The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-20
x MIDNIGHT RIDE.
THE TIMELY EVIDENCE OF BROWN,
THE DOCTOR.

"What that man said Is true, my lord; that
child | carried. l am Brown the Doctor,
Brown Of Beaconstield:" and as the murmur
of approval which rang through the court
was promptly checked, the one who had
spoken pushed his way to the witness-box,
and then. by his lordship's permission, went
into it, and all eyes were turned to him.
He was short. stout, resolute looking
man, In appearance SO, but whose age was 81 |;
and he had good, frank fiorid face, and dark
gray eyes. Coolly surveying the crowded
court in front OF him he took the oath as he
removed his gloves, and answered to his
name; and then, as unembarrassed In man
ner as though he had made the simplest
statement possible, he passed his hand
through his brown hair and looked at his
lordship.
"That's the man. sir said the prisoner to
his counsel, land he rode Cob
sSilence." cried the Judge, as those in the
court approved, and the windows ratified as
the dust rose up again-the dust from the
crowded street, where hundreds waited.
1t was a blowing, gusty day, Friday, the
fifth of March, the second day OF the Lent
asszes; and the spacious court In the country
town was completely filled with people,
townsfolk and countrymen, who, in spite Of
close packing and Increased discomfort, had
kept their places there for many hours, wait
Ing for the conclusion of the trial, In which
the majority of those there were deeply in
terested-the trial of Ralph Perks, the
poacher and against whom true bill had
been returned for the willful murder OF Wal
ter White, the keeper-keeper to Sir Norman
Digby, OF Beckton Hall-who. few months
previously, had been found In the Home wood,
shot through the chest.
The evidence that was then brought against
the prisoner was purely crcumstantial; but
it seemed conclusive, and he was committed
to jail to await his trial on the full charge.
But In short time he escaped by the con
nivance, as 1t was thought, of one of his
jailers, man who was known to him, and it
was only within week Of the commencement
OF the assizes that he had been retaken.
He was a 1.-the, wtry, dark-eomplexoned
man, thirty years of age, and by trade q
blacksmith and, although his poaching pro
pensities were well known to all, his trade
stuck to him, for he was not only the best
sheer for miles round his own neghborhood
and shod all the hunting horses" but he
was jack-of-al-trades and clever at most
things from locks and clocks to brass work,
bells and baskets; and at the latter, no mat
ter what they were, useful or fanciful, no
basket maker could beat him. Hence, being
able to turn his hand to 50 many pursuits,
his services were much sought after, for
whatever was needed In the mending line,
Ralph. the "handy man." was the man sent
for.
He was good mole-man, too, and useful
to the farmers; crack fisherman, and OF
service to the villagers; famous runner,
and hence great with hounds.
1t was this latter quality which contributed
SO much to his popularity with those whose
horses he shod, and with the huntsmen gen.
orally; for, as he was always present during
the season, at every meet within distance,
had much hunt knowledge, and kept well
with hounds, his ringing "Gone away!"w which
made the woodlands echo IS the fox broke
cover, was always listened for, for 1t was ever
reliable; "RaIph the Runner" being an old
hand at woodcraft, and SO well versed In vul-
pine tactics that, unless the fox went out at
one end as the hounds came in at the
other Ralph was the man to see him; and as
he never gave tongue till the varmint was
well away, and the hounds on a line with
him, each man then gripped his reins as he
heard him, and galloped his hardest.
Such voice as Ralph had for a shout
loud, clear and ringing-few men had; it was
apiercer, like the voice of the famed Tom
Moody, and as most OF the woods In that
part OF the country--West Worcestershire
were thick, dense and tangled, when he was
out 1t was gain for the lost ones, many of
whom would frequently have missed the
hounds altogether had not his rafting .GOne
away. which could be heard from one end OF
the wood to the other, proclaimed "a view,"
and plloted them into the open.
, He was a pleasant, merry fellow; ever
CHEEKY and always civil ready to help those
who came to grief, and willing to aid the dis
tressed ones Tor no matter what was the
form it took or what was the special diff
Guilty whether the catching of horses, the
lifting OF beavers, the pulling out of stakes,
or the slipping of puzzle-locks Ralph
but at hand it was done with; and though
many a coin was thrown to him he never
waited for it; his work once over, his place
was with the hounds; and as he could run
ana leap better than most men he was never
Tar behind them.
he was a very useful man. too among the
cattle, and also among the horses, as he un-
ueIstood their ailments and was up to doc
lo:lllng them; and he was clever as breaker
MIN young horses, as he had a good seat,
sUua names. nrm nerve and plenty of pa
Mite SO ne soon made them fit and handy
Ra M sne people 81 his hamlet-the hamlet of
troha. was great favorite and at the
tiyals Rain etuo walks, village feasts and fes-
had fddia .n as lne main man there; for he
~ sllong ~ ligs and dances. ana his "a a
;nr,n;n iea.s among the Far Foresters in
ling wara iIunnng quoit-pitching and wrest-
ling he wac a.,,n loI !- niles round. In wrest-