Semi-weekly independent., 1896-03-25

III be convicted il I'm prosecuted,
no matter whether l turn up or not"
answered Hedgehog. in a hopeless tone.
NO. it amt no use fighting against
fate. tried a fall with Svendeleri and
he's been too many for me. But let
him do his worst now. No, gentlemen,
III not go into the box.
Both Mr.. Briteley and Mr.. Pitt did
their utmost to induce Hedgehog to
change his resolution, but all was in
vain. That being SO. Mr. Briteley
could merely announce next morning
that he could offer no rebuttal testi-
mony. The jury, without hearing
either counsel or judge, thereupon
promptly found n verdict for the de-
fendant. and the judge directed that
the public prosecutor be communicat.
ed with. The same evening Hedgehog
was arrested on warrant on the
charge of stealing Lady Roughshod's
diamonds
Mr.. Pitt acted for Hedgehog during
his trial on this charge. He was con-
victed and sentenced TO five years
penal servitude.
After his conviction Hedgehog had
an interview with Mr.. Pitt. He thank
ed the solicitor very warmly for his
services. Then he said he wanted him
10 do him another service.
Il want you to place watch upon
Svendeleri, Mr.. Pitt said the con-
vict. earnestly. Il want him watched
night and day. and if before six
months is out you don't find for GER
tain that I'm innocent of this charge
You can believe lied to you. I'll pay
the costs in any event.
Mr.. Pitt was much puzzled both at
the prisoners request and at the re-
suit he expected from its being obey
ed. but he promised to have Svendeleri
watched. And watched Svendeleri
was by one of the clcverest detectives
in London. and before the six months
Mr.. Pitt received a report from the
private detective that astOnished him.
1t was neither less nor more than this
that Svendeleri had i'm his possession
and was attempting to sell diamonds
which corresponded in every way with
those stolen from Lady ROughshod.
Mr. Pitt acted promptly and coura-
geOuSly. He had an information sworn.
obtained a search warrant, made a raid
on the premises OF Svendelcri, and
within twenty-four hours from recciv-
ing the private detectives report the
=
Svendelcri was in custody charged
with having stolen them or received
them we'll knowing them to be stolen.
Though the prosecution could give no
evidence as to.how the diamonds came
into the prisoners possession beyond
the fact that Lord Roughshod's valet
on hearing of Svendelcri's arrest had
disappeared. there was no doubt they
were in his possessions. and he knew
that they were stolen. Practically
there was no defense to the charge and
Sycndeleri was ut once convicted. Then
Mr. Pitt petitioned the home secretary
for Hcdgehog's discharge. This, after
some delay. was granted.
On receiving his pardon Hedgehog
called at Mr. Pitts Office to thank him
for his cXertions on his behalf After
doing so very earnestly, he said, Il
wonder would you have worked so
hard for me. Mr.. Pitt. if you had
known the whole facts:''
IL hope so" replied Mr.. Pitt
II suppose you would like to know
them" said Hedgehog. silly.
well. the truth is. l would" an
swcrcd Mr. Pitt. smiling. The fact
is | never was SO puzzled over case
in my life"
We'll. there can't be any harm tell
ing you them now-confidcntially. you
know Now | did not steal them dia-
monds. and | didn't even know where
Lady Roughshod kept them until Sven
dcleri told me- You see. after | came
back from Stabstable hall he told me
that one of the household there had
told him of them. and hc said as owing
to my report that the bonds must
have been taken by some one Of the
household which was right (they were
taken by the valet)-his friend was
AFRAID 10 steal the ul:lnOnuS ana he
proposed as l knew the house and bu-
reau and all that. | should take 'em.
| refused, saying | wasn't thief, but
n private detective. Afterward the
temptation to get 'cm came awfully
strong on me. and l went down to Rot
under a false name to re-
cOnnOiter. The county ball took place
while 1 was staying there. and plan
ned TO get the diamonds that night
pretended at the George that l was
returning to town, and instead | made
my way 10 Stabstable hall. But ev-
erything turned out badly. While 1
was dodging about the grounds l ran
again one of the servants and had to
bolt. 1t must have been Svendeleri's
accomplicc. the valet, but that didn't
strike me at the time. Then on getting
back to Rottcnborough | met the head
waiter of the George. When | return
ed to town I learned of the robbery.
and. of course. | knew old Svendeleri
had got the swag. And that's the
whole truth sir