The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-10-02
TKEE JUDICIAL MURDER.

agitated faces, there were two who, both
from prominence and contrast, claimed
instant attention as the principal person
ages. One, clothed in scarlet and ermine,
sat upon the judgment-seat. The enor-
nous wig, with its rows Of stiff gray curls,
could not conceal or soften the fiery lin
eaments Of his massive face, with its bla-
zonrv of tlotchcs on a ground work Of
purply crimson. A pair of enormous
bushy eyebrows metover the swollen nose,
and shaded somewhat the keen glances
of an eye that had a hyena glare. Few
could bear unmoved the gaze Of those ter
rible eyes Fierce by nature, evil habits
and bad passions, combined with bound
less ambition, had made their possossor
able to ada to the terror they inspired.
He prided himself upon striking dismay
into all hearts, and cultivated a mode of
speech that ably seconded the terrors Of
his presence. But for once the prisoner
at the bar had net quailed as he fixed his
dreadful eyes upon her. Her ealmness
was, to the full, as wonderful as the
judges rage. Men looked from the fiery
meteor on the bench to the lady, pale and
calm, her gray hair neatly braided from
her thoughtful brow, her soft eyes plac-
idly fixed with look Of pity on the judge,
her small white hands, partly covered
with knitted silk mittens, folded before
her her whole figure, as she sat (for a
chair, the judge had been shamed into
granting hcF,) presenting a picture of
tranquility. Her calmness stung him
evidently, SO that in questioning the wit
nesses he was even more than ordinarily
fierce, and it was well known that for his
task of that day he had primed himself
with double portion of alcoholic stimu-
liant. One witness, who was called to
prove that Lady Lisle had no>fugitives in
her house, or meetings Of suspected per
sons, at or after the battle of Sedgemoor,
was so scared by the looks of the judge
that he was struck dumb and could not
answer.
"Oh, how hard the truth is ~ roared
the judge, "to come out Of lying Pres
byterian knave. How can one help alb
horring both these men and theirreligion
Was there ever such an impudent rascal ?
Hold the candle to him that we may see
his brazen face"
And when Lady Alice, in her defence,
said she knew one Of the men as i man
of peace, and divine only, not as engag-
ed in political strife. Jeffrics roared,
"Show ne Presbyterian, and I'll shCw
thee a lying knaye."
The jury, siokened at the scene, retired.
They were already exhausted with the
length Of the proceedings; but, though
they knew tie judge was against the
prisoner. they returned with a verdict
"Not guilty" On the lips Of their foreman (;
but the judge browbeat them, and sent
them back. They could not comprehend
what crime there was in her deed But
the judge, furious with wine and rage,
would evidently receive only one kind Of
verdict lie sent taem back with foul
words and bitter threats All England
was then in a panic Of fear The hang
lngs at Taunton by Kirke and his troops,
the sufferiugs Cf prisoners 10 pcstllcntial
jails, had filed mems minds with horror
No one knew where next the hand Of tyr
amy might strike, Sick and famished
the jury retired; again and again were
sent messages Of inquiry. Lady Lisle
had sheltered the men-had known one
long as a faithful minister of God s word
She was the widow Of an active parlia-
mentary man in the old contest She
was guilty Of all that, certainly. And so
at length, harrassed, threatened and tor
monted, they brought in a verdict Of
guilty, though, as they tried to explain,
they knew not of what crime. 1t was
enCugh-they had sealed her doom.
While they were celebrating for hours,
the accused, tired with the days proceed
ings, had sunk into gentle slumber
Her daughter stood by her, and held the
aged lady's head The light fell upon
the sleeping face, calm as infancy. The
word guilty, sent thrill of horror thro
the court. The judge, knitting his terri
bic brows, proceeded to pronounce the
sentence with hend!Sh chucklo. The
Lady Alice was sentenced to be burned
She was reused by the Judges command,
to hear the frightfal words She looked
at him with plying wonder, as at a
strange, fearful creature whose existence
was painful mystery, then, turning to
the court, that sat ln hush of horror,
she rose, dropped the slow, stately cour-
tesy that had been the fashion Of her day,
TO the bench, and resting her hand on the
arm of the jailor, wilhdrew-a low moan,
tie continent sob Of the whole assembly,
following her JefFries drank deep that
night. He had to steel himself for deeds
that have made his name a byword
throughout the land and no ally was so
potept i'm the odious Western AssiZe of