immediately an alarm was given by
the honorable gentleman, scouts and po-
hcemen were sent out, and three days
after Burrows was captured in neigh
boring town, and confined on suspicion.
No gold was found on him.
The honorable gentleman felt very
positive about his identity, however,
from his dress, s.. AID the SCARED
hand and as the testimony Of an NJ. P.
is q matter of no mean weight against a
poor devil who may chance to be out late
in the evening in the capacity happily,
of an amateur poacher, Or otherwise,
so Burrows-who might or might not
be innocent-was handed over for exam I
ination, and subsequently was put upon
trial for his life, as the supposed robber
of the honorable Jonas Petit, member Of
Parliament aforesaid, &c. &c.
In defence, Burrows simply asserted
that he was laborer without any spe- I
cial profession. TWAS his lot to be any, /,
where ard everywhere from time to
time. He had formerly been out at
service, and on the present occasion, $50
he declared) he was on his way in search
of a new place, having travelled from
Brighton on the day he was falsely ar
rested, and never having been, to his