State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 2 (of 2)
History
State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 2 (of 2)
Trials -- Great Britain
JONES--Then, gentlemen of the jury, I hope we have given you
satisfaction that Mrs. Stout did not drown herself, but was
carried into the water after she was killed. That was the first
question; for if it be true that all dead bodies when they are
put into the water do swim, and the bodies that go alive into
the water and are drowned do sink, this is sufficient evidence
that she came by her death not by drowning, but some other way.
Now, my lord, as to the second matter, and that is to give such
evidence as we have against these gentlemen at the bar. Mr.
Cowper, it appears, was the last man that any one give an
account of was in her company. What became of her afterwards,
or where they went, nobody can tell; but the other witnesses
have given you evidence that he was the last man that was with
her. I shall only give this further evidence as to Mr. Cowper,
that notwithstanding all the civility and kindnesses that
passed between him and this family, when the bruit and noise of
this fact was spread abroad, Mr. Cowper did not come to
consider and consult with old Mrs. Stout what was to be done;
but he took no manner of notice of it, and the next day he rode
out of town, without further taking notice of it. Call _George
Aldridge_ and _John Archer_.
_John Archer was sworn._
JONES--Do you know anything of Mr. Cowper's going out of town
about this business of Mrs. Stout's being drowned?
ARCHER--Yes, I did see him go out of town afterwards.
JONES--Which way did he go?
ARCHER--He went the way back from the Glove; I suppose he came
that way.
COWPER--What day was it I went? Is it not the way that I used
to go when I go the Circuit into Essex?
ARCHER--Yes, I believe so.
COWPER--I lodged at Mr. Barefoot's, and he has a back-door to
the Glove, where my horse was, and I went the direct way into
Essex, and it was Wednesday morning: What day was it you see me
go?
ARCHER--It was on the Wednesday morning.
COWPER--That was the very day I went into Essex.
_Then George Aldridge was sworn._
JONES--When did Mr. Cowper go out of town the last assizes?
ALDRIDGE--On Wednesday.
JONES--Which way did he go?
ALDRIDGE--He went the way to Chelmsford.
JONES--Did you not fetch his horse from Stout's?
ALDRIDGE--Yes, sir.
JONES--How often did you go for it?
ALDRIDGE--Three times.
JONES--When?
ALDRIDGE--On Tuesday night I sent once, and went twice myself;
the first time there was nobody at home to deliver the horse;
so I went to Mr. Stout's, and asked him about the horse, and he
said he could not deliver him till the maid went home; and then
I went about eleven o'clock and had the horse.
HATSELL, BARON--Was it eleven at night?
ALDRIDGE--Yes, my lord.
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