Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-06-05
From Tinsley's Magazine
6aIleping Off with a Baby.
Midnight Ride---The Timely Evi
dence Of Brown the Doctor.
CHAPTER II.

As a hush in the court ensued at the
cry of 'Silencep the greatest interest
prevailed, and all eyes were turned to
the witness-box.
"Now, Sir" said his lordship, after the
formalities were over, 1--WE will hear the
statement you have to make"
"GOod, my lord" was the response
'Shall 1 reply seriatim to the questions
asked me, or, to save the time of your
lordship and that of the jury, shall
first state what l have to say and then
answer whatever questions may be Sug-
gested by the evidence l OfferY
1--WE will hear" said the Judge, "yOur
own statement first. This man is charg-
ed with murder, and ne tells us-he
pleads an alibi-that as he lay in ditch
ON FurZe Hill on the night in question,
disabled by fall, man on horseback
passed him, and he had baby with him,
for he, the prisoner, heard the baby cry.
Now, you say you were that man, and
that you carried child. Will you give
us the date of it?"
at was toward the end of November,
my lord; the last week in it. The day,
Lknow, was Tuesday; the last Tuesday
in the month
"What date was that ?" asked his lord
ship, turning to the counsel for the de-
fenSe.
But before he could reply his oppo-
nent, the counsel for the prosecution
said:
"The twenty-fourth, my lord; a date
that differs from the prisoners state
ment"
"Will you tell us, DOCTOR" resumed
the Judge, not needing the remark,
what time it was when you rode up-the
hill-can you remembers"
"Yes, my lord, can. 1t was two
o'clock, for heard the clock strike as
galloped up it-St. Michael's clock, that
is just across the water. 1t was damp
and chilly mOrning-cOld and fOggy."
"DO you mean Tuesday night-or,
rather, Wednesday mOrningT
"No, my lord; Monday might've on
Tuesday morning. 1t was during the
night of Monday-Monday the twenty
third"
"And how we're you mountedY
"On thick, stout cob" said the Doc
tor; my night horse"
"Go on, Sir" said his lordship, as the
counsel looked at each other.
81 had been to case, my lord, and
was coming from it"
"Yes, yes just so" his lOrdship inter-
rupted. "But about this child. Tell US,
will you, how it was that on this cold,
damp, foggy morning, in that dreariest
of months, you were out in the open
country gallOping home with baby?"
"Not home, not home. my lord but off
for the forest"
"Why?"
"To prevent a murder
explain YOURSELF" said the Judge, as
a buzz went around the court, and the
people looked at each other.
IAN attempt had been made, my lord,
on the life of that child, which frus-
trated; but as I knew the youngster
would be settled as soon as my back was
turned, 1 galloped off with it to save it"
"And quite right, too, Doctor" his
lOrdship said. "NOw give us the circum-
stances; give them in your own way"
And as the one counsel looked conf
dent, and the other bit his pen, Ralph,
the prisoner, drew himself up like a man
who felt he should be righted, and the
evidence was continued:
son Monday night, the twenty-third
of November, / was sent for" said the
Doctor, "at six o'clock, to go up into the
forest to see a child; child of two
months old, who died while was there.
| left at eight. As got down into the
valley, and clear of the long steep hill,
was trotting on for home, three miles
from there, 1 thought I heard moan,
and, stopping, listened. A moan it was,
my lord; so l went on through the fog
| 70 xxvha T hv--I nd no 10
turns off from the road, Just by the MILE
stone-and there found a woman, a
| tramp, apparently, who begged that l
would help her to some cottage, for rea-
sons which she gave me. "Cheer up, /
said; 81 am just the man you want, for l
am doctor, and can see to you"
"a little way beyond was hut-a
tumble-down affair, but it was that or
none. The one who lived there-a vile
old hag, and a reputed witch-refused
us entrance. / forced it, told her why,
and did my duty. In three hours after
ward child was born. l saved the
child, but could not save the mother !;
| she died soon after"
"Died from exhaustiOn?
Eyes, my lord; though not as you in
| fer 1t was, in fact, one of those unfOr-
tulate cases which we have occasionally
to encounter, where, rs too often occurs,
it is as much as we can do to save the
child Had she been lady in her own
home it would have been all one with
her; she would have had no more
chance. AS the child's life dawns, the
mothers ebbs away.
"Well, my lord the child was living
and the mother dead, and the old hag
sat and cursed me, and refused to touch
the child, or do one thing, though first l