The String of Pearls (1850), p. 526

struggle for admission was tremendous, and it required the utmost exertions of the officers of the establishment to kept anything like a semblance of order. The
few night charges were rapidly disposed of, and while a gentleman who looked very foolish, was fined five shillings for being drunk and disorderly the evening previous, a roaring shout from the mob in the street proclaimed the arrival of the two important prisoners from Newgate.
Up to some time after his arrest, Todd, notwithstanding some stray words that would indicate a contrary state of things, fully believed that he had succeeded
in murdering Mrs. Lovett, and it was not until the morning that he became aware of her escape from drowning in the Thames.
It did not require a conjuror to tell the authorities that there would be some trouble in getting the prisoners to Bow Street, so it was thought better to make one job of it, and to place Todd and Mrs, Lovett in the same coach along with four officers.
With this intent the coach was brought close to the wicket-gate of Newgate, and Todd and Mrs. Lovett, well guarded, were brought to the lobby at the same moment. The moment Todd caught sight of Mrs. Lovett, a kind of spasm seemed to shake his frame, and pointing to her, he cried—
"Does that woman indeed live, or is she but some fiend in the shape of such a one come to torment me?"
"That is Mrs. Lovett," said the Governor.
"Oh, no—no—no—" added Todd, "it is not so—it cannot be. The dark rolling river cannot so give up its dead."
"You were well disposed that it should not," said Mrs. Lovett, bending upon Todd a most ferocious glance.
"She is saved!" gasped Todd.
"Yes, I am saved to your confusion. I call you all to witness," she then added in a loud voice, "that I had no idea of the extent of Todd's iniquity; but what I do know I will freely tell as evidence for the crown against him."
Mrs. Lovett looked peculiarly at the Governor while she uttered these words, for she was anxious to know what he thought of them, but that functionary took
not the remotest notice.
At this moment one of the warders announced the sheriff, and one of the Sheriff's of London with his gold chain of office on, appeared in the lobby. To him Mrs. Lovett immediately turned, saying—
"Sir, I offer myself as king's evidence. Do you understand me?"
"Perfectly, madam; but I have nothing to do with the matter."
"Nothing to do, sir? Then why do you wear that bauble?"
"My office, so far as you are concerned, madam, will be to keep you in safe custody, and see that the sentence of the law is carried into effect upon you, in case you should be convicted of the crimes laid to your charge."
"But I turn king's evidence. It is quite a common thing that you have all heard of that often enough.''
"Now, madam, the coach is ready," said a turnkey.
"Where are you going to take me? Is not this Newgate?"
"Yes, but you must undergo an examination at the police-office in Bow Street."
Without any further ceremony, Mrs. Lovett was handed into the coach, and Todd after her. She was at first placed in the seat immediately opposite to him, but she insisted upon changing it, saying, that she could not bear to look at him all the way that she went; and as it was a matter of no moment which way she sat, the officers so far indulged her as to permit her to change her place.
In this way then, both of them upon the same seat, while three officers sat opposite to them, and one with them, dividing them, they arrived at Bow Street, and were met by that roaring shout, that everybody had heard, from without the court.
Of course every precaution had been taken to prevent the mob from wreaking their vengeance upon the criminals, which they were well-disposed to do. A