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turned toward the witness…box； and his bloodshot； vacant eyes
staring on me。 For an instant I tried to confront that look； for
an instant I kept my attention fixed on himon his blotched
faceon the short； grizzled hair above iton his knotty；
murderous right hand； hanging loose over the bar in front of him；
like the paw of a wild beast over the edge of its den。 Then the
horror of himthe double horror of confronting him； in the first
place； and afterward of seeing that he was an old manovercame
me； and I turned away； faint； sick； and shuddering。 I never faced
him again； and； at the end of my evidence； Robert considerately
took me out。
When we met once more at the end of the examination； Robert told
me that the prisoner never spoke and never changed his position。
He was either fortified by the cruel composure of a savage； or
his faculties had not yet thoroughly recovered from the disease
that had so lately shaken them。 The magistrate seemed to doubt if
he was in his right mind； but the evidence of the medical man
relieved this uncertainty； and the prisoner was committed for
trial on a charge of manslaughter。
Why not on a charge of murder？ Robert explained the law to me
when I asked that question。 I accepted the explanation； but it
did not satisfy me。 Mary Mallinson was killed by a blow from the
hand of Noah Truscott。 That is murder in the sight of God。 Why
not murder in the sight of the law also？
* * * * * * *
June 18th。 To…morrow is the day appointed for the trial at the
Old Bailey。
Before sunset this evening I went to look at Mary's grave。 The
turf has grown so green since I saw it last； and the flowers are
springing up so prettily。 A bird was perched dressing his
feathers on the low white headstone that bears the inscription of
her name and age。 I did not go near enough to disturb the little
creature。 He looked innocent and pretty on the grave； as Mary
herself was in her lifetime。 When he flew away I went and sat for
a little by the headstone； and read the mournful lines on it。 Oh；
my love！ my love！ what harm or wrong had you ever done in this
world； that you should die at eighteen by a blow from a
drunkard's hand？
June 19th。 The trial。 My experience of what happened at it is
limited； like my experience of the examination at the
police…office； to the time occupied in giving my own evidence。
They made me say much more than I said before the magistrate。
Between examination and cross…examination； I had to go into
almost all the particulars about poor Mary and her funeral that I
have written i n this journal； the jury listening to every word I
spoke with the most anxious attention。 At the end； the judge said
a few words to me approving of my conduct； and then there was a
clapping of hands among the people in court。 I was so agitated
and excited that I trembled all over when they let me go out into
the air again。
I looked at the prisoner both when I entered the witness…box and
when I left it。 The lowering brutality of his face was unchanged；
but his faculties seemed to be more alive and observant than they
were at the police…office。 A frightful blue change passed over
his face； and he drew his breath so heavily that the gasps were
distinctly audible while I mentioned Mary by name and described
the mark or the blow on her temple。 When they asked me if I knew
anything of the prisoner； and I answered that I only knew what
Mary herself had told me about his having been her father's ruin；
he gave a kind of groan； and struck both his hands heavily on the
dock。 And when I passed beneath him on my way out of court； he
leaned over suddenly； whether to speak to me or to strike me I
can't say； for he was immediately made to stand upright again by
the turnkeys on either side of him。 While the evidence proceeded
（as Robert described it to me）； the signs that he was suffering
under superstitious terror became more and more apparent； until；
at last； just as the lawyer appointed to defend him was rising to
speak； he suddenly cried out； in a voice that startled every one；
up to the very judge on the bench： 〃Stop！〃
There was a pause； and all eyes looked at him。 The perspiration
was pouring over his face like water； and he made strange；
uncouth signs with his hands to the judge opposite。 〃Stop all
this！〃 he cried again； 〃I've been the ruin of the father and the
death of the child。 Hang me before I do more harm！ Hang me； for
God's sake； out of the way！〃 As soon as the shock produced by
this extraordinary interruption had subsided； he was removed； and
there followed a long discussion about whether he was of sound
mind or not。 The matter was left to the jury to decide by their
verdict。 They found him guilty of the charge of manslaughter；
without the excuse of insanity。 He was brought up again； and
condemned to transportation for life。 All he did； on hearing the
dreadful sentence； was to reiterate his desperate words： 〃Hang me
before I do more harm！ Hang me； for God's sake； out of the way！〃
June 20th。 I made yesterday's entry in sadness of heart； and I
have not been better in my spirits to…day。 It is something to
have brought the murderer to the punishment that he deserves。 But
the knowledge that this most righteous act of retribution is
accomplished brings no consolation with it。 The law does indeed
punish Noah Truscott for his crime； but can it raise up Mary
Mallinson from her last resting…place in the churchyard？
While writing of the law； I ought to record that the heartless
wretch who allowed Mary to be struck down in his presence without
making an attempt to defend her is not likely to escape with
perfect impunity。 The policeman who looked after him to insure
his attendance at the trial discovered that he had committed past
offenses； for which the law can make him answer。 A summons was
executed upon him； and he was taken before the magistrate the
moment he left the court after giving his evidence。
I had just written these few lines； and was closing my journal；
when there came a knock at the door。 I answered it； thinking that
Robert had called on his way home to say good…night； and found
myself face to face with a strange gentleman； who immediately
asked for Anne Rodway。 On hearing that I was the person inquired
for； he requested five minutes' conversation with me。 I showed
him into the little empty room at the back of the house； and
waited； rather surprised and fluttered； to hear what he had to
say。
He was a dark man； with a serious manner； and a short； stern way
of speaking I was certain that he was a stranger； and yet there
seemed something in his face not unfamiliar to me。 He began by
taking a newspaper from his pocket； and asking me if I was the
person who had given evidence at the trial of Noah Truscott on a
charge of manslaughter。 I answered immediately that I was。
〃I have been for nearly two years in London seeking Mary
Mallinson； and always seeking her in vain；〃 he said。 〃The first
and only news I have had of her I found in the newspaper report
of the trial yesterday。〃
He still spoke calmly； but there was something in the look of his
eyes which showed me that he was suffering in spirit。 A sudden