Brown and Ainslie are so consistent with each other and with the whole
other evidence adduced, both real and circumstantial, that I am unable
to discover a single discrepancy in the whole, excepting where Brown and
Ainslie say that, after the robbery, they did not either of them see
Brodie again that evening, but Smith’s maid said that they all met again
in Smith’s house and supped there, and that Brodie supped along with
them. This, however, does not appear to be a fact of any importance or
that tends to discredit either of the witnesses, as it is evident that
Smith’s maid has confounded the first and second meetings together.
But it is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon particulars which cannot
have escaped your own observation, and I shall therefore conclude with
remarking that you have in this case more direct evidence of the
pannels’ guilt, corroborated by a greater variety of circumstances all
coinciding in a most remarkable manner, than I remember to have met with
in any other which has occurred to me in the course of my practice.
Gentlemen, I shall only further add that if the prisoner William Brodie,
a person who from the nature of his employment had frequent
opportunities of being introduced into the houses of others, has been
guilty of the crime laid to his charge, and is allowed to escape
punishment, the consequences to the inhabitants of this populous city
may be of the most serious nature. But, gentlemen, the evidence is
before you, and if, upon a fair and deliberate consideration of it, you
are convinced of the pannels’ guilt, I can have no doubt that you will
do justice to your country by returning a verdict accordingly.
* * * * *
Mr. John Clerk then rose to address the jury on behalf of George Smith.
Mr. John Clerk’s Address to the Jury.
[Sidenote: John Clerk]
Mr. CLERK--Gentlemen of the jury, it is now my duty to state the
evidence to you for the pannel, Mr. Smith, and I shall trouble you with
a very few observations only.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account