1831.] a Legend of the Old Time in London. 289 



prisoner's situation, however, in this instance, seemed, unaccountably, to 

 have the contrary effect on him, and he appeared quite embarrassed 

 and confused ; he averred he could not explain the cause of his wife's 

 extraordinary error ; but that an error it certainly had been. For the 

 poniard's being in the man's heart he was equally at a loss to account ; 

 and as for the watch, he admitted all that had been proved, but declared 

 that he had put it by about a week before the murder in a cabinet, 

 which he had never since opened, and how it had been removed he was 

 unable to tell. Of course this defence, if such it could be termed, 

 availed him very little, in fact simply nothing. The jury found him 

 guilty; and the Recorder called on him to say why judgment should 

 not be pronounced against him. 



The prisoner seemed suddenly to have recovered his old, or gained 

 new powers ; he broke out into a strong and passionate appeal, calling 

 on the judge to believe his word, as that of a dying man, that he was 

 innocent, and concluded by solemnly calling upon God so to help him, 

 as he spoke the truth. 



He was condemned; the prisoner hid his face in his hand, and sobbed 

 aloud ; he was removed from the bar to his solitary cell. 



About half-past ten that night, as the Recorder was sitting alone, 

 dozing in his easy chair over the fire and a tankard of mulled claret, he 

 was suddenly startled by a loud knock at the door, followed up by 

 the announcement of a stranger, who would brook no delay. He was 

 admitted a young man, whose features were fearfully haggard and 

 drawn, as though w r ith some intense inward struggle ; in fact, the good 

 magistrate did not half like his looks, and intimated to his servant that 

 as his clerk was gone home he had better stay in the room which was 

 on the whole a confused remark, as, in the first place, he knew his ser- 

 vant could not write ; and in the second, he did not know whether any 

 writing was required ; but the youth relieved the worthy Recorder from 

 his dilemma, by peremptorily stating that the communication he had to 

 make must be made to him alone. The servant therefore withdrew, 

 the Recorder put on his spectacles, and the youth began. 



" I come to tell you, Sir, that you have this day unjustly condemned 

 an innocent man to death." 



" Bah ! bah ! And pray how know you that he is innocent ?" 



" By this token, Sir, that I know who did the deed for which you 

 have condemned Master Edwards to suffer. Lambert's murderer stands 

 before you." 



The Recorder, horror-stricken at the notion of being so close to a mur- 

 derer at large, gabbled out an inarticulate ejaculation, something of an 

 equivocal nature betwixt an oath and a prayer, and stretched out his 

 hand towards the silver hand-bell which stood before him on the table ; 

 and still, more horrified was he when the youth caught his hand, and 

 said " No ; with your leave, Sir." 



" No ; with my leave, Sir ! What, mean ye to murder me, with my 

 leave, Sir ?" 



" I will do you no harm, Sir. But my confession shall be a willing 

 and a free one." 



He removed the hand-bell beyond the Recorder's reach, let go his arm, 

 and retired again to a respectful distance. He then proceeded to relate 

 that his name was Simon Johnson, that he was an orphan, and had been 



M. M . New Series. VOL. XL No. 63. 2 P 



