The Northern Guardian. — 1893-12-16 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

CAUGHT AT LAST  OR, THE FPLON'S BRAND.  CHAPTER XL. (Continued).  With Kleckser's evidence down went M. Yarlendet's house of cards. You may fancy his mortification, his disgust. So many precautions, so much labour, so cunning a scheme, baffled by a blot of ink and an 'eaves-dropper peering through a window! Purl could have killed himself for rage. But the hardest blow was yet to come. "Thus far, your worship," continued Serjeant O'Blatherum, "my defence of the accused has been directed to establish the unreliable nature of the prosecutor's evidence, and the manner in which the written confession was procured. I could have die-, posed of the case much earlier by the evidence I am , now about to call, but it was necessary to vindicate most thoroughly and effectually the character of the accused. I wish my client to leave that bar without its being possible for his most malignant enemy to breathe a whisper against his reputation. Well, your I worship, I flatter myself I have secured that end. I I shall now proceed to demonstrate the utter absurdity of this most ridiculous charge. The prisoner at the bar is accused of feloniously killing and I slaying one Raymond White. I blow the charge at I once to the winds by calling into court the murdered I man himself. Stand forward, Mr. Raymond White !" A stir took place among the spectators immediately behind the witness-box. A little knot of policemen separated. From among them stepped out a tall young men of fair complexion, with light-coloured' beard and hair. Raymond White himself! His face was pale, and worn, and haggard. Illness or hardship had recently laid heavy hand upon him, but the light in his eye and the smile on his lip showed that their influence had passed away. Be came rapidly to the front, and presented himself in the witness-box. The effect upon M. Parlandet of this unexpected apparition was almost pitiable. Hie eyes glared and his features worked ; his lips drew up and his mouth fell open ; he reeled and staggered back against the wall as if he had received a heavy blow. But no one heeded him. All eyes were bent upon the hero of the hour. _  "Your name is Raymond White P'' asked Serjeant 0 Slatherum.  "It is," was the reply. " Well, sir, as an Irishman I may be excused for asking whether ye're yourself or anybody else ?" "Myself, serjeant, I believe." "And so ye really haven't been murthered at all at all ?" -" Not to my knowledge, certainly." "That, your worship,' concluded the learned setjeant, turning to Alderman Beltry, "is the case for the defence. I'm justified now, I believe, in asking the immediate discharge of the accused." "He leaves the bar without a stain upon his character," declared the magistrate. " mnch pleasure, sir, in wishing ye joy upon this termination to the case." _  „._. Van Flewker quitted the bar amidst the approving murmurs of the audience, and was next moment absorbed in a crowd of hand-shaking and congratulating friends. "We have not quite done with the case, however, your worship,” re-commenced Sorjeant O'Blatherum, rising with unabated vigour to address the bench; "I've to ask that the witness Parlandet be placed at the bar. We charge him with perjury on his own account, and conspiracy with another person not yet in custody.' "Oh, certainly," replied the alderman. "Officer. place the man Parlandet at the bar." But the man Parlandet, deftly availing himself of the confusion that prevailed. bad quitted tile court, and was no longer to be found.  ro 4.