Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-20

replied Penson. This was all that passed be-
| tween the confederates, and few minutes af-
terwards Judith took leave, and was soon on
her way home.
Harpur's trial came on during the March
Assize, at Appleby, and as the case had excited
much interest In the county, the Crown Court
was densely crowded. The witnesses for the
prosecution were not asked question by the
counsel instructed by Penson for defence, till it
came to the turn Of the last and important one
James Blundeh. The ecross-examination of this
man was menacing one, and tine hush of
| the excited auditory deepened into painful in
| tensity as it became evident, from the stern
questioning Of the counsel, that the defense in
| tended to be set up was that the deceased had
met his death at the hand of the witness, not
| of the prisoner. 1t was elected from Brundell,
| though with much difficulty, that he was in
| embarrassed circumstances, considerably in
| debt TO deceased, with whom he had, in con-
| sequence, had words moro than once, and that
| he knew Robert Masters had been heard to say
he would sell him (BlundelD up before long.
| The witness was greatly agitated by the expo
| sure of his affairs; and 80 fercely was he
pressed by the jealous counsel for nearly half
| an hour of merciless cross-examination, that
he could scarcely stand when he was told to
leave the witness-box.
q have to request, my lord," said the pris-
oner's counsel, ''that the witness be not per-
mitted to leave the court-for the present at
lHe JuuSe nOQQeQ assent, anu u couple
OF Javelin- men placed themselves by the side
Of the nervous and terrified Blundell. The case
for the crown having closed, and no speech in
those days being allowed to be made by a re-
tated feion's counsel, witnesses for the defense
were at once called. 'Call Thomas Aldous,"
said Richard Penson to the crier of the court
and presently Thomas Aldous, a middle g. aged
gold-spectacled gentleman. of highly respect
able aspect, presented himself in the witness
box. '.f..--
"YOu are the proprietor, 1 believe, Mr.. Al
dous, }" said the prisoners counsel, F'of an ex-
tensive pawnbroking establishment in London
Well, sir" replied the witness, Il cannot
say mine is an extensive establishment, but it
is, am bold to say, respectable one, and is
situate not in London proper, but in the Black
friar's Road, Southwark"
No matter-yOu have been within the last
| few days in communication with respect to an
advertised gold watch, with the attorney for
the prisoner, Mr.. Penson?''
g have
!" Do you produce the watch in question:
g do-here it is. 1t was pawned with me, :"
added the scrupulous witness, refreshing bis
memory by glance at the duplicate, "on the
18th of February last, for fl0; and the address
given, No. 8 Lambeth Walk is, have since
ascertained, a fictitious one"
will the brother of the deceased, who has
already been sworn, said the examining bar
rister, ''have the kindness to look at this
watoh?"
Mr.. James Masters did so, and identified it
as belonging to his brother, and worn by him
at the time of his death
"Should you be able, Mr. Aldous," con-
tinued counsel, Ito recognize the person who
pawned the watch 2"
81 should have no difficulty in doing so"
said the pretended AldouS-" although II was
just between the lights when tho man a mid
dle-aged, stoutish person came to my shop-as
he not only had peculiar cast in his eyes, but
that once or twice, when a handkerchief which
he held to his face, supposed in consequence
OF toothache, slipped aside, l noticed large,
bright, red stain, either from sorofula or
natural mark across the lower jaw
As this apdaciously accurate likeness of
Blundell left the witness's lips, every eye in
court was turned upon that astonished indi
viduat.' The javelin men drew back with in
stinctiye aversion from in front of him, and he,
as if impelled by a sympathetic horror of him
| self, shrieked out-s'That's me, he means me-
oh God :" ''That is the man." promptly broke
| in the pawnbroker. I should know him amongst
a million" This was too much for BluIdell !;
he strove TO gasp out fierce denial, but strong
| emotion checked his utterance, and he fell
down in it, from which he did not entirely
recover for some hours, then to find himself in
close custody upon suspicion Of being the
| assassin of Robert Masters,
The proceedings in court need not be further
detailed. The prosecution had, of course, ire
trievably broken down, and there was nothing
for il but to formally acquit the prisoner, who
was at once discharged, and the crowded court
was immediately cleared Of the excited audi
| tory, numerous groups Of whom remained for
long afterwards in the street, eagerly canvas
sing the strange issue Of the trial. AS Richard
PeEson left the court, scrap Of paper was
| 81 ipped into his hand, upon which was scrawled
in pencil, and disguised hand" Thanks
| thousand thanks, But no harm must come to
poor B. Yeu shall hear from me in a few
days at Liverpool. u
As soon as Blundell could collect his scat
| tered thoughts and advise with lawyer there
| was found to be no difficulty in establishing an
| abb, that on the day Of the pretended pawn
| ing he was in his own room at Redstene, and
he was conditionally liberated. Inquiries were
next set on foot respecting Mr. Aldous, and as
| no such person could be found, the nature of
tho conspiracy by which justice had been
defeated, gradually disclosed itself An effort
| was also made to arrest Penson, the prisoner s
attorney; but as he had previously disap-
pesred from Liverpool, and it was reported
| sailed for America with Judith Morton, the
pursuit was abandoned. This information
was completely erroneous; Judith North had
| indeed embarked for America, but it was with
| her husband, Charles Harpur, to whom she had
been married three weeks previous to the death
| of Robert Masters, the wedding having been
| Intentionally kept secret for time, partly on
account Of the recent death of the brides faith
er-who, by -the-by, died in poor circumstan-
| oes-and partly because of some family reason
Of Harpur's This intelligence reached Penson
at Liverpool, in a letter dated Loadon, about a
| week subsequent to the trial, containing many
| apologies, another ESQ note, and signed "Judith
| Harpur." -,.sE go -lts -
| will not detain. the reader with any de-
scription Of the wretehed, vagabond life led by
| Penson from the moment of his departure from
Liverpool tifT 4 met him at Holborn-till his
death, in fact-for he was utterly irrsclaima-
ble-which was not long delayed, and took
place in the infrmary Of a city workhouse
lie, at all events, though not reached by the
arm Of law, paid the full penalty of his ofense
Whether the same might be said of Judith
Morton, know not-Penson never having
heard either Of her or Harpur since they left
England for the United States. las T.a'
| THE ANDERSON Case IN CANApA.-Tbe slave
Anderson, of Missouri, who killed an assailant Il