The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-10-28
Nsrning Star and Catholic Messenger.


eome further remarks, he proceeded to call
Thomas Rogers. -
With sandy hair and light grey eyes, already |
known to the reader a. the brother OF Ed WARD |
Rogers. He looked somewhat abashed as ne |
Hrst entered the witness box, put assumed
nnnotimopous air as no listened to the admin |
istration of the oath, and heartily pressed his |
Inns upon tho Bible, lifting mp his eyes to |
heaven in token OF prayer.
In reply to the counsel, he stated that he
knew the prisoner, that he had known him
when he himself was, alas! in the errors OF
Popery, from which he thanked God he was
now delivered; that he had seen him at Dis
fathers house perhaps two years ago. out ne
could not remember the exact time 1t was
late one night he went to confession to him,
and the next morning received the Sacrament
at his hands he c0uld-swear to having re-
ceived Communion in q wafer from him he
had seen him again, perhaps year ago, ut DIS
father-iu-law's house his father-in-lsw was
Papist and knew the prisoner, who came at
the request of the old man in order to convert
his mother-in-law who was Protestant
that he told her she could not be saved unless
she became Catholic, and that after wards ne
addressed him, the witness, and told him tina,
nnless be turned back from whence he mad
fallen he would be damned.
It Is impossible to peruse the reports OF the
criminal trials during the seventeenth century
without perceiviug that like every other de
tail of onr complicated system, 1t has been
wrought into its present equitable condition
by the Modifying influences Of civilization. in
and capricious control over the procedure
which left very little authority TO that stern
rule of precedent 80 lenient to the accused and
so iudulgent to the personal liberty OF English
men. 1t were to be wished that every prison
or should be defended by counsel, bnt in those
days none were suffered even to purchase that
privilege, and it was q theory of our law (too
often furgotten} that the judge was the natuF-
nj protector of the accused. In the present
instance it would appear as if the conDsel for
the Crown were suffered to examine all the
witnesses for tho prosecution before any OPP
portunity was granted to Father Joachim to
Dress examine them on his wn account.
The second witness called was ono Thomas
williams IN elderly man who had been stand-
ing by the witness box while tho former was
examined, and whose face was suffused with
tears, and who could not forDear sobbing all
the time the oath was being administered to
him. .,
said the counsel.
ITO my shame, I say it," quoth the old man,
"for he hath disgraoed bimself aud me by
striving to sw ear away the life of as innocent q
man a. ever bresthed, so help me God"
"Take heed, old man, what you say You
{" And thank God for it, and for being no
traitor to my faith"
"Come, master, the jury will know how
much credence to give to the words of a Papist.
You are sobbng like n fool. You should shed
tears of Joy to think that your son hath
the bondage Of y0qr PR
oon know the prisoner at the bari"
al know nothing against him, your honor
ard III swear that my son hath spoken nough1
but falsehoods in all that no hath said"
"Was this witness before the Grand Jury 7
asked the judge.
ayes, my lord, and they were for sending
him to prison for his Tecussncy, but never
theless they drew some admissions from him
"a from the other unwilling witnesses, auc
therefore have called him before your lord
'!Go on" said the Judge, land make him re
peat what he uttered before the Grand jury
Thereupon the counsel asked him whe:he
he had heard the prisoner read book.
ayes, tina Bible"
"Auy other book r
ayes, some other books, maybe, as well'
"'What booker
"The Protestant Common Prayer and Psac
tice of Pisty.'"
"On your oath, sirrah, was that alli'
"All remember"
Shave yon seen him pray"
"Yea"
"When he prayed what garments did h
wear3'
"He wore @ coat"
clad he not surpliceT
"No,"
Come, Won know we'll enough he had, an
md that you have seen him maasing toe
let him go to prison, he is an inoorrigible re
eusaut and deserves to be hung for a traitor
The gaoler may keep you until l call for 20
sgair."
The judge assented to this course and b
WAS taken of to the prison hard by.
The third witness called was none othe
naturally rather hard of hearing, but VIII
had caught cold prison which rendere
him extremely deaf. When he reached tn
witness-box he looked round and caught th
eye of Mistress Clara on the bench.
"Thia" said the counsel, isis another ur
willing witness who bath been brought hitht
by special warrant. i believe him to be We
ACC Hinted with the prisoner"
''Yon have sworn before the grand inquest
said tho cnnnsel after the prelimuar
questions, "tnat you know the prisoner Johr
son end hat you have heard him say prayer
What prayers were they 7"
"Hey y asked Adds, not seeming to unde
stand.
"Dd he pray in Latin or in English
shouted the counsel.
"I cannot tell"
"You we're not too deaf to hoar them, I'll b
sworn. Did he ever say any Latin prayers
You are on your oath and will be perjured
you answer nay, for you said anon before tn
jurors he had said both Latin and EnGiis
prayers in your hearing"
"Maybe he did, but cannot tell for certsiy
He may have sad neither for augbt conl
hear"
But though you feign deaf, you can Sc
as we'll as any of Now tell me- what 20
saw. What clothes had he on when he prsycd'