State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 2 (of 2)
History
State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 2 (of 2)
Trials -- Great Britain
When her body came to be viewed, it was very much wondered at;
for in the first place, it is contrary to nature, that any
persons that drown themselves should float upon the water. We
have sufficient evidence, that it is a thing that never was; if
persons come alive into the water, then they sink; if dead,
then they swim; that made some more curious to look into this
matter. At first, it was thought that such an accident might
happen, though they could not imagine any cause for this woman
to do so, who had so great prosperity, had so good an estate,
and had no occasion to do an action upon herself so wicked and
so barbarous, nor cannot learn what reason she had to induce
her to such a thing. Upon view of the body, it did appear there
had been violence used to the woman; there was a crease round
her neck, she was bruised about her ear; so that it did seem as
if she had been strangled either by hands or a rope.
Gentlemen, upon the examination of this matter, it was wondered
how this matter came about, it was dark and blind. The coroner
at that time, nor these people, had no evidence given, but the
ordinary evidence, and it passed in a day. We must call our
witnesses to this fact, that of necessity you must conclude she
was strangled, and did not drown herself. If we give you as
strong a proof as can be upon the nature of the fact, that she
was strangled, then the second matter under that enquiry will
be, to know who, or what persons, should be the men that did
the fact. I told you before, it was, as all wicked actions are,
a matter of darkness, and done in secret to be kept as much
from the knowledge of men as was possible.
Truly, gentlemen, as to the persons at the bar, the evidence of
the fact will be very short, and will be to this purpose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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