The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-06-13
LLOYD PENNANT;
A Tale of the West of Ireland.
Chapter vII.-Con.inued.
BY RALPH NEVILLE, ESQ.

Chapter vII.--Continued
When the assizes were approaching, the.
colonel wrote to Capt Beaumont, requesting
him. in case the surgeon was not summoned oy
the crown, to send him forward by the day
named in the public papers for their com
mencemeut, and enclosing a check TO uetray
his expenses to the county town, where ne
stT0utt DC whiting to receive hIta5-
- Pincher Martin escort ed-his- Uastey noEY-tte=
-Haa-LHstice BlatherMell, to the bsneh:
On the opening of the commission; the heart
of the Judge swelled with pride as he glanced
at the ermfne which hung from his shoulders
saw his son, 90 the member" stand forward to
be sworn as foreman of the grand jury, and his
nephew, wand in hand, majesttcally seated III
his box for the time being the most potent
parsonage of the county. But nevertheless,
the high sheriff experienced considerable NOR.
LITIGATION, for few representatlyeAo Oh tne olu
families attended to his summons, and it was
with difficulty that the legal humber OF duly
qualified persons could be collected to transact
the public business under the presidency OF
their new and unpopular representative Col.
Blake was excused from serving, rs lie must
appear witness in the murder case, ana
thus avoided all contact with tie family CIR
Gle. The first and second day of the assiZes
We're passed, but the surgeon had not yet ar
rived. On the third, the crown counsel APP
piled to have the trial fixed for the following
morning. For fear of any surprise, the colonel
went early to court, leaving Mike at the nm
with directions to fetch the doctor into court
the instant he made his appearance.
AT the appointed hour the judge took ms
scat, and Richard johnson was arraighed Tor
the murder of James Bradley, while the most
important witness was still absent. The pris-
.-Dner pleaded mot guilty" and then leaned
carclessly upon the dock, apparently iaborIng
under no apprehension as to the result. The
crown prosecutor, who seemed perfectly iSn1oo-
rant of the case, glanced hurriedly over his
brief as he proceeded, and concluded ram
bling and incouclusive statement by telling
the jury, in hackneyed phrases, That if any
doubt should rest upon their minds, after hear
ing the evidence he about to produce
they Were bound to give the prisoner the ben
eft Of it, Gu his cross examination, CO:
Blake admitted that Bradley died before n
could name the crime of which he evidentl.
intended to denounce johnson as the perpe
traitor. 1t might just well have been tn
murder of any one else as of himself. No othe
witness being produced on the part OF tn
prosecution, counsel fer-Aefense in length
argument insisted that there was no case to &
to the jury against his client. The Judg
seemed staggered by the arguments adduced
support his views, and said it was astonishln
that more care had not been bestowed on ge
ting up serious case: A MOST impOrtaI
wtt9ess, the surgeon of the Snip, was NJ
bru&ght forward at all. (Crown counsel IL
terrupted to say they could not find him
And, in fact, gentlemen of the jury, great
fear that must direct an acquittal on Il