England -- Fiction; Mystery fiction; Trials (Murder) -- Fiction
In brief, her evidence was as follows: "I am a full-blooded negress,
born in Barbadoes. My grandmother came from 'Ashantee,' and knew all
about the wand of sleep. She taught me how to manufacture the poison.
I came to England with my mistress and met with prisoner, who called
at the house. He knew a great deal about Obi and showed me the Voodoo
stone. A spirit dances in the stone, and I was bound to do what the
spirit told me. It said I was to obey prisoner. Dr. Etwald wanted to
marry my young mistress, but she was engaged to Mr. Alymer. Prisoner
told me that Mr. Alymer must be got out of the way, and suggested the
use of the devil-stick, which he had seen in the smoking-room of Major
Jen. I agreed to help him, and by hypnotizing my mistress I made her
steal the devil-stick. She brought it to me, all unconscious of having
done so, and I filled it with fresh poison. On the night of the murder
Mr. Alymer called to see my mistress, also Dr. Etwald. When Mr. Alymer
left I gave the stick to prisoner, and he followed deceased to kill
him. Next day I heard that Mr. Alymer was dead. After a time prisoner
told me that we must steal the body, so that traces of poison should
not be found when a post-mortem examination was made. I agreed to help
him, and gaining admission into the chamber of death I hid under the
bed. When Jaggard fell asleep I drugged him with the poison of the
devil-stick and opened the window, outside of which prisoner was
waiting. I assisted him to carry the body to his carriage, and then
left him. That is all I know."
This evidence closed the case for the prosecution, and--as may be
guessed--it caused a profound sensation in court. Everyone without
exception looked upon the prisoner as guilty, and they considered it
futile when David Sarby rose to deliver his speech for the defense.
The young man was even paler than usual, and when he rose laid down
the devil-stick, at which he had been looking. When on his feet he
glanced round the court and caught the gaze of Isabella, who was
staring eagerly at him. Then he turned to his client. Dr. Etwald,
still composed--even after the frightful evidence which had been
given--smiled coldly on his counsel. David shuddered, and picking up
the devil-stick spoke sharply and to the point.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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