Lord Oakburn's Daughters Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864 Excerpt: ...Are there any more witnesses to examine?" continued the coroner, addressing the summoning officer. There were one or two who gave testimony of no importance, and they appeared to he all. Frederick Grey, who had heen an eager listener to the witnesses, then stepped forward and addressed himself to the coroner. "Will you let me make a statement, sir?" "If it hears upon the case," replied the coroner. "Does it do so?" "Yes it does," warmly replied Frederick, his earnest, honest grey eyes flashing. "There has been a cruel suspicion of carelessness cast upon my father: I wish to state that it was I who destroyed the proofs by which it could have been refuted." And forthwith he told the story of his heedless wiping of the cobwebbed jar. "Was any one present when you did this, besides you and your father?" asked the coroner. "Sir, did you not hear me say so? My uncle John." "Let Mr. John Grey be called," said the coroner. "Gentlemen," he added to the jury, "I am going somewhat out of my legal way in admitting these statements; but I must confess that it does appear to me most improbable that Mr. Stephen Grey whose high character we all well know, should have been guilty of this fatal carelessness. It has appeared to me entirely improbable from the first; and I deem it right to hear any evidence that can be brought forward to refute the accusation--especially," he impressively concluded, " after the statement made by Mr. Carlton, as to the face he saw, or thought he saw, lurking near the chamber where the draught was placed. I acknowledge, in spite of Mr. Carlton's stated conviction, that I am by no means convinced that face was not real. It may have been t...