The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-03-11
BIRDS OF PREY
OR
FOR LOVE AND GOLD.
BY WELDON J. COBB, JR.
CHAPTER LIV.


I
] from one end to the other one beautiful
morning in the 81 ring time, when the in
teiligenve was communicated by the morn
| ing press, that the defaulttr, Cecil Es-
mond. had been arrested in Australia and
returned to England. Then came a sec
ond rumor that the ex Secretary of tn /.
Australian Gold Mining Company who
had So slngularly disappeared some time
before, was with the defaulter, aud was
IN some degree responsible for his arrest.
Then was made public the fact that
! there were certain others with the party
who would disclose some very startling
facts and there was the statement also
rumored that the kidnapped daughter of
Sir Edward Berton had returned to
| London.
The excitement was intensified as the
story became more known, and it was not
until a week after the arrival Of the vessel
bearing the party from Australia, that
affairs settled down to a firm basis again
Then it became known that Cecil Esmond
had been arrested upon again setting his
foot upon English soil Tie had been
placed upon heavy bail, and his cousin
Eugene FabeT, and Bill Forrest. we're in
pris IN awaiting trial
So complicated was the entire affair, that
its unraveing seemed a long labor. But
Ehen il became known that day for the
trial had been set, the facts Of the case
were dlvulged
There were TO We two 'rIals.
One against Cecil Esmond for the issu-
ing Of the fraudulent bonds and for swind-
ling. The other against Eugene Faber
Tor bigamy.
Aside from this, Bill Forrest was held
in person as an escaped convict
Sir Edwin Berton was joyous over the
return Of his daughter and he listened to
her story with glowing regard for Cecil
EsmOnd and an unmtigated hatred for
Eugene Faber, who had so basely betrayed
his trust The topic Of London conversa-
tion was this most singular affair, it being
talked Of almost everywhere.
- spite Of the belief popular IN the city,
Cecil Esmond or Raymond I'VE shall how
ever no longer call him bv that appella-
tive), worked upon his defense in an IN
dustrious and spirited way. He knew that
he would be in a manner person whose
entire cause was prejudlced; the belief
was that the fraudulent bonds issued had
not only been issued by Cecil Esmond,
but that the funds raised on the bonds
had been used by that person. so the
feeling against Cecil Esmond was quite
prejudicial to his best interests
On Eugene Faber opinion was divided.
Some maintained his guilt. while others
as firmly asserted his innocence, alleging
an intention to divert public attention
from himself as the cause Of his arrest by
Esmond and his friends.
So che day Of the trial was finally reach
ed, and the crowded court room was filled
with large assemblage of interested and
curious auditors.
The case of the Crown rs Cecil Esmond,
the ex-President Of the Australian Gold
Mining Company, charged with swindling
and felonious attempt to utter, circulate
and issue fraudulent and unauthorized
bonds, and for embezzlement Of the same
was called.
Cecil Esmond was placed in the felon's
dock.
Bill Forrest and Eugene Faber, released
temporarily from confinement for the rea-
son that they might have their testimony
taken, were in court.
The charges of swindling, the false issue
Of bonds, and embezzlement of the pro-
ceeds Of these bonds, were all combined in
one single charge, and the prisoner was
required to plead to the charge Of the issue
of the fraudulent bonds.
Entirely contrary to the custom Of pris-
oners when arraigned, the prisoner at the
bar remains I'd silent.
IF it please your Lordship, said the
attorney for the defence, arising, Il de-
desire to enter the plea of not guilty for
the defendant, he refusing to plead"
The formalities Of the opening of the
court we're then attended to, and the
suit proceeded.
The case Of the Crown rs Esmond, in
which the defendant is accused Of the issu-
ing Of fraudulent bonds of the Australian
Gold Mining Company, has now been
reached" said the counsellor for the
Crown. ''The evidence We propose to offer
will tend to show that the prisoner in his
capacity of President of that company,
committed a felony by issuing bonds to
the amount of ten thousond pounds, unse-
cured by authorization from the auditor,
and illegally. The bonds were numbered
from the numbers Ill to 120 inclusive,
and having since been taken up, will be
shown at this trial"