WILLIAM ROBERT HICKS, OF BODMIN. 
77 
find arsenic in the stomach 1 Yes or No, sir." Dr. Cook worthy (still 
warmer) : "If the stomach had been sent to me at first, before it 
had been examined by others, I could give an answer ; but as it is, 
I can only say it probably contained arsenic." The judge then 
interfered, and said with severity, "Answer Yes or No to the 
question, witness." Dr. Cook worthy, in a towering passion, not to 
be bullied by any judge or counsel, repeated his answer : "If the 
stomach had been sent to me at first, before it had been examined 
by others, I could give an answer ; but as it is, I can only say 
it probably contained arsenic." As it was quite hopeless to get 
any other answer out of Dr. Cookworthy, judge and counsel gave 
it up; but the quarrel had a great effect on the jury, and put 
them in a state of confusion as to the merits of onions and 
arsenic. This was the Dr. Cookworthy episode in the story. 
To return to the proceedings of the jury. Lush continued, " I 
then asked the next man, and he zaid, ' If us hang un, it wan't 
bring the old woman to life again.' ' Very true,' zaid I, 6 that 
never struck me before.' And I put un down as agin hanging. 
After he I asked Eobinson ; I always shall respect that man. He 
spoke out like a man. He says, says he, 'Just as you plase, 
Mr. Lush ; hang un or no, 't isn't a happenny odds.' That was 
zix, and one more of the same opinion made zeven, and the 
majolity carr'd it agin the minolity, and us gave the prisoner the 
benefits of the doubts. So you zee, Mr. Hicks, it 's aisy to zay, 
'Why didn't you bring un in guilty V but 'tis such hignorance." 
This was Hicks's far-famed jury story, which he told to 
perfection, putting vividly before his audience the good old 
system of compelling a jury to bring in some verdict or other 
by shutting them up in a dark room without fire or candle, 
or anything to eat and drink — " when prisoners were hung that 
jurymen might dine." 
In commemoration of Hicks, of Bodmin, the great humourist, 
who unfortunately left no writing or notes behind him, trusting 
always to his wonderfully accurate memory, it is well to place on 
record some of his sayings and doings. 
