Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXIX., October, 1852Various
Religion
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXIX., October, 1852
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
So audacious an attempt created a considerable stir in the locality,
and four days after its occurrence a message was sent to Red Lodge from
Bury St. Edmunds, that two men, supposed to be the escaped burglars,
were there in custody, and requesting Mr. Bridgman's and the servants'
attendance on the morrow, with a view to their identification. Andrew
Bridgman, the gardener, and groom, of course, obeyed the summons, and
the prisoners were brought into the justice-room before them. One was a
fellow of about forty, a brutal-visaged, low-browed, sinister-looking
rascal, with the additional ornament of a but partially closed
hare-lip. He was unhesitatingly sworn to by both men. The other, upon
whom, from the instant he entered, Andrew Bridgman had gazed with
eager, almost, it seemed, trembling curiosity, was a well-grown young
man of, it might be, three or four and twenty, with a quick, mild,
almost timid, unquiet, troubled look, and features originally comely
and pleasing, there could be no doubt, but now smirched and blotted
into ill favor by excess, and other evil habits. He gave the name of
"Robert Williams."
Andrew Bridgman, recalled to himself by the magistrate's voice, hastily
said "that he did not recognize this prisoner as one of the burglars.
Indeed," he added, with a swift but meaning look at the two servants,
"I am pretty sure he was not one of them." The groom and gardener,
influenced no doubt by their master's manner, also appeared doubtful
as to whether Robert Williams was one of the housebreakers. "But if he
be," hesitated the groom, hardly knowing whether he did right or wrong,
"there must be some smartish wounds on his arms, for I hit him there
sharply with the knife several times."
The downcast head of the youthful burglar was suddenly raised at these
words, and he said, quickly, while a red flush passed over his pallid
features, "Not me, not me--look, my arm-sleeves have no holes--no--"
"You may have obtained another jacket," interrupted the magistrate. "We
must see your arms."
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