The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-29

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sell him (Blundell) out before long. The
witness was greatly agitated by this expo
sure of his affairs and so flercely was he
pressed by the Jealous counsel for nearly
an hour of merciess cross-examination, that
he could scarcely stand when told to leave
the witness-box.
81 have to request, my lord" said the
prisoners counsel "that the last witness
be not permitted to leave the court-for
the present at least" The judge nodded
assent, and couple of javelin-men placed
themselves by the side of the nervous and
terrified Blundell. The case for the Crown
having closed, and, no speech in those days
being allowed to be made by reputed
felon's counsel, witnesses for the defense
were at once called. "Call Thomas AL
dous," said Richard Penson, to the crier of
the court, and presently Thomas Aldous,
middle-aged, gold-spectacled gentleman, of
highly-respectabl aspect, presented HIM
self in the witness-box.
you are the proprietor, believe, Mr..
Aldous" said the prisoners counsel, "of
an extensive pawnbroking establishment in
London?" ti
"Well, Sir" replied the witness, az
can not say mine is an extensive establish
ment, but it is, am bold to say, respect
able one, and situate not in London proper,
but in the Blackfriars Road, Southwark"
"No matter you have been within the
last few days in communication with re-
spect to an advertised gold watch, with
the attorney for the prisoner, Mr. Pen
sonp"
"I have"
"Do you produce the watch in ques-
tionp"
81 do here it is. 1t was pawned with
me" added the scrupulous witness, refresh
ing his memory by a glance at the dupli-
cate, con the 18th of February last, for
e1O and the address given, No. 8, Lambeth
Walk, is, have since ascertained, q ficti-
tious one."
"Will the brother of the deceased, who
has already been sworn" said the examin-
ing barrister, shave the kindness to look
at this watch ?''
Mr.. James Masters did so, and identified
it as belonging to his brother, and worn
by him at the time of his death.
"Should you be able, Mr.. Aldous," con-
tinued the counsel, "to recognize the per-
son who pawned the watch?"
"I should have no difficulty in doing
So" said the pretended Aldous, "although
it was just between the lights when the
man, middle-aged, stoutish person, came
to my shop, as he not only had peculiar
cast in his eyes, but that once or twice,
when handkerchief which he held to his
face, supposed in consequence of tooth
ache, slipped aside, noticed large, bright,
red stain, either from scrofula, or a natural
mark across his lower jaw"
AS this acknowledgements description
of Blundell left the witnesses lips, every eye
in court was turned upon that astounded
individual the javelin-men drew back with
instructive aversion from in front of him,
and he, as if impelled by a sympathetic
horror of himself, shrieked out, "Thats
me he means me oh God p "That is
the man." promptly broke in the pawn
broker, 81 should know him among mil
lion." This was too much for Blundell
he strove to grasp out fierce denial, but
strong emotion choked his utterance, and
he fell down in fit, from which he did not
entirely recover for some hours, then to
find himself in close custody upon sus-
picion of being the assassin of Robert Mas
ters
The proceedings in court need not be
further detailed the prosecution had, Of
course, irretrievably broken down, and
there was nothing for, it but to formally
acquit the prisoner who was at once dis
charged, and the crowded court was i'm
mediately cleared of the excited auditory,
numerous groups Of whom remained for
long afterward in the streets, eagerly can
vassing the strange issue of the trial AS
Richard Penson left the court, scrap of
paper was slipped into his hand, upon
which was scrawled in pencil, and in dis
guised hand, "Thanks-a thousand thanks
--but no harm must come to poor b..
You shall hear from me in a few days at
Liverpool. j."
AS soon as Blundell could collect his scat
tered thoughts and advise with lawyer,
there was found to be no difficulty in estab-
fishing an ali6i, that on the day of the pre-
tended pawning he was in his own home at
Bedstone, and he was conditionally liberia
ted. Inquiries were next set on foot re-
specting Mr.. Aldous, and as no such person