Page:Life and adventures of David Haggart.pdf/17

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and the indictment being read over, he said he was not guilty, and demanded a copy of it, but it was refused him. The drover and another man were brought against him in evidence. Tho drover kept his word, and swore he did not know whether he was the boy, or not, who took the money. The other witness was sure that he was tho person that was taken up for it. This closed the evidence, and while the Judge was addressing the Jury, the jailor prompted him to speak for himself. He immediately rose, and asked liberty to speak a word for himself. The Judge replied "Surely."

He then addressed the Jury nearly as follows:-"Gentlemen, I hope you will look well into this case, and not return a thoughtless verdict, which would involve an innocent man, by ruining his character and depriving him of his liberty. Gentlemen, I acknowledge that I have been perfectly proved to be the person who was apprehended at Clough, on suspicion of picking this man's pocket; but you see clearly that none of his property was found upon me, and more than that, the man himself has sworn in your presence that he is not certain whether I was the person or not; taking this simple statement into your deliberate consideration, I feel perfectly confident of reeeiving a verdict of acquittal from you."

The Judge then asked him, "Don't you come from Armagh, sir? and have you not a father and a brother."

He answered that he had both.

All of your own profession - pickpockets," replied the Judge.

He said he was perfectly mistaken, for neither he nor they were ever guilty of such a thing. He was right as to them, but I will leave tho world to