State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 2 (of 2)
History
State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 2 (of 2)
Trials -- Great Britain
MRS. STOUT--I shan't say it to be her hand unless I saw her
write it.
MR. STOUT--It is like my sister's hand.
HATSELL, BARON--Do you believe it to be her hand?
MR. STOUT--No, I don't believe it; because it don't suit her
character.
_Mrs. Barefoot_ had expected Cowper at her lodgings, and had prepared a
bed for him. Cowper came to her house as usual, and sent to the
coffee-house for his bag. Mrs. Stout sent her maid over to invite Cowper
to dine at their house. Cowper came back to her house about eleven, by
the town clock, and did not go out again.
_Hanwell_, the last witness's maid, made some preparations in Cowper's
room before he went to bed, which he did a little before twelve.
Referring to the last-quoted letter of the deceased woman, Cowper says:
'I had rather leave it to be observed, than make the
observation myself, what might be the dispute between us at the
time the maid speaks of. I think it was not necessary she
should be present at the debate; and therefore I might not
interrupt her mistress in the orders she gave; but as soon as
the maid was gone I made use of these objections; and I told
Mrs. Stout by what accident I was obliged to take up my
lodgings at Mrs. Barefoot's, and that the family was sitting up
for me; that my staying at her house under these circumstances,
would in probability provoke the censure of the town and
country; and that therefore I could not stay, whatever my
inclination might otherwise be; but, my lord, my reasons not
prevailing, I was forced to decide the controversy by going to
my lodging; so that the maid may swear true, when she says I
did not contradict her orders.'
_Spurr_ proved that Cowper came to the Glove and Dolphin Inn as the
clock struck eleven, and stayed there about a quarter of an hour. The
Glove and Dolphin was a little less than a quarter of a mile from Mrs.
Stout's house.
Cowper then pointed out that, according to Sarah Walker's evidence, he
left Mrs. Stout's house at a quarter to eleven by the real time; that
if, as he should prove, it took half an hour to go from there to the
place where Mrs. Stout was drowned, he could not, according to the
evidence he had just called, have been there.
_Sir W. Ashurst_ said it took him half an hour and one minute to walk to
the place where the deceased was drowned. _Sir T. Lane_ said it took him
about three-quarters of an hour, 'and we did not stay at all by the way,
except just to look upon the hospital.'
_Kingett_ and _Man_, two servants at the Glove and Dolphin, confirmed
Spurr's evidence as to the time when Cowper arrived there and the time
he stayed there; adding that he came there to ask about an account for
his horse.
HATSELL, BARON--Pray, wherein hath Sarah Walker said anything
that is false?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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