58 



Murder in the Seventeenth Century. 



The magistrate having been reminded of these matters, questioned 

 him about them, when he confessed that with regard to the robbery 

 of the £140 he had told his mother and brother of that money; 

 and how it might be had; and that accordingly, whilst he and all 

 Mr. Harrison's family were at Church, his brother had got it for all 

 three, and buried it in his garden, and to avoid suspicion they were not 

 to divide it till the coming Michaelmas. As to the other affair, he 

 said that was a fiction of his own, that thieves might be supposed 

 to be haunting his master's house, and so suspicion be diverted 

 from himself and his companions. Search was made for the £140, 

 but in vain. The three prisoners were committed to gaol for trial 

 at the assizes, the time for which was not far off. 



Some delay ensued on King Charles's return, before the circuits 

 were arranged; accordingly, the Gloucester Summer Assizes, 1660, 

 were not held till September 12th. The criminal business was not 

 generally of very evil consequence to the prisoners. All offences 

 other than treason or murder were usually forgiven. His Majesty 

 had with a royal courtesy reciprocated the warm reception of 

 his subjects by granting a quasi general pardon, which was 

 confirmed by an Act of Oblivion. At Winchester, as no one 

 was condemned, there was a maiden assize; and to perfect the joy 

 of the occasion, it is stated that all sequestrated ministers won 

 verdicts at " nisi prius." 



The judge who presided in the Crown Court at Gloucester was Sir 

 Christopher Turner, a Baron of the Exchequer, well known as a 

 careful judge. 



Two indictments were found by the grand jury against all three 

 Perrys — the first for the housebreaking and robbery of the £140, 

 the second for the murder of Mr. Harrison. The trial of the latter 

 was put off, as the prosecution, in the opinion of the judge, was not 

 ready to proceed. On their being arraigned on the first charge 

 they all pleaded not guilty ; but some folks behind, probably petty 

 officials, desirous of avoiding the delay of the proceedings, whispered 

 to them " that they would get no punishment in those happy days. 

 What matter the plea when there was no gaol ! 93 So they soon 

 pleaded guilty, and prayed pardon, which was granted. They were 



