Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-10
Ths Timelr WINGS.

1914, during the court term at CleFkeRWell Asszss
Engla0d, there came up By the evening mail sags
an ordinary looking person, who halted at a small
tavern IN the town OF D. where the trial.
were being heard, aud who informed the landlord
that he should proceed the 70 loving day II the
weather was not too bad.
Tie booked himself as ''Henry EdgefoTd, Of
Leeds, his baggage was duly bestowed, and moth
ing out OF the common appearances indicated itself
in his manner Of habi,s. He spoke pleasantly,
mixed with the coming snd established guests Of
the house, and as the weather seemed gloomy and
forbidding, in the morning. "a circumstance that
might easily have been f0retold on the evening he
arrived, By the way, he decided TO remain over
I other day.
Among the cases which had been presented By
the grand jury Of the borough, at the present sit
ting of the court, was one for highway robbery,
| charged upon a man who answered TO the name
| Burrows and whose trial kai commenced on the day
Of Edgeford's arrival
Time appeared to hang heavily upon The new
eomer's hands, and he seemed 10 be anxious TO pro
I eeed on his journey; but the weather would not
permit, and he found himself reluctantly c0mpell-
/ ed" TO tarry at D. His landlord desirons 70
amuse him, and retain his visitor long possible
informed him that phe town or vicinity offered but
poor encouragement ordinarily for the eDtertain>
ment Of stTanger and especially to those who were
bred in and accustomed to city hfe; but just at that
time the court vas in session, and among the pre-
sentations was the case Of one John Burrows, who
was being tried for alleged robbery the high.
way, the details Of which would no doubt interest
him for he moment. But the stranger had no
taste for the marvellous, and didn't to attend
court.
The subject was freely discussed at the table
however both at breakfast and lunch hours, AID
Mr. Edgsford was induced at last 70 20 10 the court
house TO listen 10 the closing evidence upon the
capital trial which had so deeply interested every
one else in the neigbborhood and which was really
q cause Of importance and note.
In the meantime letters reached the hotel for
"HenTy EdgefOrd, Esq, Ct Leeds" forwarded duly
BY the post from London; and Mr. E. had spoken Of
or Two of his corres pOBdents casually who bad
been recognized By other gentlemen, also isrryiBg
at the public house where he was temporarily So
| j8Urning. He had heavy letter Of credit from
his friend" las he called him. Hon Thomas
Barring, and every thing about the department and
carriage Of Mr.. Henry EdgefOrd denoted him the
accomplished gentleman.
The case Of Burrows, who was charged With the
high crime mentioned, was in this as set forth in
the allegation
On the night Of June 16th, 1914, the Hon. Jonas
Petit, NJ P. on his way home in his pond ehaise,
when his animal was suddenly seized by man who
sprang from a hedgeroW near the crossing Of the
Charing and Darlington roads, who presented 8
pistol against the person Of the honorable NJ P
and demanded ''his money or his life Il was near
the setting Of the moon and the only clue to the
iudentity Of the supposed robber small cash
upon the back Of his hand, which the honorable
gentleman observed at the time the pistol was
drawn upon him.
H. bad only four guineas shout him at that mo-
ment 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. In
medately sn alarm wss given by the honorable
gentleman Scouts and policemen we're sent out
and three days Afterwards Burrows vas captured in
a neighbOring town, and eonfued on suspicion. No
gCl1 vas found on him.
The honorable gentleman felt very positive about
his identity, however from his dress, sze and the
SCARED hand; and, the testimony Of an NJ P. is
matter Of no mean weight against poor devil who
may chance TO be out laein the evening in the eapsc
ity, happily Of an amateur poacher, or otherwise,
Burrows who might or might be innocent
was handed for examination, and subse quently
was put upon trial for his life as the supposed rob-
Der Of Tie honorable Jonas Petit, member Of Par
lament, aforesaid &c, Sc
In defence, burrows simply asserted that be was
q laboreF without any especial profession Ii was
his lot to be anywhere and everywhere, from time
to time He had formerly been out at service, and
on the present occasion (so be deelaredl he was on
his way in search Of q new place having travelled
from Brighton the day he was falsely arrested,
and never having been to his knowledge, in the vi
einity Of the crossing Of the Charing and Barring
ton roads in his life. This defence Of DO ae-
count, of course, when the solemn asssrvaiion Of
an honorable member Of Parliament stood against
vas certain OF the Scared hand, &c, &c.
The evidence had been duly submitted, however,
and upon the afternoon ofthe second day Of the ri
al, as We have noted Mr. Henry EdgefOrd was pre-
vailed upon TO visit the court house. The honora-
bic accuser has testified TO the best Of his knoWl-
edge and belief that Burrows was the man who rob
bed him all the connecting circumstances had been
set forth By the prosecuting attorney, Who exhibited
the customary zeal Of a government ofhcer where
the rich aud Influential put in opposition TO the
humble and PoEerless and he prisoner was finally
supposed TO be iE most critical position.
.'Upou my word, said 3Ir. Etgeford, suddenly |
turning to The gentleman who had accompanied
him from the hotel 10 ;he trial, ''Hpon my word
have seen that prisoner someWhere before this"
And raising his evegass for closer inspection Of
his person and features, he declared that he was
sure he had met the fellow within few months
of this he was positive.
The prisoner gazed upon the stranger an instant,
as if be partially recognized him-When the chief
judge arose 10 charge the Jury.
lie entertained D. doubt, he said, after listening
TO the pointed and conclusive evidence which had
been presented 10 the court Then turning TO the
prisoner he asked il be had anything TO say, or if
be had any defence 10 oifsr-Whcn Burrows arose
calmly, and in a clear voice, replied
''My L0rds:-l an pOor stranger in this place,
without a friend 10 urn TO for aid 10 my emergen-
oy; bat 1 am inuoeeUto Of tie high crime you have
charged sgaipst me- At the time when this alleged
robbery vac c0DuitiCd | vas far distant fran the
place, where the robbery VAS effected, and l never
vas in that locality at all, in my life.
81 am totally ignorant Of your rules Of law and
may ret be permitted nov, perhaps, to present any
evidence hat may affect my unfortunate case favor
ably Nevertheless | see among the spectators pre-
ent, one person who, proVidentially, may save me.
1 do not knoE his name, but beg that the gentle>
man who sits on my right yonder, (pointing to
Henry EdgefoTd,J may be placed upon the witness
stand and sworn"
All eyes we're noE turned upon the traveller
who at the request Of the court entered the Wit
ness box, when the prisoner thus interrOgaIed
him:
Have you ever before seen me to your knoWl-
edgei"
II am quite sure have
''Wiu you give the court your name and busi-
ness7"
my name is Henry Edgeford, Of Leeds, and I
am q maDufsetuer Of eutleryf
evil you state when and where yOu met me, and I
under what ercumstances2'
81 vas travelling about the middle Of June last /
froR Dover to AlassTo', and upon arriving as the /