Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-09-15

But to DO this he was compelled to shi.t
the umbrella from his right hand 10 his
left. The moment of the transierence was
enough for me. Before the fingers OF ais
LETT hand could close, had seized the um'
brela, and the next moment was dasllrg
modly across Trafalgar Square IN the d.
rsction OF the Haymarket.
C.ere was a sudden connection behind
me connection which soon swelled into
an uproar; | needed 1t no further than to
turn halt round, in order to let Sprucing-
ton see who | was, and to flourish in the
ar my umbrella. Tut the Uproar did not
relax; on the contrary, it began 70 shape
Itself into words. Hoarse shouts Of 'stop
taief!' followed me as | flew up the steps
at the further end CT the square. The
cries still ringing in my ears, | dashed
heter-skelter passed the College OF Ply
sicians and Colnaghi's print'shop TIL |
came to the corner Of Suffolk street. Here
/ was brought up "all standing by an iron
grippe upon the collar from behind. Iurn-
ing round, | found myself in the custody
of policeman.
In the usual brief space Of time the ID
eYitahle London crowd assembled about
us. I vas regarded with curiosity, loaded
with reproaches, and favored with wit Of
an extremely personal nature, al at the
same moment. This bore with patience
il net with good humor, convinced that on
the arrival of Sprucington | should get
clear Of my tormenters. Presently lane
was made for the approach OF the owner
Of the stolen property. Judge Of my hor.
ror on percelging that the painting iudi-
yidual who made his appearance was q
total stranger to me!
OF course all my p<otestations Of inno-
cence were OF no avail, and Twas treated II
the manner described il the commence
meat
Chatter, clash, rumble, bang! The cell
door closed upon me, and | was prisoner
The gloom was so great, that though it
was daylight, | could at first distinguish
nothing. Gradually became aware that
| was IN narrow, yaulted room, az strong
as brick and iron could make it. HALF
way up the walls WIS woodan wainscot-
ing, and round two sides could dimly see
a low bench, barely two feet from floor
which was inch deep in sawdust. The
iron door of this delightful apartment was
of great thickness, disclos!ug-about five
feet from the gr0und-a small grating Of
round holes. BY pressing my face against
this grating, l could see INTO the corridor
without But the only view obluuable
was ground. glass window opposite, IL
Illuminated by the last lingering rays Of the
setting sur. 1t was altogether most de-
pressing place. The flavor suggested 10
me was combined one made up Of the
condemned cell N NeTgete the dungeons
Of the BastIle, ana the Spanish lnqalsltloA
Occasional grufI voices ana heavy footsteps
IN the corridor deepened the impression
A mouse ia trap was a king to me.
Then | began TO thinE seriously OF my
situation That | had committed felony
there coUld not be tie least doubt, though
with no felonious intention. would the
magistrate believe ny explanations Sure
", my manner and appearance were not
those OF pick. But my heart sank with
in ME as ] remembered that tbs London
swen.mob are known to be the cleyerest
actors in the world-in fact, can initiate
to perfection any class .! society.
My emily hope was IN Sprucington. He
yonid be OF material assistance in clearing
no the mystery And yet that umbrella
| could have sworn it to belong to none
other but hel However ! had dispatched
messengers to him, my employer and my
friends, therefore, tho only thing to be
done WAS to wait patiently u-tll the morn
ing.
spare you description Of that night
of horror, for such it was to one who had
never before suffered az hours deprivation
of liberty-how the monotony Of the long
long hours was broken at intervals by the
appearance at the grazing Of stern helm
eted visage, demanding whether "ali' was
right how at 1 O'Clock IN the afternoon
| two fellow .isoners, III the shapes Of a
/ drunken 5cavenger ana ,le' erter from the
| Roval artillery, were thrust into the cell
I or how IN the morning all the cells were
I emptied, and we, the occupants, with
| aching bones, unwashed and unkempt,
/ we're paraded through the streets ia mel.
ancholy string, to an adjacent police
court.
Fortunately my case came On early, sc
/ that had not long to wait among tie
crowd Of dnty, disreputable d5teuS, eaoh
guarded by constable, who filed an OFT
er room,
At the cry OF Charles Blank y Il shEd-
dered 10 hear my name IN such place
aud my attendant policeman marched IL.
to the court. The jaiior, a big, barry,
baldheaded, gilt-buttoned person, placed
me in the dock. At the same moment the
prosecutor entered the wi!uess.boX 10 b,
sworn He was a piggish-looking man o
about torty-fye, and no more like Nee
Spruciugton in front than was like til,
Monument
In a few Cam, well-cAosen words he da
scribed the whole occurrence. When ht
: had finished, | was told that could pu
= any questions 70 him that | thought pro
per. ! declined to do So. Then, after hi
evidence bad been confirmed by the Con
stable who arrested me, the magistrate --
, an amable.looking old gentlgmau-af&ai
! me, well, my friend, Wis have you /,
say to this? '
In reply, I gave the same simple, ulvar
1 nished statement which had given at III,
y police station
+ That's all very well as far as il gees
y but have you any witnesses as to char
+" acter {"
! eyes, sir-Nlr Edward Spruciug.0n.