The String of Pearls (1850), p. 547

There was then such a furious hammering at the doors of the court, that it was quite impossible to hear what any one said. Sir Richard Blunt suddenly
appeared on the bench, and leaning over to the judge, he said—
"My lord, I am collecting a force with which I shall be able to clear the entrances to the court."
"I wish you would, Sir Richard. This riot is most disgraceful."
"It is, my lord; but it shall be suppressed now with as much speed as may be."
With this, Sir Richard immediately retired. He collected together a force of fifty constables, and forming them into a sort of wedge, he suddenly opened a side door, and attacked the mob. The fight, for a hand-to-hand fight it now w r as, did not last more than ten minutes, when the mob gave way, and "every one for himself" became the cry. In five minutes more the party of officers had possession of all the avenues to the court, and a profound silence succeeded to the riot that had taken place.
"I think now," said the judge "we may proceed to business. This riot has been a most disgraceful one, and if the officers will bring any one before me who has taken part in it, I will commit him to prison at once."
"They are all dispersed, my lord," said Sir Richard.
"The court thanks you, sir," said the judge. "Let the proceedings commence at once."
Todd now glared about him, and his lips kept moving as though he were repeating something to himself in a whisper. The Governor of Newgate leant forward, and said—
"Do you wish to say anything?"
"Yes. Where is she?"
"Mrs. Lovett do you mean?"
"I do. Why am I here, and she not? Where is she? If she be innocent, why then so am I. I do not see her."
"She will not be here."
"Not here? How—why?"
"She is dead."
Todd nearly dropped to the floor, and from that moment a great portion of his courage, small as it was, departed, and he looked like a ghost rather than a living man. At times, he kept muttering to himself the word—"Dead—dead—!"
The usual formalities were gone through, and then Todd was roused up to plead to the indictment, charging him with the murder of Francis Thornhill.
The governor touched him on the shoulder.
"Plead to the indictment," he said.
"Dead!" cried Todd. "Why is she dead?"
"Prisoner at the bar," said the clerk of the arraign. "Do you plead guilty or not guilty to the charge here made against you?"
"Not guilty!" cried Todd, as he roused himself up, and glared at the judge like an enraged tiger.
Government had entrusted the prosecution to the Attorney General of the time being, and that functionary was in court. He rose to open the case, and
spoke as follows, amid the most breathless silence—
"My lord, and gentlemen of the jury—
"The prisoner at the bar was originally indicted along with a female named Lovett—"
"Where is she?" said Todd.
"Prisoner," said the judge, "at the proper time you will have an opportunity of making any observation you may think fit, but it is scarcely necessary for me to inform you that this is not the time."
"She is not dead!" cried Todd. "She has been let escape by some juggling, in order that all the vengeance of the law might be directed against me. It is not true that she is dead. Some of you are chargeable with allowing that