Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-02-21
MARY THE iss..!' SA!D OF
A Story of English
OF !
Life.
~ JOSEPH nATToN.


events OF the March Assizes for this
East Riding of Yorkshire. Richard
Parker Was known by several aliases;
his training and education. his eouriiy
manners. his handsome face and ngure
had all been themes of admiration even
occasionally with the ladies whose
coaches he had stopped. II Was also
known that IL was his boas, that he
had not only never shed blood. but had
vowed he never would except In the
last extremity of ssif-def.nse. Al the
same time he Was known To he mixed
up with sans OF piundeEers who were
less serupuioas than he; and many
deeds Of desperation were laid TO their
charge. and NOR. particularly to the
charge of the confederate Foster. whose
completely With th- abbey murder was
nov a matter OF public notoriety.
Locally the AFFAIR had many points
Of absorbing interest. Mary. the Maid
ofthe Inn. was a pathetic fisure In the
story. and the name Of Jack Meadows
was on every lip. ., had been rumored
that his conduct in the awful business
vas more or less compromising.
The fac, tina, III. principal witness
against Parker was his sweetheart
Mary twho would have gladly laid her
life down for him rather than COM
promised his safety. gave to the trial
its most dramatic interest
Mary. her uncle. Morley. Jack Mead
ows. Jacks mother. and brother. n
equity old fellow of Go. were u party by
themselves In charge of the clerk To
tho solicitor wso had got up the de-
fens-. and they were accommodated al
little Inn near the river. whence they
had n picturesque. but, to them. very
gloomy view Of tho castle where Rich
ard Parker was imprisoned. where he
would also 10 tried. and where In all
probability he would bc hanged: for.
apart from the murder of Bcilin.ham.
there were other charges. which only
awaited the result of the verdict In this
case to lie formulated against him M
the authorities might think necessary
or desirable.
who had captured poor Mary'S hear,
would leave the Castle OF York alive.
Meanwhile Richard Parker had been
placed at the bar. Counsel had told
the tragic story of Bciiingham's death.
and indicated the nature Of :hc evil
dcncc that would he sworn against the
prisoner. and hnd further called upon
the jury to dismiss from their minds
any romantic or prcjudiccd influence
which might have taken possession OF
them arising out OF the stories which
had been circulated in connection with
this case. and the attachment that had
sprung up between the prisoner and
the young woman. who. rs II by the
interposition of Divine providence. had
been made the chief witness against
him.
Then witnesses had been called
touching the murder. the discovery OF
the body. the appearance of Parker and
Foster In the neighborhood: the con-
duct OF Mary Lockwood on the night OF
the murder: her interview with Mead
ows: his presence at the Heather-bell
Inn. in company with Foster and Par
ker; what the landlord overheard. and
the strange. obstinate refusal OF the
prisoner to seek safety in flight until
he had seen and said good-hy to Mary
Lockwood; together with his arrest at
the very door of the Star and Garter.
and his saying good-by to her not rs
he had hoped free man. but pris-
oner in the hands OF the constable of
Kirkstall and his assistants.
At this point of the case. John
Meadows was called. He was consid-
erably harassed by the learned counsel
for the prosecution, who was more than
once reminded even by the court that
he had no right to treat his own wit
ness as hostile; but the learned coun-
sells ire had been raised somehow by
the witnesss fearless obstinacy. and
his examination in chief gradually as
sumed the offensive character of the
severe cross-examination OF not only
an unwilling, but an untruthful wit
ness.
Having taken the witness through n
brief narrative of his first seeing the
prisoner at the Star and Garter. and
getting from him an account of his
having seen Stephen Bellingham. the
murdered man, there, the examination
proceeded as follows:
You knew the victim of this cruel
murder?"
esquire Bellingham," said the wit
ness.
Yes" said the learned counsel; che
was well known in the district"
Yes
Known to be rich?"
Yes"
"Rich and eccentric?"
II don't know as to that
He carried large sums of money
about him.
I've heard so.
Was not afraid of highwaymen?"
He was brave man." said Jack.
Yes. he was a brave man and rich?
That was his reputation"