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The prisoner at the bar is the same young woman who came；
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looking ill and tired； with a basket on her arm； and asked for a
lodging at my house on Saturday evening； the 27th of February。
She had taken the house for a public； because there was a figure
against the door。 And when I said I didn’t take in lodgers； the
prisoner began to cry； and said she was too tired to go anywhere
else； and she only wanted a bed for one night。 And her prettiness；
and her condition； and something respectable about her clothes
and looks； and the trouble she seemed to be in made me as I
couldn’t find in my heart to send her away at once。 I asked her to
sit down； and gave her some tea； and asked her where she was
going； and where her friends were。 She said she was going home
to her friends： they were farming folks a good way off； and she’d
had a long journey that had cost her more money than she
expected； so as she’d hardly any money left in her pocket； and was
afraid of going where it would cost her much。 She had been
obliged to sell most of the things out of her basket； but she’d
thankfully give a shilling for a bed。 I saw no reason why I shouldn’t
take the young woman in for the night。 I had only one room； but
there were two beds in it； and I told her she might stay with me。 I
thought she’d been led wrong； and got into trouble； but if she was
going to her friends； it would be a good work to keep her out of
further harm。”
The witness then stated that in the night a child was born； and
she identified the baby…clothes then shown to her as those in
which she had herself dressed the child。
“Those are the clothes。 I made them myself； and had kept them
by me ever since my last child was born。 I took a deal of trouble
both for the child and the mother。 I couldn’t help taking to the
little thing and being anxious about it。 I didn’t send for a doctor；
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for there seemed no need。 I told the mother in the day…time she
must tell me the name of her friends； and where they lived； and let
me write to them。 She said； by and by she would write herself； but
not to…day。 She would have no nay； but she would get up and be
dressed； in spite of everything I could say。 She said she felt quite
strong enough； and it was wonderful what spirit she showed。 But I
wasn’t quite easy what I should do about her； and towards evening
I made up my mind I’d go； after Meeting was over； and speak to
our minister about it。 I left the house about half…past eight o’clock。
I didn’t go out at the shop door； but at the back door； which opens
into a narrow alley。 I’ve only got the ground…floor of the house； and
the kitchen and bedroom both look into the alley。 I left the
prisoner sitting up by the fire in the kitchen with the baby on her
lap。 She hadn’t cried or seemed low at all； as she did the night
before。 I thought she had a strange look with her eyes； and she got
a bit flushed towards evening。 I was afraid of the fever； and I
thought I’d call and ask an acquaintance of mine； an experienced
woman； to come back with me when I went out。 It was a very dark
night。 I didn’t fasten the door behind me； there was no lock； it was
a latch with a bolt inside； and when there was nobody in the house
I always went out at the shop door。 But I thought there was no
danger in leaving it unfastened that little while。 I was longer than I
meant to be； for I had to wait for the woman that came back with
me。 It was an hour and a half before we got back； and when we
went in； the candle was standing burning just as I left it； but the
prisoner and the baby were both gone。 She’d taken her cloak and
bonnet； but she’d left the basket and the things in it 。 。 。 I was
dreadful frightened； and angry with her for going。 I didn’t go to
give information； because I’d no thought she meant to do any
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harm； and I knew she had money in her pocket to buy her food
and lodging。 I didn’t like to set the constable after her； for she’d a
right to go from me if she liked。”
The effect of this evidence on Adam was electrical； it gave him
new force。 Hetty could not be guilty of the crime—her heart must
have clung to her baby—else why should she have taken it with
her？ She might have left it behind。 The little creature had died
naturally； and then she had hidden it。 Babies were so liable to
death—and there might be the strongest suspicions without any
proof of guilt。 His mind was so occupied with imaginary
arguments against such suspicions； that he could not listen to the
cross…examination by Hetty’s counsel； who tried； without result； to
elicit evidence that the prisoner had shown some movements of
maternal affection towards the child。 The whole time this witness
was being examined； Hetty had stood as motionless as before： no
word seemed to arrest her ear。 But the sound of the next witness’s
voice touched a chord that was still sensitive； she gave a start and
a frightened look towards him； but immediately turned away her
head and looked down at her hands as before。 This witness was a
man； a rough peasant。 He said：
“My name is John Olding。 I am a labourer； and live at Tedd’s
Hole； two miles out of Stoniton。 A week last Monday； towards one
o’clock in the afternoon； I was going towards Hetton Coppice； and
about a quarter of a mile from the coppice I saw the prisoner； in a
red cloak； sitting under a bit of a haystack not far off the stile。 She
got up when she saw me； and seemed as if she’d be walking on the
other way。 It was a regular road through the fields； and nothing
very uncommon to see a young woman there； but I took notice of
her