The Orange Girl

Name: The Orange Girl
Author: Besant, Walter

Besant, Walter

London (England) -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction

'You have not. Mark his answer, gentlemen of the Jury. Do not forget his
statement. He says that he knows nothing and has been told nothing of
his client's present unfortunate condition. Let us go on. The late Sir
Peter Halliday left a large sum of money--£100,000, I believe--to the
survivor of two--either his son or his nephew?'

'That is true.'

If Halliday Brothers becomes bankrupt, your claim would rank with those
of the other creditors?'

'I suppose so.'

'In which case you would get little or nothing of the £40,000. But if
the prisoner could be persuaded to sell his chance of succession before
the declaration of bankruptcy, your client could raise money on that
succession out of which you could be paid in full, if he consented?'

'Yes, if he consented.'

'You have already made three several attempts to make him sell, have you
not?'

'Acting by my client's instructions.'

'The first time, when he refused, you threatened revenge, did you not?'

'I did not.'

'You then clapped him in a debtors' prison on a trumped-up charge of
debt?'

'It was a debt due to an estate placed in my hands.'

'The prisoner denied the debt: said that the instrument was given to him
by the owner, did he not?'

'Perhaps.'

'But you put him in prison and kept him there?'

'I did, acting for my clients, the executors.'

'The next time you called upon him and offered to buy his share was
about six weeks ago?'

'It was, acting on instructions from my client.'

'He refused. You then threatened him again?'

'I did not.'

'Two days afterwards the alleged robbery took place at which you were an
accidental observer?'

'Accidental.'

'I said so--accidental. Now, if this case should prove fatal to the
prisoner, on his death your client, not a bankrupt, would take the whole
of the £100,000?'

'He would.'

'You would then expect to be paid?' No answer. 'I say, you would then
expect to be paid?'

'I should hope to be.'

'In full?'

'I should hope so.'

'Then you would be the better by £40,000 by the execution of the
prisoner?'

'If you put it so, I should.'

'You made a third and last attempt, a few days ago, to obtain his
consent?'

'I did, acting on my client's instructions.'

'When he was in Newgate. There were present two other friends of the
prisoner. You then offered, if he would sign the document, to withdraw
the principal witnesses?'

'I did not.'

'I put it in another way. You promised, if he would sign, that the
principal witnesses should not appear?'

'I did not.'

'You swear that you did not?'

'I swear that I did not.'

'You say that you have no power to withdraw witnesses?'

'I have no power to withdraw witnesses.'

'You have no power over the case at all?'

'None.'

Mr. Caterham sat down. Serjeant Cosins stood up.

'You might be the better by the prisoner's death. You are not however in
any way concerned with the case except as an accidental observer?'

'Not in any way.'

'And you are not in any way acquainted with the witnesses who are
chiefly concerned?'

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Orange GirlBesant, Walter

History

The Orange Girl

Besant, Walter

London (England) -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction

'You have not. Mark his answer, gentlemen of the Jury. Do not forget his
statement. He says that he knows nothing and has been told nothing of
his client's present unfortunate condition. Let us go on. The late Sir
Peter Halliday left a large sum of money--£100,000, I believe--to the
survivor of two--either his son or his nephew?'

'That is true.'

If Halliday Brothers becomes bankrupt, your claim would rank with those
of the other creditors?'

'I suppose so.'

'In which case you would get little or nothing of the £40,000. But if
the prisoner could be persuaded to sell his chance of succession before
the declaration of bankruptcy, your client could raise money on that
succession out of which you could be paid in full, if he consented?'

'Yes, if he consented.'

'You have already made three several attempts to make him sell, have you
not?'

'Acting by my client's instructions.'

'The first time, when he refused, you threatened revenge, did you not?'

'I did not.'

'You then clapped him in a debtors' prison on a trumped-up charge of
debt?'

'It was a debt due to an estate placed in my hands.'

'The prisoner denied the debt: said that the instrument was given to him
by the owner, did he not?'

'Perhaps.'

'But you put him in prison and kept him there?'

'I did, acting for my clients, the executors.'

'The next time you called upon him and offered to buy his share was
about six weeks ago?'

'It was, acting on instructions from my client.'

'He refused. You then threatened him again?'

'I did not.'

'Two days afterwards the alleged robbery took place at which you were an
accidental observer?'

'Accidental.'

'I said so--accidental. Now, if this case should prove fatal to the
prisoner, on his death your client, not a bankrupt, would take the whole
of the £100,000?'

'He would.'

'You would then expect to be paid?' No answer. 'I say, you would then
expect to be paid?'

'I should hope to be.'

'In full?'

'I should hope so.'

'Then you would be the better by £40,000 by the execution of the
prisoner?'

'If you put it so, I should.'

'You made a third and last attempt, a few days ago, to obtain his
consent?'

'I did, acting on my client's instructions.'

'When he was in Newgate. There were present two other friends of the
prisoner. You then offered, if he would sign the document, to withdraw
the principal witnesses?'

'I did not.'

'I put it in another way. You promised, if he would sign, that the
principal witnesses should not appear?'

'I did not.'

'You swear that you did not?'

'I swear that I did not.'

'You say that you have no power to withdraw witnesses?'

'I have no power to withdraw witnesses.'

'You have no power over the case at all?'

'None.'

Mr. Caterham sat down. Serjeant Cosins stood up.

'You might be the better by the prisoner's death. You are not however in
any way concerned with the case except as an accidental observer?'

'Not in any way.'

'And you are not in any way acquainted with the witnesses who are
chiefly concerned?'

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Orange Girl

The Orange Girl

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