The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-20

asked his lordship, who seemed to doubt the
story told him, as did all there.
"He said my lord, Poor little wretch! But
it Is chance II we can do it, And then"
said Perks ;, "he put his horse into gailop
"What was the man like?' said the Judge,
after q pause in which incredulity was marked
on every face In court. could you see enough
OF him to make that out, eh2'
Partly my lore, partly was the prompt
reply; "for the rest of the hill dips down aud
as lay there In the ditch, he showed against
the sky, and they were pair Of 'em-a short
thick man and short thick horse
But the statement was too wild to be cred
ited-and all there felt that for any use it
would be to him it might as well have been
judge briefly alluded to this extraordinary
statement" by the prisoner of the man and
the baby, but without repeating the
words heard or the assertion that the clock
struck; and he said that it would be for the
jury themselves to decide whether or not such
an assertion, unsupported by the slightest
evidence, was worthy OF credence.
1t was at this particular point In his lord
ships address that DR.. Brown came into
court and startled all there by his exclama-
ton:
"What that man said is true, my lord; the
child / carried. ] am Brown. the Doctor
Brown, OF Beaconstield."
AS hush in court ensued at the cry of
"Silence" the greatest interest prevailed, and
all eyes were turned to the witness-box.
Now, sir" said his lordship, after the for
maities were over, 1--WE will hear the state
ment you have to make"
"Good, my lord" was the response: 'Shall
l reply seriatim to the questions asked me,
or, to save the time of your lordship and that
Of the jury, shall first state what have to
say, and then answer whatever questions may
-AaSl Il
I'VE will hear" said the Judge, "your own
statement first This man is charged with
murder. and he tells us-he pleads an alibi-
that as he lay in ditch on Furze hill on the
night in question, disabled by fall q man on
horseback passed him, and he had a baby
baby cry. Now, you say you were that man,
and that you carried child. Will you give
me the date of it?'
1T was toward the end OF November, my
was Tuesday; the last Tuesday in the
"What date was that? asked his lordsnip
turning to the counsel for the defense
But before he could reply his opponent, the
counsel for the prosecution said:
"The twenty-fourth my lord; date that
differs from the prisoners statement"
"Will you tell US, doctor" resumed the
Judge, not needing the remark, what time il
was when you rode up the hill-ean you re-
member
ayes, my lord, can. It was o'clock, fol
heard the clock strike as galloped up it
st. MichaeIs clock, that is just across the
water. It was damp and chilly morning
cold and foggy."
"Do you mean Tuesday night-or, rather
Wednesday morning.?
"No, my lord; Monday night on Tues
day morning. 1t was during the night OF
Monday, the twenty-third.'
"And how were you mountedP'
l,Io1ro nj hn afr,r
| my night horse"
$50 on, SIR" said his lordship, as the coun
sci looked at each other.
4 had been to 2 case, ny lord, and was
ayes. yes, Just So" his lordship inter
rupted. "But about this child. Tell us, vii
you, how it was that on this cold, damp, fog
| gy morning i'm that drearest OF months, YOU
were out In the open country galloping home
| with a baby 7"
mot home, not home, my lord; but OIL fol
| the forest
"To prevent murder
explain yourself" said the Judge, as {
buzz went round the court, and the people
| looked at each other.
IAN attempt had been made, my lord, OF
! the life of that child, which frustrated; but
as / knew the youDgster would be settled a:
soon as my back was turned, galloped OF
| with 1t to save 1t.
said. Now give us the circumstances; give
them in your own way"
| And as the one counsel looked confident
and the other bit his pen, Ralph, the pris
oner, drew himself up like a man who felt h'
should be righted, and the evidence was con
tinued:
son Monday night, the twenty third of No
vember, | was sent for, said the doctor, IA
6 o'clock, to go up into the forest to see {
child-a child Of two months old, who dice
lvxybt T T aft at q I got doNr
into the valley, and, clear OF the long steer
hill, was trotting on for home, three miles
from there, thought / heard q moan, and
stopping, listened. moan it was, my lord
so went on through the fog to where l heart
it-a by lane near that turns off from the road
Just by the milestone-and there found {
woman, p tramp, apparently, whobegged thai
/ would help her to some cottage, for reasons
which she gave me. "Cheer up said; 6.
| am just the man you want, for l am doctor
| and can see to you"
"A little way beyond us was hut a tum
bled-down affair, but it was that or none
The one who lived there-a vile old bag, ant
a reputed wtch-refused us entrance. :.
forced it, told her why, and did my duty. III
three hours afterward q child was born.
saved the child, but could not save thu
mother; she died soon after"
"Died from exhaustion p
"Yes my lord; though not as you infer. 1
was, in fact, one of those unfortunate case
where as too often occurs, it is as much as w
can do to save the child. Had she been {
lady in her own home, it would have been al
one with her; she would have had no more
chance. AS the child's life dawns, thu
mothers GIBBS away"
"Well my lord, the child was living anC
the mother dead and the old bag sat ant
cursed me, and refused to touch the child, OF
do one thing, though first [ promised pay
ment and then | threatened her, for she sale
the brat should bundle out before the morn
, ing-she would not have it there. So, finding
after repeated entreaties that there was N
time to be lost in the matter, |, Disguised witt
her heartlessness, got the cob out of the shed
and away | went to a cottage on beyond abou
a mile off, and knocked them up. The woman
a workman's wife, got up at once and came t.
| take the child and lay the body, out, and
rode back. Unfortunately, In my haste ! haC
left on the table-in the hut, my lord "a littl
case | carry containing drugs we very Otter
want, among them laudanum, which | had tx
use. As came by the window, from the shed
| saw the old witch STOPPING by the child anc
in her hand bottle. The truth flashed OF
mo and ruShed inside and knocked har over