THE VERDICT AND SENTENCE. 239 



man, John Thomson, who underwent a long cross-examination, 

 without his evidence being in the least shaken. His story was 

 too simple and truthful to be contravened. He and his two 

 accomplices received ten pounds each from Lord Yancourt's 

 valet, called Francois le Blanc, to assist his lordship in carrying 

 off Miss Douglas, and were to receive ten pounds more from the 

 head keeper the next morning, when the job was done, who 

 engaged they should not lose their situations, if found out. He 

 did not know whether Lord Mervyn was privy to the plot or 

 not, and would only say what he knew to be true. 



No witness being called for the defence, as Serjeant 

 Wrangler had not one he could trust in cross-examination, the 

 judge then addressed the jury, telling them the case was so 

 exceedingly clear against the prisoners, that it was unnecessary 

 for him to detain them with an}'- remarks upon the evidence ; 

 and immediately after, the foreman rising, said they had not a 

 moment's hesitation in returning a verdict of guilty against 

 both prisoners, which was received with loud shouts and waving 

 of ladies' handkerchiefs, and one cheer more from the fanners 

 who thronged the court. When silence was restored, the 

 judge, after a severe lecture to the prisoners on the enormity 

 of the offence in which they had been implicated, and the 

 murderous nature of the assault, by which several lives had 

 been so nearly sacrificed, sentenced them to two years' imprison- 

 ment with hard labour. 



Before they were removed from the bar, Lord Malcolm 

 rose, requesting permission to say a few words in mitigation of 

 the sentence just pronounced upon the prisoners, which being 

 conceded, he begged to assure his lordship that his sole object 

 in commencing this prosecution having been to vindicate his 

 cousin's fair name from any complicity or the shadow of suspicion 

 of being in the remotest degree a consenting party to this 

 pretended elopement with Lord Vancourt, he could derive no 

 satisfaction from the punishment of these men, who were the 

 least guilty. 



"Of the principal, my lord, I can only say, that I think 

 .scarcely any punishment would be too severe, and ln's case is the 

 more aggravated from the vile attempts to cast aspersions on 

 my cousin's character, by endeavouring to prove her capable of 

 falling in love and agreeing to elope with a married man, for 

 as such Lord Vancourt was represented to her and myself 

 before meeting him at the Cherrinston ball. From the first 

 day of his introduction to her at Marston Castle, my cousin 



