Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-13
1Q(otcste1 Dailg Sun.
THE PHANTOM WITNESS.

Ou UpehluS lle uOOr saw tllat from some
light below, (lhat was an oil lamp in the pas,
sage,) there came up strange reflection on the
wall of the corridor, which vas TO the right
hand aud through that reflection, passing
along it, as ii STOPPING 10 avoid it, if ifpossible,
l saw the shadow OF Il man, large, aud not
very well defined owing to its exaggerated
dimensions; but still, there it was, aud it pass
ed away into the gloom at the further eud OF
the corridor, and disappeared"
Overcome, then, by the terror of she knew
not what Rachel fell into that swoon in which
she found by the people OF the inn.
Such was the statement OF the half distract
ed mother, on examination before the North
ampton magistrates OF her sister Anna whose
innocence Of the murder of her child, she
declared herself as thoroughly satisfied OF, as
Of the existence of heaven.
Sir Ralph Heritage was sent ftr, and the
shock SO completely unnamed him that al
though filling the office that year Of high sher
if o! the county, he was compelled to 20 home
where he took 10 his bed, from which it did
not seem probable he would rise again
Several OF the seniors OF the bar had shrmk
from undertaking the defence OF Anna Herit.
age, and the case was brought to me. l took
it, and from the moment did so, felt con
victOn that there was some fearful mystery in
it, which, unless eIucdated, would leave the
youthful accused to be judiciaIIy murdered
And SO | thought and pOEdered over the
affair, until | was afraid that my own mind
would get into some abnormal condition, and
| would be unable to do What human meaus
could do for Anna Heritage.
| saw her but once before the trial. | shall
never forget the manner in which she looked
at me, as she gently shook her head, saying
They will kill me, sir, bat Heaven nows
/ am innocent! Ii my death would bring
back poor Rachel her boy, there she burst in
to tears, | should be willing to die; but as it
IS, am very, very young to be murdered y
l could say but little. l pressed both her
hands in mine, and only gasped out some
commonplace expression OF hopeful COnsOia-
ton, and then / left her
The case was teartully strong against her.
There was but ore supposition in her favor
The shadow-the phantom like form seen
by her mother-whO was he Was it this
Mr. Brown -? Who and what was lie ? |
hunted him up-I employed people to dog and
watch him. 1t al came to nothing lie was
commercial traveller for a house in MarsciIlcs
and was engaged in trying to do business IN
Northampton.
Several old counsel, to whom | spoke of the
case, were OF tile opinion that the shadow
seen by Rachel was either shadow al all,
or was the work of her imagination or the
veritabe shadow of some of the people OF the
inn, who, alarmed at her cries, were Fastening
to her room.
And so at length the morning of the trial
came, and full OF anxiety as l was, it came
a positive relief TO me. The then lord chief
baron Of the exchequer presided He was
calm, enlightened judge, who never permitted
his own pref judices-as some OF his successors
have done-to wrap either law or Justice and
come what might ot the matter, knew that
the young prisoner would have Il iair trial.
The court was crowded to excess. a posi-.
tive disturbance at the dor hindered the com
mencement OF the days proceedings for full
hail an hour, and it was only quelled by force.
The attorney general had come down from
London 10 prosecute on behalf OF the crown
and the counsePs seats were so closely packed
that no one could STIR except those engaged in
the case.
The jury looked grave and hal-trig htened.
The judge was pale, and more scrous-lookiug
than usual; and as tor me- l felt sick at heart,
and when the uneasy kind OF hush that pre-
Vaded the court let me know that Anna Heri.
tage was placed at the bar, it was some few
moments before l could muster up courage TO
look al her. How pale, how wan, and yet how
beautiful she looked.
Her fair hair was dressed in the most simple
style possible, and she wore dress OF gray
silk, which fitted closely around the neck, ter
mnatng in narrow plated trili. Her lips
behind then abundant lashes as she net the
gaze OF friend and foe in that crowded court
that is, if one so young, se fair, and SO lnnO-
cent could have foe.
/ could see the judge taking long look at
her beneath his bent-down brows and then lie
rested his head on his hands, and appeared in
deep thought The attorney general tossed
scrap of paper over the table to me. 1t con
tanned these words
''The witness Brown has ahsconded make
what use oil the TACT you can"
| nodded gratefully, and felt that he would
only just do his duty against the prisoner.
Then there WAS strange, half sigh half
hush all through the auditory, and lady in
deep mourning came into the court. 1t was the
bereaved mother, She went direct to the
front of the dock, where her sister ar
raigned on SO dreadful charge, and leaned
over the front OF it, with both arms extended,
as she cried
"Dear, dear Anna, God bless you, and prove
your innocence, as feel 1t y
Anna was overcome by this, and she burst
into a shrieking passion OF sobs and tears.
The sisters could only just interlace their
arms together, and there they remained for
some moments, until the judge said, in a
deep, sad voice =
".fhis must not be. Proceed, proceed"
The clerk of arraigns, in high cracked,
ment and Rachel sat down III chair that
some one had placed for her just beneath the
dock.
Poor Annals forttude seemed wholly to
have given away. Her fair face was hidden in
her hands, and resting on the front of the bar.
1t was fashion to place row of aromatic
herbs on the bar before the prisoner in those
days, and among them she leaned and some
of them, watered by her tears, iell upon her
sisters lap as she sat beneath.
Then came the question, Prisoner at the
bar, do you plead guilty or not guilty to the
present indictment z"
Anna did not stir. The poor girl had not
heard the question, but her sister rose, and IN
a mild, clear voice, said =
''She is not guilty, sirs. He was my little
one. lie is in heaven now, and if you take
her life she will go to him sooner than |, and
be happy She is not guilty, sirs.
The governor of the Jail had by this time
logged Anna by the arm, and whispered TO
her, when she looked up hastily and said, 80,
no, no, no thousand times no 7!
"'rhe plea is, not guilty" said the judge;
$50 enter it"
The attorney general rose. The court was
hushed. l never took my eyes of his for one
moment while he spoke
My lord and gentlemen of the jury, the
prisoner at the bar, Anna Domer Heritage, is
on her trial for the murder OF Ernest Seaton.
Ii she be guilty, it is guilt which casts the
shadow of Its terrible atrocity over every
hearth in England if innocent, she is piece
OF suffering virtue which l impIore heaven to
protect. | am here to perform duty, not 10
advocate cause. God forbid that by one