PED AT NEWGATE--A YARN
IN THE LAW LINE--WITH DUE PRECAUTIONS AND PREPARATIONS, THE DOMINIE
MAKES HIS FIRST VOYAGE--TO GRAVESEND.
It was on the 7th of November, if I recollect rightly, that Fleming and
Marables were called up to trial at the Old Bailey, and I was in the
court, with Mr Drummond and the Dominie, soon after ten o'clock. After
the judge had taken his seat, as their trial was first on the list, they
were ushered in. They were both clean and well dressed. In Fleming I
could perceive little difference; he was pale, but resolute; but when I
looked at Marables I was astonished. Mr Drummond did not at first
recognise him--he had fallen away from seventeen stone to, at the most,
thirteen--his clothes hung loosely about him--his ruddy cheeks had
vanished--his nose was becoming sharp, and his full round face had been
changed to an oblong. Still there remained that natural good-humoured
expression in his countenance, and the sweet smile played upon his lips.
His eyes glanced fearfully round the court--he felt his disgraceful
situation--the colour mounted to his temples and forehead, and he then
became again pale as a sheet, casting down his eyes as if desirous to
see no more.
After the indictment had been read over, the prisoners were asked by the
clerk whether they pleaded guilty or not guilty.
"Not guilty," replied Fleming, in a bold voice.
"John Marables--guilty or not guilty?"
"Guilty," replied Marables--"guilty, my lord;" and he covered his face
with his hands.
Fleming was indicted on three counts;--an assault, with intent to
murder; having stolen goods in his possession; and for a burglary in a
dwelling-house, on such a date; but I understand that they had nearly
twenty more charges against him, had these failed. Marables was
indicted for having been an accessary to the last charge, as receiver of
stolen goods. The counsel for the crown, who opened the trial, stated
that Fleming, _alias_ Barkett, _alias_ Wenn, with many more _aliases_,
had for a long while been at the head of the most notorious gang of
thieves which had infested the metropolis for many years; that justice
had long been in search of him, but that he had disappeared, and it had
been supposed that he had quitted the kingdom to avoid the penalties of
the law, to which he had subjected himself by his enormities. It
appeared however, that he had taken a step which not only blinded the
officers of the police, but at the same time h
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