Litchfield enquirer., 1872-01-25

f :.
 lated with his usual 'minuteness and pre-
 cision as many if the foregoing particu-
 lars as he knew and thought proper to | indebted to Subsequent conversations
 with the diiTerent parties concerned. l Well, ,, said 4. as soon as he had con-
 cluded, .'what coarse do you propose to l adopt ?' -.s
 s.sI uissz ro.s so apply, on this affidavit, fera a writ of habe0s ud su6., to bring up the body of Clara Brandon Judge l Bailey will be at chambers at three o'clock 1t Is now more than half-pasttwo 1 and can be of on my return by four at the latest.''
 ''A writ of habeasr' I exclaimed with astonishment 'sWhy, what end can that
 answer. The lady will be remanded, and you and shall be laughed at for our pains
 This writ of hGbeas corpus "Gd sat6jici- e'aduns," l had better explain to the non- professional reader, is the great preroga-
 tiVe writ, the operation of which is some times suspended by the legislature during political panics. It is grounded on the principle that the sovereign has at all times right to inquire, through the
 judges of the superior courts, by what au-
 thority his or her subject is held in con- straint. It issues, as a matter of right, upon the filing of an. affidavit, averring
 that to the best of the belief of the depo-
 nent the individual sought to be brought up is illegally confined and it is of the essence of proceeding, that the person al- legged to be suffering unlawful constraint
 should actually be brought be brought
 before the tqueen herself ; that is before one or more of the judges of the court which has issued the writ, who, if they find the detention 5tlegal, the only ques- tion at issue upon this writ, may discharge or bail the party. It was quite obvious, therefore, that in this case such a proceed ing would be altogether futile, as the de- tention in the house of her guardian, un- der the sanction, too, of the lord chancel-
 Tor, the er-o6iciO custodian of all lunatics of ward of alleged disordered intel- lect-was clearly legal, at least 21rina ta-
 cie 80, and not to be disturbed under
 hGbeas 0d sad. at all events.
 Perhaps so" replied Ferret quite cool ly in reply to my exclamation ''but am
 determined to try every means of releas- ing the unfortunate young lady from the cruel thraldom i'll which she is held by that harridan of an aunt-in-law. She is
 no more really insane than you are but at the same time so exciteable upon cer- tain topics, that it might be perhaps diff
 cult to disabuse the chancellor or a jury of the impression so industriously propa-
 gated to her prejudice. The peremptory rejection by her guardian of young Bur fOrd's addresses, though sanctioned by
 her father; you know the Burfords ?'' 'Of Grosvcner Street you mean-the East India director ?''
 "Yes, his son and that reminds me that the declaration in that everlasting exchequer case must be filed tomorrow. Confound it, how this flying about the country puts one out 1 thought some one had kidnapped her son, or fired Compton Castle at least. By the way, I am much deceived if there isn't awedding there before long"
 "Indeed p
 ssYes, Miss Dalston with Sir Jasper's
 eldest hope" "You don't mean it ?"
 "IHey do at all events, and that is much more to the purpose. A fine young fellow enough, and sufficiently rich too"- s'Al which rambling talk anecdote, !" cried I, interrupting him, ''means, if I have any skill in reading Mr. Ferret, that that gentleman, having some ulterior pur pose in view, which cannot for the mo- ment divine, is determined to have this writ, and does not wish to be pestered with any argument on the subject. Be it so; it is your affair, not mine. And now, as it is just upon three o'clock, let me see your affidavit"
 ran it over Rather loose this, Mr. Ferret, but suppose it will do." ''Well, it is rather loose, but could ok fak ko %bo wind. By the by, think you had better against the bail in that case of Turner i; and after that is decided, just ask for this writ, of-hand as it were, and as matter of course. His lordship may not then scrutinize the affidavit quite so closely as I if he thought counsel had been brought to chambers purposely to apply for it.. Cautious, MT. Ferret! We'll, come
 along, and I'll see what can do" The writ was obtained without difficult ! ty few questions were asked :; and at my request the judge made 1t returnable immediately. By four o'clock, MT. Fer ret, who could fortunately sleep as well in postchaise as in feather-bed, was, as he had promised himself, on his road to Lancashire once more, where he had the pleasure of serving Major Brandon per
 sonally; at the same time rendering in due form the one shilling per mile fixed 1 by the statute as preliminary charges. The vituperative eloquence showered up- on MT. Ferret by the Majors lady was, I afterwards heard, extremely copious and varied, and was borne by him, as I could ! easily believe, with the most philosophic composure.
 In due time the parties appeared before MT. Justice Bailey. Miss Brandon was accompanied by her uncle, his wife, and a \ solicitor; and spite of everything I could urge, the judge, as had foreseen, refused to interfere in the matter. The poor girl
 was dreadfully agitated, but kept, never theless. her eyes upon MT. Ferret, as the source from which, spite of what was pass ing around her, effectual succor was sure to come. As for that gentleman himself, he appeared composedly indifferent to the proceedings; and indeed, thought, seem ed rather relieved than otherwise when they terminated. Icould not comprehend
 him. Mrs. Brandon, the instant the case l was decided, clutched Clara's arm within
 hers, and, followed by her husband and
 the solicitor, sailed out of the apartment l with an air of triumphant disdain and pride. Miss Brandon looked round for Ferret, but not percely1ng hlm-he nad left hastily an instant or two before-her
 face became deadly pale, and the most pit
 eous expression of hopeless despair I had ever beheld broke from her troubled but
 singularly expressive eyes. Imechanical-
 ly followed, with half-formed purpose of
 demonstrating with Major Brandon in be-
 half of the unfortunate girl, and was by
 that means soon in possession of the key | HF~ lxr Ia conduct. a
 The Braudon party walked very fast, and I had scarcely got up with them as they were turning out of Chancery Lane into Fleet Street, when two men, whose
 vocation no accustomed eye could for an instant mistake, arrested their further
 sby toncbny Miss sld Brandon ons oa tne
 the shoulder, ''is, I believe. Clara Bran | don ?"
 l ssYes she is; and what of that, fellow ?''