The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-12-20
A CORNISH jury.
why II Gave verdict In Favor OF Wick


| - SONiNtSVI oOnts
why II aave verdict In Favor OF vioky
Donnsll.
The following il one of tho west-coun
try stories which the late Sir Stafford
Northoote was fond OF telling:
One day, as Mr. Hicks was going into
Bodmin, he met Mr., farmer who
lived near Launceston.
"Marnin', Mr.. Hicks"
"Good morning, Mr.. -; why, I
thought you always kept Launceston
market?"
"well, SO did till vioky Donneil's
trial"
Now, Mr. Vincent Donnell was vet
erinary surgeon, who had been tried on
tho accusation OF having poisoned his
mother-in-law, an old lady who had died
rather suddenly after hearty supper
ON rabbit and onions. Vicky Donnell
was acquitted, to the great astonish-
ment Of the world at large.
"Ah, that's another question:" said
Mr.. Hicks; ''you were foreman OF the
jury; how came you to let Vioky Dom
nell off?"
"Now, Mr.. Hicks, you'me so bad as
the rest Of them; they're always asking
why we let'n of, but I'll tell you how
twas.
1--WE were shut up in a dark room
without food, fire or candle, and told we
must find verdict; so, when we talked
some time, 'Gentlemen,' / says, we
can't sit here all night, that's certain,
so we'll take opinions. What do you
say, Mr. p We was sittin' all round
long table, you know, and 1 spoke to
the nearest.
"'Why, think the mans had very
hard measure; don't think he did it at
all. She died Of the rabbit and onions;
what bizness had an old 'ooman like
her to be aiting rabbit and onions at
that time of nightY
"'Well, says Mr.. Pengelly, who sat
next, 4 think twas the arsenic did 1t.
They doctors be so frolicsome with their
arsenic, always trying things on; still,
as twas to be experimentin' like, ]
think twas much to his credit that he
took an old woman to try it on; he
might "a took a young one.'
$50 I think says Mr.. Boase. J
should not like to hang Vicky Donnell
for the likes of her; reckon she was
very tadious sort Of old 'ooman. She's
not the first tadious sort of old 'ooman
that been put out of the way, not by
many wan. / shouldn't like to hang
Vicky Donnell for the likes of her.
"'No more should L. says the next,
for Vicky Donnell he saved my wife's
e. l., Id ~ al
else'
eyes, and he saved my pig in the
measles, said the fifth, so there's two
lives for one, take it how you will
Well, says the next, Il do not think
us ought to let him off altogether.
think we ought to give him six months
on the debtors side
20, you can't do that, mister, says 1;
it must be neck or nothing
Well, then, says he, Pm for moth
ing, Tm sure
"Well, Mr.. Hicks, thought there was
a good deal in it, Mr.. Hicks; good deal;
but l didn't like quite to make up my
mind, so / call en- down the table-for
twas grown so dark you couldn't see
your head-to Abraham Smith of Gram
with the squeaky voice,
you know-us calls him Winnick for
short; Mr.. Smith, says for you know,
Mr.. Hicks, being foreman of jury, need
not call him by his short name-'Mr.
Smith, says I-'Winnick,' adds, that
he might know who l was a-speaking to
what do you say to it? I've as good
an opinion of your Judgment as of any
man at the table, and you live over
against the man opposite the water, as
twere, so you must know-what do you
think?'
e" Well, mister, says he, what you
zay, zay, tu.'
Sir says 'Winnick,' says II
shall respect your judgment the longest
day have to live
"Then | asks the next two, and they
said they'd go with the majority
Well says /, you go with us, and
you'll be the majority
$50 they went with US, and we were
the majority. And that's how Vicky
Donnell got of, London Star.