Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-19
An Extraordinary Trial.

Many years ago gentleman, followed by n
servant in livery, rode into an inn in the west
part of England one evening, little before
dark. He told the landlord that he should he
detained by business in that part of the country
for few days, and wished 10 know il there
were any amusements going on in the town to
ill up the intervals of time. The landlord re-
piled that it was their race and assize week, and
that he would, therefore, be at no loss to pass
away the time. On the gentleman's making
answer that this was lucky, for that he was fond
of seeing trials the other said that very inter
esting trial for robbery would come on the next
day, on which peoples opinions were much di-
vided, the evidence being very strong against
the prisoner; but be himself persisted re7olutey
in declaring that he was in Il distant part of the
country at the time the robbery was committed.
His guest manifested considerable anxiety to
hear the trial; but, as the court would probably
be crowded, expressed some doubt of getting a
place. The landlord told him that there could
be no difficulty in gentleman of his appear
ance getting place; but, to prevent any acct
dent, ne would himself go with him, and speak
to the sheriff.
Accordingly, they went into court the next
morning, and the gentleman was shown to a
seat on the bench Shortly after, the trial COM
menced. While the evidence was giving against
him, the prisoner had remained with his eyes
fixed on the ground, seemingly very much de-
pressed, till being called on for his defense, he
looked up, and seeing the stranger, he suddenly
tainted away. This excited some surprise, and
it seemed at first like a trick 10 gain time. As
soon as he came to himself, ON being asked
by the judge the cause of his behavior he
said:
ooh, my lord, l see person who can save my
life! That gentleman" pointing to the stran-
ger, "can prove am Innocent might only
have leave to put few ques tions to him
The eyes of the court were now turned on the
| gentleman, who said he felt in a very awkward
| situation to be called upon, as he did not rcmem-
| Der ever to have seen the man before, but that
| he would answer any question that was asked
| him.
"Well, then" said the man, 'don't you re-
member landing at Dover at such a time%
To this the gentleman answered that he chad
| landed at Dover not long before, but that he
could not tell whether ii was on the day he men
toned or not"
'Wel," said the prisoner, 'but don't you re-
| collect that person in blue jacket and trOus-
| ers carried your trunk to the imp
To this he answered that, of course, some per
son had carried his trunk for him, but that he
did not know what dress he wore.
But said the prisoner, don't you remem-
! Der that the person who went with you from the
packet told you story of his being in the SER
vice, that he thought himself an iIl-uSed man,
| and that he shOwedyou scar he had on one side
| of his loreheadH
During this last question, the countenance of
| the stranger underwent a considerable change.
stance; and, on the mans putting his hair aside,
and showing the scar, he became quite sure that
he was the same person.
A buzz OF satisfaction now ran through the
court, for the day on which, according TO the
prisoners account, this gentleman had met with
him at Dover, was the same on which he was
charged with robbery in remote county. The
stranger, however, could not be certain of the
time, but said that he sometimes made a mem
orandum of dates in his pOcket-book, and might
possibly have done so on this occasion. On
turning to his pocket-bool he found memo
randum of the time he landed from Calais,
which correspondent with the prisoners asser-
ton. This being the only circumstance neces-
sary to prove the albi, the prisoner was imme-
diately acquitted, amid applause and congratu-
lations.
Within less than month after this, the gem
tleman who came to the inn, attended by a SER
want in livery the servant who followed him,
and the prisoner who had been acquitted, were
all three brought back together to the same
jail, for robbng the mail.