The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-01-17
full half hour, and it was only quelled by

Aho oeoiucy -Schcioi uou Sono WV"
London to prosecute on behalf of the crown;
and the counsel's seats were so closely packed
that no one could stir, except those engaged
in the case.
The jury looked grave and halffrightened'
The judge was pale, and more serious look
ing than usual and as for mo, felt sick at
heart, and when the uneasy kind of hush
that pervaded tho court let me know that
Anna Heritage was placed at the bar, 1t was
some few moments before / could muster uT
courage to look at her. How pale, how
wan, and yet how beautiful she looked!
Her fair hair was dressed in the mos,
simple style possible, and she wore dress Of
gray silk, which fitted closely around the
neck. terminating in narrow plated frill.
Her lips trembled, and her gentle eyes seemed
to shrink behind their abundant lashes as she
she met the gaze of FREUD and foo in that
crowded court that is, II one 50 young, SC
fair and 80 innocent could have foe.
Icould SEQ the judge taking q long look q,
her beneath his bent-down brows, and then
he rested his head ON his hands, and appeared
in deep thought. The encouragement
tossed scrap of paper over tho table to me,
II contained these words:
The witness Brown has absconded make
what use you can Of the fact!
nodded gratefully, and felt that he would
only just do his duty against the prisoner.
Then there was strange half sigh, hall
hush, all through the auditory, and n lady
in deep mourning came into the court. II
was the bcrcayed mother. She went direct
to the front of the dock, where her sister was
arrigncd on so dreadful q 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 it =
Anna was overcome by this, and she burst
into shrieking passion Of sobs and tears
The sisters could just intcrlace their arms
together, and there they remaincd for some
moments, until the judge said, in a deep, sad
voice:
This must not bc. Proceed, proceed
The clerk of arraigns, in high, cracked,
Indifferent voice, proceeded torcad the indict-
ment, and Rachel sat down in chair that
some one had placed for her just beneath the
dock.
Poor.Anna's fortitude seemed wholly to
have giveti way. Her fair face was hidden
in her hands, and resting on the front of the
bar. Il 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, fell
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 indictment2'
Anna did not stir. The poor girl had moi
heard the question but her sister rose, and
in mild. clear voice, said:
She is not guilty, sirs. lie was my little
one, He is in heaven now, and If you take
her life she will 90 to him sooner than l, ant
bc happy. She is not guilty, sirs.'
The governor of the Jail had by this tim,
logged Anna by the arm, and whispered t.
her, when she looked up hastily and said
"Oh no-no-no! q thousand times, no y
The plea is mot guilty. said the judge
80 enter it,
The attorney. general rose. The court wal
hushed. never took my eyes of his for ont
moment while ho spoke.
MY Lord, and gentlemen Of thcjury-th'
prisoner at the bar, Anna Domer Heritage
is on her trial for the murder Of Ernest Sea-
ton. If she be guilty, it is guilt which
casts the shadow Of its terrible atrocity ovel
every hearth in England; II innocent shc Il
a piece Of suffering virtue which implort
Heaven to protect. am here to perform q
duty not to advocate q cause. God forbit
that by one word, one look, ono tone or Ges
ture, should seek to color fact or inaam,
your passions. wishto bo the mouthpicc,
of narrative merely; you are the judges,
The present respected high sheriff of tn,
country is S.r Ralph Heritage, Of Heritage
Hall. IIe had brother who married and
went to reside in Ceylon with his wife and
two infant daughters. One of these daugh,
ters, in the course Of years, was there mar.
ricd to Mr.. Seaton, young merchant. Hc
died, leaving her widow with child-thc
murdered Ernest Eaton referred to in the in.
dictmcnt against the prisoner now on trial,
The brother Of Sir Ralph Heritage died Of
Ceylon, soon after the death Of his wife, and
the two daughters were alone, one widow
with her infant son-the other, the prisoner
at the bar. They communicated with their
uncle, Sir Ralph Heritage, who sent them q
kind invitation to come to him, intimating,
at the same time, that he would make hi.
rrandnephcw, Ernest Scaton, his heir. They
came-the child, the mother, and tho young