“_This was the whole of the Evidence given by him in Court in
the cross-examination great stress was laid upon his positive
manner of swearing to Major Disney in disguise upon the transient
view which by his own account he had of him, and under the
circumstances of terrour and confusion which such an appearance
must have occasioned; to which he answered that he had time
in the hall before any blow was given to take a distinct view
of him, and that he actually did do it, and tho’ it was true
he had a crape over his face, yet it was tied so close that
he discerned the features and Lineaments of it very perfectly
and that he was positive it was Mr. Disney, of his dress other
than the crape upon his face he could give no account, and then
he was questioned if he had not often declared that he knew
nobody but upon slight surprise he said that he remembered Mr.
Disney perfectly the next morning, but that he mentioned him to
nobody but Mrs. Walker, charging her at the same time to conceal
it, because he thought he had suffered by her in discretion in
mentioning the name of another Person whose influence with People
in Power had prejudiced the inquiry which was then making into
the affair._
“_Mrs. Walker confirmed all the circumstances of their manner
of coming in & swore as directly to Major Disney, that Lieut.
Hamilton (as she did for some time believe but has since had
occasion to think she was mistaken) was the first that entered
that she saw Major Disney among a Groupe of figures very
distinctly with a crape over his face and dressed in a Canadian
Cotton Night Gown._
“_Magovock went thro’ his story as contained in his affidavit
a copy of which has been transmitted to your Lordship, not
without a manifest confusion of his countenance & a trembling
in his voice common to those who have a consciousness that they
are telling untruly, & a fear of being detected--his cross
examination took a great deal of time in the course of which he
contradicted all the other witnesses & himself in circumstances
so material that I am persuaded he was not himself present at the
transaction._
“_Major Disney proved by several witnesses, Dr. Robertson,
Madam Landrief, Madam Campbell & Mrs. Howard that he spent that
afternoon from 5 till ½ past 9 when he was sent for by Genl.
Burton (he being town Major, upon the uproar that this affair had
occasioned) at the house of Dr. Robertson--it was a particular
festival with the French of whom the company was mostly composed,
that he danced ’till supper time with Madam Landrief in the midst
of which Genl. Burton’s servant came & called him out--they spoke
all very positively to his being present the whole time & the
impossibility that he could be absent for 5 minutes without their
knowing it._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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