Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-11


on each side of Mrs. Wareing few others
were disposed about the bench and jury desks.
The effect of this partial lighting of the gloomy
old court was, that the witness stood in strong
and bright relief from the surrounding shad-
ows, rendering the minutest change or play Of
her features distinctly visible Mr.. Silas
Thorndyke was, from his position, thrown en-
tirely into the shade, and any telegraphing be-
tween him and the witness was thus rendered
impossible. This preparation, as if for some
extraordinary and solemn purpose, together
with the profound silence which reigned in the
court. told fearfully, as | expected, upon the
nerves of Mrs Elizabeth Wareing. She al
ready seemed as if about to swoon with agita-
ton and illde6ned alarm.
Pray, madam" said I, is your name
Wareing or Tucker ?"
She did not answer, and I repeated the
qvestion
Tucker" she at last replied in tremulous
whisper.
thought so and pray Mrs Tucker, were
you ever in trouble in London, for robbing
your lodgings 2"
| thought she attempted to answer, but no
sound passed her lips. One of the ushers OF
the court handed her q glass Of water at my
suggestion, and she seemed to recover some
what pressed my question aud at last she
replied in the same low, agtated voice, ' Ies,
| have been.
81 know you have; Mr. Silas Thorndyke,
| believe, was your bail on that occasion, ard
the matter was, | understand compromised
arranged-at all events the prosecution was
not pressed. Is not that so Z"
" Yes-no-yes..'
Every well either answer will do. You
lived also, believe, with Mr. Thorndyke, as
his housekeeper, of course, when he was iu
business as concoctor and vender Of infa!iible
drugs and piIls?"
Yes"
He was held to be skiIlful in the prepara-
ton of drugs, was he not-well versed in their
properties p
4" Yes-I believe sol do not know. Why
am asked such questions ?"
" You will know presently. And now, wo-
man, answer the question | am about t) put
to you as you will be compelled to answer it
to God at the last great day. What was the
nature Of the drug which you or he mixed with
the medicine prescribed for the late Mrs
Thorudyke ?"
A spasmodc shrek, checked by desperate
effort partially escaped her, and she stood
fixedy gazing, with starting eyes, into my
face
The profoandest silence reigued in the court
Us reiterated the question You must an
swer," woman said the Judge, sternly, unless
YOU know your answer will criminate your
SELF
as if in search for counsel or sympathy; but
l,,f i
-Thorndyke she could discern in the darkness
she became giddy and panic-stricken, and
seemed to lose all presence of mind.
He-he-he," she at last gasped, "he
mixed it, do not know But how"
she added pushing back her hair, and press.
ing her hands against her hot temples, "can
this be ? What can it mean p
A movement amongst the bystanders Just
at this moment attracted the notice of tho
judge, and he Immediately exclaimed, The
defendant must not leave the court An Off
Ger placed himself beside the wretched mur-
derer as well as forger, and | resumed the
cross-examination of the witness
Now, Mrs. Tucker, please to look at this
letter 1t was that which had been address
ed to Mary Woodley by her SON. That, " I
believe is your sons handwriting"
Yes"
" The body of this will has been written by
the same hand. Now, woman, answer was it
your son-this young man who, YOU perceive,
if guilty, caunot escape from justce-waS it
he who forged the names of the deceased Mrs
Thorndyke, and of John Cummins attached
to it ?"
" Not he-not he :" shricked the wretched
woman. at was Thorndyl Thorndyke
himself and then, with sudden revusion Of
feeling, as the consequences of what she had
uttered flashed upon her, she exclaimed, "Oh,
Silas, what have have l said what have
done Z"
Hanged me, that's all, you accursed
devil !" replied ThorndyIe, with gloomy feroc-
ty. But deserve il for trusting in such ar
idiot :; dolt and fool that was in doing so'
The woman sank down in strong convulsions.
and was, by direction of the judge, carried out
of the hall
The anxious silence which pervaded the
conrt during this scene, in which the reader
will have observed | played bold, tentative,
aud happily-SucceSsful game, was broken, as
the witness was borne of, by loud murmur of
Indignation, followed by congratulatory exca-
nations on the fortunate termination of tho
suit. The defendants counsel threw up their
br efs, and a verdict was at once returned for
the plaintiff.
All the incnlpated parties were speedily in
custody and the body of Mrs. Thorndyke
having been disenterred, it was discovered that
she had been destroyed by bichloride of mer.
curry, of which considerable quantity was de-
tected in the body. | was not present at the
trial of Thorndyke and his accomplices-he for
murder, and Headley for perjury-but l saw
by the public prints that he was found guilty.
and execnted Headley was transported the
woman was, if | remember rightly, admitted
evidence for the Crown.
Mary Woodley was of course put into i'm
mediate possession Of her paternal inheritance