按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
said； and rather than walk all that way on a cold and boisterous night she
had wanted to sit up in the watch…house。 The watchmen refused to let
her do this； but ordered her to ‘‘go about her business；'' advising her
sternly at the same time to turn up again by ten o'clock in the morning。
Sarah had given her word； and had gone away。
On hearing this story Kerrel became very angry； threatening the two
watchmen； Hughes and Mastreter； with Newgate if they did not pick her
up again immediately。 Upon this the watchmen scurried off as quickly as
their age and the cumbrous nature of their clothing would let them。 They
found Sarah in the company of two other watchmen at the gate of the
Temple。 Hughes； as a means of persuading her to go with them more
easily； told her that Kerrel wanted to speak with her； and that he was not
angry any longer。 Presently； in Tanfield Court； they came on the two
young men carrying the tankard and the bloodied linen。 This time it was
Gehagan who did the talking。 He accused Sarah furiously； showing her
the tankard。 Sarah attempted to wipe the blood off the tankard handle
with her apron。 Gehagan stopped her。
Sarah said the tankard was her own。 Her mother had given it her； and
she had had it for five years。 It was to get the tankard out of pawn that
she had taken Kerrel's waistcoats； needing thirty shillings。 The blood on
the handle was due to her having pricked a finger。
With this began the series of lies Sarah Malcolm put up in her defence。
She was hauled into the watchman's box and more thoroughly searched。
A green silk purse containing twenty…one guineas was found in the bosom
of her dress。 This purse Sarah declared she had found in the street； and
as an excuse for its cleanliness； unlikely with the streets as foul as they
were at that age and time of year； said she had washed it。 Both bundles
of linen were bloodstained。 There was some doubt as to the identity of
the green purse。 Mrs Rhymer； who； as we have seen； was likelier than
anyone to recognize it； would not swear it was the green purse that had
been in Mrs Duncomb's black box。 There was； however； no doubt at all
about the tankard。 It had the initials ‘‘C。 D。'' engraved upon it； and was
at once identified as Mrs Duncomb's。 The linen which Sarah had been
76
… Page 77…
SHE STANDS ACCUSED
handling in Mr Kerrel's drawer was said to be darned in a way
recognizable as Mrs Duncomb's。 It had lain beside the tankard and the
money in the black box。
％ IV
There was； it will be seen； but very little doubt of Sarah Malcolm's
guilt。 According to the reports of her trial； however； she fought fiercely
for her life； questioning the witnesses closely。 Some of them； such as
could remember small points against her； but who failed in recollection of
the colour of her dress or of the exact number of the coins said to be lost；
she vehemently denounced。
One of the Newgate turnkeys told how some of the missing money
was discovered。 Being brought from the Compter to Newgate； Sarah
happened to see a room in which debtors were confined。 She asked the
turnkey； Roger Johnson； if she could be kept there。 Johnson replied that
it would cost her a guinea； but that from her appearance it did not look to
him as if she could afford so much。 Sarah seems to have bragged then；
saying that if the charge was twice or thrice as much she could send for a
friend who would pay it。 Her attitude probably made the turnkey
suspicious。 At any rate； after Sarah had mixed for some time with the
felons in the prison taproom； Johnson called her out and； lighting the way
by use of a link； led her to an empty room。
‘‘Child；'' he said； ‘‘there is reason to suspect that you are guilty of this
murder； and therefore I have orders to search you。'' He had； he admitted；
no such orders。 He felt under her arms； whereupon she started and threw
back her head。 Johnson clapped his hand on her head and felt something
hard。 He pulled off her cap； and found a bag of money in her hair。
‘‘I asked her；'' Johnson said in the witness…box； ‘‘how she came by it；
and she said it was some of Mrs Duncomb's money。 ‘But； Mr Johnson；'
says she； ‘I'll make you a present of it if you will keep it to yourself； and
let nobody know anything of the matter。 The other things against me are
nothing but circumstances； and I shall come well enough off。 And
therefore I only desire you to let me have threepence or sixpence a day till
the sessions be over； then I shall be at liberty to shift for myself。' ''
77
… Page 78…
SHE STANDS ACCUSED
To the best of his knowledge； said this turnkey； having told the money
over； there were twenty moidores； eighteen guineas； five broad pieces； a
half…broad piece； five crowns； and two or three shillings。 He thought
there was also a twenty…five…shilling piece and some others； twenty…three…
shilling pieces。 He had sealed them up in the bag； and there they were
（producing the bag in court）。
The court asked how she said she had come by the money。
Johnson's answer was that she had said she took the money and the
bag from Mrs Duncomb； and that she had begged him to keep it secret。
‘‘My dear；'' said this virtuous gaoler； ‘‘I would not secrete the money for
the world。
‘‘She told me； too；'' runs Johnson's recorded testimony； ‘‘that she had
hired three men to swear the tankard was her grandmother's； but could not
depend on them： that the name of one was William Denny； another was
Smith； and I have forgot the third。 After I had taken the money away she
put a piece of mattress in her hair； that it might appear of the same bulk as
before。 Then I locked her up and sent to Mr Alstone； and told him the
story。 ‘And；' says I； ‘do you stand in a dark place to be witness of what
she says； and I'll go and examine her again。'''
Sarah interrupted： ‘‘I tied my handkerchief over my hair to hide the
money； but Buck；＇19＇ happening to see my hair fall down； he told Johnson；
upon which Johnson came to see me and said；