Semi-weekly independent., 1896-03-25

ther instructions. You see the matter
has now taken a very serious turn.
The defense put in practically makes
Mr.. Svendeleri the accuser and you
the accused. Your whole character is
at stake. and you must spare no efforts
to prove the charge against you false"
Mustn't he first prove it true:' de-
manded Mr.. Hedgehog.
Certainly. most certainly: but we
must assume he has some evidence to
go on or he would scarcely dare TO
raise such defense"
That's ard-dreadfully awll
ward" muttered Mr.. Hedgehog. dole
fully I'm half sorry began the ac-
tiOn."
you don't mean to suggest that you
are afraid of the charge" said Mr..
Pitt.
$50 help me, Mr.. Pitt, l never saw
the diamonds" cried Mr. Hedgehog.
earnestly. land nobody knows that
better than Syengeleri; that's just
what makes ii so awkward"
The solicitor watched Mr.. Hedgehog
with a puzzled air.
81 can't understand you ut all, he
said, after long pause. IF you wish
to succeed in this action you had bet
ter be perfectly candid with me, and
the first thing | must know is what
line we are to take-fight or capitulate,
which is it to be-
Il must leave that to you, Mr.. Pitt,
answered Mr.. Hedgehog. nervOusly.
I'm afraid I've got myself into mess
-Svendeleri has been too much for me.
All can say is that | never stole the
diamonds swear l never did"
Then. in heavens name, fight, and
fight with all your might" exclaimed
the lawyer, vehemently.
Mr.. Pitt was both a sagacious and an
honorable man. At first he felt loath
to take up this action. To meet the
difficulties of the situation he and his
counsel. Mr.. Briteley. after long con-
ference. resolved to adopt n course of
which both of them, under ordinary
circumstances, would have Shrunli
from Usually the plaintiff in q libel
case is one of the first witnesses ten
dered by his counsel. He has to tell
his own story, and to be crossexam-
ined upon it, before he knows what
evidence the defendant is prepared 20
produce. In the present case. however,
Mr. Hedgehog's counsel and solicitor
determined merely to prove the re-
ceipt of the libelous postcards by
means of the caretaker at the building
in which were Mr.. HedgehOS'S offices,
and having thus made a prima facie
case. to let the defendant produce his
witnesses.
This course was taken. The care
taker was called. and Swore she rccCiv-
ed the postcards in question. These
were put in, and the judge unhesi:at-
ingly held them to be defamatory. Mr.
Briteley then announced that. he being
utterly in the dark as TO the case he
would have To meet, would not tender
his client as n witness until he had
heard the defense. The judge raised
some objection To this course, but coun-
sci was firm. and in the end his Lord
ship called on the defendant to pro-
ceed with his evidence of Justification.
The first witness for the defense was
Lady ROughshod. She said the plain
tiff had been employed by her TO in
vestigate the mysterious disappear
ance Of certain bonds from her coun-
try residence -StabStable hall in DOlt-
shire. While the investigation was
proceeding she had informed him of
various facts, known otherwise, as far
as witness was aware, only 10 herself
and Lord RoughShOd. Among these
was the existence of several secret
drawers in an ancient bureau which
stood in her lady's boudoir. Witness
was not absolutely certain whether
she had also told the plaintiff of her
habit of placing her jewels in one Of
these drawers for the night when she
had been out late and felt too tired to
put them into the jewel safe. but she
thought it was extremely likely she
did tell him. About Il month after the
termination of the plaintiffs fruitless
investigation into the disappearance of
the bonds. Lord and Lady Roughshod
had attended the county ball at Rot
tenbOrOugh, which was some five miles
from Stabstable hall. They returned
late and her ladyship had, as usual,
deposited the jewels she had worn at
the ball in the secret drawer. In the
morning her maid on entering the
bOudoir found the window had been
forced during the night. and the bureau
drawer burst open and the secret
drawer rif1ed.
The next witness was the head wait
er of the George of ROttenborough.
This witness identified the plaintiff as
IL person who, under the name of
Smith. had stayed mt the George for the
three days preceding the bali. He left
on the night of the ball ostensibly to
catch the night mail to London. The
only baggage he had with him was
small portmantcau. which he had him
self carried to the station. Witness
was astonished to meet the plaintiff
on the platform ut ROttenbOrouSh sta
tion the next morning after the ball
The plaintiff explained to him that lac