The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-12-26 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

LOVE'S REVENGE.  BY MRS. BAGOT HARTF Author of " Bianca," &a.  ritAPTER  A moment- ligoi; Ana the Attorney -Oeneral had commenced his speech for the prosecution. Ile began by detailing the medical evince, and explained every portion of it, that DO latent doubt as to the fact that deceased died from poison—administered within an hour of his death—was allowed to rest in the minds of the jurymen. Then he dwelt upon the relative strength required to overcome a powerful man, and quoted many  instances in which a powerful man, taken at -a  disadvantage, had become an easy victim in ttie hands of two people, who were admittedly less muscular. Then he called especial attention  to the fact that there existed a motive for the  crime of which the prisoners stood accused. The deceased was unquestionably a neglectful husband, though no act of cruelty could be brought to his :barge. Next he proceeded to lay bare every minute detail of the painful facts connected with Ruth's married life, step by step, from the very  day when she had ziandestinely become Henry 'demilton's wife. Henry Gilea's evidence was dissected until it was made to appear that Ruth Hamilton must have called her brother to her aid in order that they two should forcibly administer the fatal drug. What other motive, except a desire to wreak vengeance on his perfidious brotherin-law, could have brought Luke to the cottage ? If there had not existed some secret and evil motive for his presence, no concealment would have been necessary, and when it was remembered that • chance pas Fer-by had been attrac'ed by the sound of loud quarrelling, it seemed incredible that • brother could remain in another part of the cottage merely listening, and making no effort to defend that sister, or screen her in any way from  her angry 'husband. The only. oxplanation that  could be adduced for such conduct was that his concealment in the house was part of a demoniacal plot t 3 force the deceased to swallow the poison. Counsel for the defence had laid great stress on the point that no evidence had been adduced to prove that deceased did not commit suicide; but there was no possibility of the deceased having poisoned himself without the knowledge of either of the prisoners. Was it conceivable that a man could suffer such acute agonies as it was admitted that deceased had suffered and still retain sufficient selfcommand to conceal the cause from his wife? And would not that wife's duty have been clearly to tell the doctor that her husband had taken poison in order that the usual remedies could be applied? There could be no reasonable doubt that murder had been committed, and it remained for the jury to state who had committed that murder. Painful as it might be for them to return a verdict of guilty, yet, if they believed  that it was a just and right verdict, they must not flinch from doing so. In conclusion, the Attorney General strongly urged the jury to fully recognise the heavy responsibility which rested in their hands, and he expressed a hope that they would nst allow the eloquently impressive speech of the counsel for the defence to cause them to deviate a hair's-breadth from their duty. The Judge's summing up was masterly and concise; but many of those in court considered it Inferred too clearly the prisoners' guilt. Not that such an inference was in any way intentlonal, for no juster or more conscientious judge than Mr. Justice Holt ever occupied a seat on the bench. Calmly, and without once raising his voice, he continued speaking for two hours. His quiet manner of address carried with it an inexplicable power of conviction, and as 'the prisoners in the dock listened with unerring attention,their hopes of an acquittal faded slowly away. It was seven o'clock before the jury retired to consider their verdict. A sum:ironed buzz of excittmint immediately followed their exit. At first the general public retained their seats, for the opinion prevailed that only a short time would elapse before the jury would return. But after Co hour had passed all gradually left, and the court was deserted by all except the officials. The prisoners waited in a room adjoining the dock. Oh the cruel tension of such a suspense as theirs! Silently they sat, side by side, their hands clasped in each other's, but not daring to speak, fearful that it might undermine their self command. Once only their eyes met, but they were hastily averted; for Ruth could not look calmly on that brother's dear face with such a fate overhanging him—a fate, alas, only rendered possible by her own deeds. And Luke? He dare not look at his sister, it would have utterly unnerved him. After three hours' absence the jury signified they were agreed, and at the same moment the court became once more densely crowded. In a voice quivering with emotion the foreman announced the verdicL " against both prisoners.  puke had stepped forward to the front of the dock. As the word "Guilty" reached his ears he staggered and clutched the rail, and a spurn of agony passed over his face. Hia eyes no longer rested on his fellow creatures, but gazed vacantly through the opposite window on to the starlit heavens beyond. Ruth's ashy white face was turned towards the judge. She tried to speak, hut her powers of utterance had, for the moment, deserted her.  Then distinctly and clearly the Clerk of Arraigns asked the prisoners why sentence should not be passed on them. As his voice ceased a wild ay rang through the court. "My child! My child! Spare me for his sake,• pleaded Ruth piteously. In an instaut Luke was by her side again, clasping her hands within his. "Oh, Ruth, be calm, be calm," burst from his livid lips. "Luke, I will try," she murmured in a faint, agonised voice. Slowly, with trembling hands, the judge drew on the horrible symbol oh death, as the brother and sister stood hand in harm prepared to hear their doom. In a low, awe-inspiring voice the judge delivered  _ sentence. As the words "hanged by the neck " caught Luke's ears he shuddered, and a vision rose before his eyes of the limp forms he had seen as a boy dangling from the icaftold in far-off S..unmer town, But;-Rath heard none of those terrible words  of condemnation. She had swooned away, and her brother tenderly released her into the hands of a -,female gaoler. Then the Judge's voice cease. Another moment and the condemned prisoners ware oeing hastily removed.