Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-22
STATEMENT or GABRIEL FOOT,
HIGDWAYNAN.
tronemsn's Magazine,


IN the dock Mt this very moment Tn
dense fog that hung over the well OF th
court the barristers' wigs that hobbies
up through il and were drowned sgai
In that seething cauldron the rays O
the guttering candles Qor the murder tria
had lasted far into the evcuing) tina
loomed through il and wore q sickl,
halo; tho red robes and red face o
my Lord Judge opposite that staret
through il and outshone the candles I; tin
black crowd around, seen mistily : th'
voice of the usher calling "Silence
the shutting Of the jurymens- feet; thu
blank psllor on their faces as Leaned
forward and tried 10 read the verdict OF
them the very smell of the place, com
pounded of fog, Jail fever, the close air
ana the dinners eaten earlier in the da,
by the crowd-all this strikes home upor
me rs sharply as il then did after the
numb apathy of waiting.
As the jury huddled into their places
stole look at my counsel. He PAUSED
for a moment from his task OF trimming
quill. shot a quick glance at the fore
mans face and then went on cutting q:
coolly as ever.
Gentlemen OF the jury 1T wns the
Judges voice-"are you agreed upon
your verdict ?"
awe are"
"Do you find the prisoner guilty Oh
not guilty?"
"Not guilty
II must have been full minute, as |
leaned back clutching the rail in front OF
me. before | saw anything but the
bleared eyes OF the candles or heard
anythng but hOarse murmur from the
crowd. But as soon as the court ceased
to hoave aud | could stare about me |
looked toward my counsel again.
lie was sill shaping his pen. He
male no motion TO come forward and
shake hands over my acquittsl. for which
he had worked untiringly all day. He
did not even offer TO speak. He Just
looked mp, nodded carelessly, and turn
ed to his junior beside him but in that
glance | had read something which
turned nv heart cold, then sick, within
me, aud from that moment my hatred Of
the man was as deep as hell.
in the fog outside 1 got clear OF the
gaping crowd, but the chill OF the night
after that heated court pierced my very
bones. 1 had on the clothes had been
taken in. 1t was June then. and now 1t
was late in October. | remember that
on the day when thew caught me | wore
my coat open for GOODNESS -Four months
and half had gone ont of my life.
Well, had money enough in my pocket
10 get greatcoat but must put some
thing warm inside me first TO get out the
chill that cursed lawyer had laid on my
heart.
l had purposely chosen the by-lanes
of the town, but remembered a GER
tain tavern-the Lamb and Flag-which
Law down a side alley. Presently the
light from its windows loomed like
beacon ahead. L pushed open the
door and entered.
The small bar was full OF people
newly come from the court. and dis
cussing the tlial in all its bearings. In
the babel / heard a dozen different
opinions given in as many seconds, and
learned enough. too, TO make me con-
tent with the jury had had. But the
warmth of the place was pleasant and |
elbowed my way forward to the coun
ter.
There was n woman standing by the
door rs | entered, who looked curiOusly
at me for a moment, then turned TO
nudge man at her side. and whisper
The whisper grew as ] pressed forward,
and before could reach the counter
hand was laid on my shoulder from be-
hind. turned.
"Well ?" said ].
II was a hcavy-looking drover that
had touched me.
care You the chap as was tried to-day |
for the murder of Merchant Todd?" he |
asked.
well? ?" said I again. but l could |
see the crowd falling back as if was a
leper at his question.
"Well ? in'twell, then, as reckon, |
to be making so free with respectable
people"
There was murmur Of assent from the
gaping mouths turned towards me- The
landlord came forward from behind the
bar.
al was acquitted. urged defantly.
SAC quilted said he, with big scorn
in the sylables. Hear i'm now ac-
luitted!' Landlord, is this a respecta-
Die house,"
The landlord gave his verdict.
"Hout yer goes. and blame yer impu-
1ence !"
| looked round, but their faces were all
dead against me.
H'out yer goes repeated the land
ord.
"And think yerself lucky it amt
worse added the drover.
With no further defence | skunk out
INTO the night once more.
small crowd of children (Heaven
Knows whence or how they gatheredl fol-
owed me up the court and out into the
street Their numbers swelled as | went
IN, and some began to boot and pelt me
Dnt when | gained the top of the hill,
md a lonelier district, | turned and
struck among them with my stick. 1t
lid my heart good to hear their screams.
After that | was let alone, and tramp
I'd forward past the scattered houses to-
ward the open country and the moors.
Up here there was scarcely any fog. but
could see it, by the rising moon, hang
ng like shroud upon the town below
The next town was near upon twelve
niles of, but l do not remember that l
thought OF getting so far. ! could not
nave thought at all, in fact, or should
hardly have taken the high road upon
which the jeweller had been stopped and (
murdered.
There was a shrewd wind blowing,
md L shivered all over but the cold at {
NY heart was worse, and my hate OF the I
nan who had set IT there grew with I
very step. thought of the four
months and more which parted the two '
ives of Gabriel Foot, and what should J
make of the new one. had my chance
Igain--a chance gained for noe beyond {
rope by that counsel but for whom | '
hould be sleeping tonight in the con- {
lemned cell; chance, and good a
nance, but for that same cursed lawyer. G
Ugh how cold it was. and how hated
him for IL O
There was little whitewashed cottage
IN the edge of the moorland Just after
b. hedge-rows ceased-the last house
,aforo tha harran hath hao,an ataOS,... | N