The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-04-07
Select STORY.
Statement Of Gabriel Foot, HighWayman.

From Longman's Magazine,
Thejury re-entered the court after half an
hours consultation. 1t all comes back to
me as wildly as though l stood in the
dock at this very mement. The dense fog
that hung over the well of the court the
barristers wigs that bobbed up through it
and were drowned again in that seethina
cauldron; the rays of the guttering candles
| (for the murder trial had lasted far into
the evening" that loomed through it and
wore sickly halo; the red robes and red
face of my Lord Judge opposite that star
ed through it and outshone the candles;
the black crowd around, seen mistily; the
voice of the usher calling "Silencel' the
shuffiing of the jurymen's feet; the blank
palIur on their faces as | leaned toward and
tried to read the verdict on them; the very
smell of the place, compounded of fog,
Jail fever, the close air, and the dinners
eaten earlier in the day by the crowd-all
this strikes home upon me as sharply as ii
then did after the numb apathy of wait
ing.
As the jury huddled into their places
stole look at my counsel He paused
for moment from his task of trimming a
quill, shot a quick glance at the foreman s
face, and then went on cutting as coolly as
ever.
"Gentlemen of the jury"-it was the
Judges voice = "are you agreed upon
your verdict?''
ave are"
''Do you find the prisoner guilty or not
guilty?"
"Not guilty"
1t must have been full minute, as
leaned back clutching the rail in front Of
of me, before | saw anything but the
bleared eyes of the candles or heard any
thing but hoarse-murmer from the crowd.
Bntas soon. as. the, court ceased TO heayc
land l could stare about me looked to-
ward my counsel again.
He was still shaping hispen. He made
no motion to come forward and shake
hands over my acquittal, for which he had
worked untiringly all day. He did not even
offer to speak He just looked up, nodded
carelessly, and turned to his junior beside
him; but in that glance | had read some
thing which turned my heart cold, then
sick, within me, and from that moment my
hatred of the man was as deep as hell.
In the fog outside l got clear of the
gaping crowd, but the chill of the night
after that heated court pierced my very
bones, | had on the clothes | had been
taken in. II was June then, and now it
was late in October. | remember that on
the day when they caught me | wore my
coat open for coolness. Four months and
half had gone out of my life. Well,
had money enough in my pocket to get a
greatcoat; but | must put something 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 l remembered certain
tavern-the Lamb and Flag-which lay
down a side alley. Presently The light
from its windows loomed like beacon a.
head. Ipushed open the door and entered.
The small bar was full of people newly
come from the court, and discussing the
trial in all its bearings. In the babel
heard dozen different opinions given in
as many seconds, and learned enough, too,
to make me content with the jury / had
had. But the warmth of the place was
pleasant, and 1 clbowed my way forward
10 the counter.
There was woman standing by the
door as | entered, who looked curiously at
me for moment, then turned to nudge a
man at her side and whisper. The whis-
per grew as / pressed forward, and before
1 could reach the counter hand was laid
on my shoulder from behind l turned.
"Well?" said l.
1t was heavy-looking drover that had
touched me.
"Are you the chap as was tried to-day
for the murder of Merchant Todd ?" he
I asked.
"Well ?" said 1 again, but l could see
the crowd falling back as if was a leper
at his question.
"Well? 'Tain't well, then, as | reckon,
to be making so free with respectable peo-
pie"
There was murmer Of assent from the
gaping mouths turned towards me. The
landlord came forward from behind the
bar
"I was acquitted, urged defantly.
acquitted ?" said he, with big scorn
in the syllables. "Hear i'm now-'ac-
quilted r Landlord, is this respectable
house ?"
The landlord gave his verdict.
aH'out yer goes, and blame yer impu.
dence r
1 looked round, but their faces were al
dead against me.
aH'out yer goes!' repeated the land
lord
"And think yerself lucky it amt worse,
added the droyer.
With no further defence / skunk out
into the night once more.
A small crowd of children (HeaveI
knows whence or how they gathered) fol
lowed me up the court and out into the
street. Their numbers swelled as l wen
on, and some began to hoot and pelt me
but when l gained the top of the hill, and
a lonelier district, I turned and struck
among them with my stick. 1t did my
heart good to hear their screams.
After that was let alone, and tramped
forward past the scattered houses toward
the open country and the moors. Up here
there was scarcely any fog, but I could sec
it, by the rising moon, hanging like :
shrond upon the town below. The nexi
town was near upon twelve miles off, but