The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-07-04
CTIAPTEU. ".
Life sweet.

my Lord. and gentlemen of the
jury" he said, sin the whole course of
my experience in the criminal courts of
this country, have never risen to adj
dress jury under more painful feel
ings, or with greater anxiety, than up
on this occasion. There are circum-
stances in the case that, even as they
were developed before the magistrates,
cause me much anxiety; and such being
the case, how much must that anxiety
be increased by the production of this
mornings most unexpected evidence,
by which the unhappy woman at the
bar may be placed in the greatest peril,
and most awful jeopardy. Gentlemen,
1 have not merely to deal with the facts
of this case, as they appear in evidence,
but / have to contend against the
prejudices that have been born of the
peculiar circumstances by which this
case is observation-disclosures in
tensified tenfold by the extraordinary
revelations made in court that day.
When 1 gaze around me, and see the
numbers that fill this court, feeling with
them the thrill of Indignation at the
dastardly crime committed; when turn
to the prisoner-a stranger, without a
living soul to stand by her in her dis
tress-lonely, deserted, to all seeming
abandoned by God and man-my spirit
sinks at the magnitude of the task 1
have taken upon me. Nevertheless,
relying on the noble independence of a
British jury-on its strict integrity, on
its sense Of justice-I have no fear of
such q tribunal, and know that the
whole case will be fully, fairly, and i'm
partially considered by you.
Having made these observations,
shall now proceed to consider the most
unparalleled circumstances of this pain
full case.
''In the first place, would answer the
question of the learned counsel for the
prosecution, as to who could possibly
have had motive for the murder UNI
less it had been the prisoner?
THAT some one had q motive for
comprising that poor young lady's
death he would presently be prepared
to show; but that person was not the
flute the evidence against her, he would
tell the story of her life-in itself q
more complete refutation than any
other that could be afforded.
"Some eight years ago, when young
and very beautiful, the prisoner had
become attached to Mr.. Eyre, and for
awhile was happy, believing herself
secure of his affections; but at last he
fell in love with young girl of less
than half his age, who, ignorant Of his
long standing connection with the &C
cused. loved him in return. Her friends,
who knew his story, forbade the mar
rage, the more so as she had previous.
ly become engaged to Lord Lowell, who
was nearly Of her own age, and most
deeply attached to her; but a few days
before that fixed for her wedding with
him, she contrived to elope with Mr..
Eyre, and was married to him before
they could be overtaken.
meanwhile, what does this woman
do, who is left alone, loving the man
who has abandoned her as passionately
as he once loved herself, and with a Sc
cret to bear of which he had not dreamtl
He had provided for her, he had done
all that honor demanded, If less than love
asked; and, doubtless, the world would
have blamed her had she pursued him
into the presence of his new happier
love; but she made no such outcry over
her loss. She did not declare that since
love was denied her, vengeance should
he hers; but lived alone, unfriended,
until Just before her child was born,
when she sent for her foster-sister. who