Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-06-24
0((ortcstrr Aailp SPY,
From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal,
A SPIRITUAL SUBPOENA.

ryman-Who had become the LEADING firurn in
my mind because of the mysterious warning
or any accomplice of his had PLAYED me a
trick, and trumped up story tor nv further
bewilderment, they had not fattered myself.
very much cause for Boosting. l had evinced
out Slight curiosity about the unknown gentle
man who had heralded my approach at dav-
light, and | had given them to understand that
had a real object in my early rising-that of
reaching the capital city, at least ten miles
away But my own brain was, for all that. a
prey TO the most conflicting suggestions,
not one OF which was OF final service to
wards an explanation of the events of the
morning,
There was |, at a little after O'Clock P.
M, with walk before me of ten and
walk behind me of three good Devon
miles, breaktastess, without the least de-
sire to reach the place | was bound for-and
all because of a couple of coret prpteeaaiLa s.
voices without body between them. ] CON
sumed the way in mentally reviewing all tie
circumstances OF the case again and again, and
by no means in a credulous spirit; but when
at length arrived at the city upon the hill I
was as tar from the solution of the matter as
when l started. That the ferryman himself
simple countryman, should be concerned in
any practical Joke upon lae, a mere fly-ishing
acquaintance OF couple of weeks standing
or that such persons as the Courtenays should
have permitted the playing of it upon guest
at Cowlees, was only less astounding than the
perfection of the trick itself-f trick it really
was. But neither my feelings of anger, when
looked on the matter in that light, nor those
OF mystery, whenI took the more supernatural
view of it, in anywse interfered with the grad
ual growth OF appetite and when | turned
INTO private room of the Bishops Head in the
High street, the leading idea in my mind. after
all my cogitations, was breakfast. If seven
and-torty mysterious voices had informed me
that the 1erryman was waiting then, should
have responded: "Then let him wait-at all
events, while l eat beefsteak and sun
dries"
Although Exeter is as picturesque and ven
cradle city as any raven could desire to dwell
In, 1t is IS not lively town by any means. in
general way. quiet, sanity, solemn spot.
indeed II is; excellently adapted for sinner
TO pass his last days in-although he would
probably md them among the longest in his
hfe-and peculiarly adapted to that end in its
very great benefit of tepiscopal) clergy; but
Tor hale young gentleman of nineteen to find
himself therein at nine O'Clock on fine sum.
mer morning, with nothing to do, and all the
DAY to do 1t III, was an embarrassing circum-
stance.
Nothing going on, as usual, suppose 2"
inquired |, with yawn at the waiter, when |
had finished vast rejection
Going on, sir? Yes, sir City very gay.
indeed, sir, just now. Assizes, sir, now sit
tng' Murder case-yery interesting for a
young gentleman like yourself, indeed, sir"
How do you know what is interesting 2"
retorted i with the indignation of hobblede-
hoyhood at having its manhood called in ques-
ton, Young gentleman, indeed | am q
man. Knit what about tbic I
the prisoner convicted 2"
Convicted, sir No, sir; not vet. sir.
We hope he will be convicted this morning,
sir Its very bad case, indeed, sir. Jour
neyfnan Carpenter, Robert Moles have
been and murdered toll-keeper-killed him
in the dead of night, str with Il 'atchet and
his wife's the witness against him.
"Thats very horrible" remarked |. 81
didn't know wife could give evidence"
"No, sir, not his wife, sir; it's the tolI-keep-
er's wife, sir. She swears to this Moles, al
though it happened two months ago, or more,
sir. Murder will out, they say and how true
it is He'll be hung in front of the Jail, sir, in
a hopen place upon an ill, so as almost every
body will be able to see it, bless yep
II should like to hear the end of this trial
very much, indeed, waiter"
"Should you, sir ~ fondling his chin ct
couldn't be done, sir-it could not be done the
court is crowded into mash already To be
sure, I've got "a. But no, sir, it could not be
done"
81 suppose it's merely a question of how
much q said l, taking out my purse. Didn't
you say you had a."
ga cousin as is ajavelin-man, yes, sir Well
l don't know but what it might be done, sir, if
you'll just wait till Pve cleared away. There,
they're at it already :"
WbiIa ha cnnlra do of +r,pnnotc
without proclaimed that the judges were about
to take their seats, and in few minutes the
waiter and l were among the crowd. The jaw
elinman, turning out to be amenable to reason
and the ties of relationship, as well as not
averse to small pecuniary recompense, soon
found standingroom for myself i'll the court
house, where every seat had been engaged for
hours before. AS l had been informed, the
proceedings were all but concluded, save some
unimportallt Indirect evidence, and the speech
of the prisoners counsel. This gentleman had
been assigned to the accused by the court,
since he had not provided himself with any
advocate, nor attempted to meet the tremen-
dous charge laid against him, except by a SIM
pie denial. All that had been elected from
him since his apprehension, it seemed, was
this = that the toll~keeper's wife was
mistaken in his identity, but that he
had led wandering life OF late, and
could not produce any person to prove an abb
that he was in Dorsetshire when the murder
was done, miles away from the scene of its
commission; but at what place on the partic-
ular day in questionable 9th OF March-he
could not recall to mind. This, taken in con-
nection with strong condemnatory evidence, it
was clear, would go sadly against him with
the jury as a lame defense, indeed although,
as it struck me who had only CLEANED this much
,,l,,- mar naf
than that a journeyman carpenter, who was
not likely to have kept diary, should not
reeOllect what place he had tramped through
upon any particular date. Why, where had
myself been on the 9th of March thought l.
1t took me several minutes to remember, and
! only did so by recollecting that had left
Dorsetshire on the day following, partly in
consequence of some alterations going on at
home Dorsetshire, by the by, did the prison
er say Why, surely had seen that face
somewhere before, which was now turned
anxiously and hurriedly around the court, and
now, as if ashamed Of meeting SO many eyes,
was concealed in his tremuous hands Robert
Moes! No, had certainly never heard that
name; and yet began to watch the poor fell
low with a singular interest, begotten OF the
increasing conviction that he was not altogeth-
er stranger to me.
The evidence went on and concluded the
counsel for the prisoner did his best but his
speech was, of necessity, an appeal to mercy
rather than to justice. All that had been con
fided to him by his client was this that the
young man was vagabond, who had deserted
his parents and run away from his indentures,
and was so far deserving of little pity that he
had however, only been vicious, and not
criminal as for the murder with which he
was now charged, the commission of such a
hideous outrage had never entered his brain.
"Did the lad look like a murderer? Or dld
he not rather resemble the Prodigal Son, penn,
tent for his msdeeds, indeed, but not weighed
down by the blood of fellow creature :"
All this was powerfully enough expressed,
but it was not evidence and the jury, with"
out retiring from their box, pronounced the
younp man "Guiltvn amid silence which