The String of Pearls (1850), p. 557

identically like the one in the shop, in which I had so frequently sat, and in a moment the whole truth burst upon me. The plank upon which the shaving chair rested, turned upon a centre, and could be so made to turn by a simple contrivance above, so that any unfortunate person could be let down in a moment, and the vacant or supplementary chair would come up and take the place of the one that had been above.
"Prosecuting my researches, I found the skeleton of many persons in the vaults, and much putrid flesh, which fully accounted for the odour in St. Dunstan's Church. I found likewise tbat no meat from any butcher or salesman ever found its way to the pie-shop in Bell Yard. So upon research actuated an that fact, I found that the supply of flesh was human, and that was the way by prisoner at the bar got rid of a great portion of his victims.
"Measures were taken to prevent any more murders, by some persons in my pay always following any one into the shop; and then, when the evidence was all ready by the finding and identification of Mr. Francis Thornhill's leg bone, I took measures to apprehend the prisoner at the bar. I shall, of course, be happy to answer any questions that may be asked of me."
The Attorney- General then spoke, saying—
"Have you found out by what means the shaving-chair in the shop of the prisoner was prevented from falling at the moment any one sat in it?"
"Yes. By a simple piece of mechanism which communicated with the parlour, he could release the swinging board or keep it firm at his pleasure. I have had a model of the whole of the apparatus and building, which will be laid before the jury. It is here in the hands of an officer."
"Here you is," said Crotchet, coming forward with a large parcel in his hands, which, upon being taken from its case, was found to be an accurate representation of Todd's house, with the diabolical contrivances he had got together for the purpose of murder.
The model was handed to the jury, and excited immense and well deserved commendation.
"I have no further questions to ask of you, Sir Richard," said the Attorney-General; "but I am sure the court and jury cannot but feel much indebted to you for the very lucid manner in which you have given your evidence."
"One moment, Sir Richard, if you please," said Tdgdd s counsel as the magistrate was about to have the witness box. I will not detain you for long."
"I am quite at your service, sir," said Sir Richard Blunt.
"How was it then that after you felt convinced of the guilt of the prisoner at the bar, as you state that you were, although I think upon very insufficient grounds, that you did not at once arrest him? Does it not seem very strange that you permitted him for some weeks to go on just as usual?"
"I did not permit him to go on just as usual. I took every precaution to prevent him from adding to the list of his offences. It is well known that a person in my situation must not act upon his own convictions of the guilt of any party. It was absolutely necessary that I should be able to bring satisfactory proof before a jury of the guilt of the prisoner at the bar, and it would have been quite premature to arrest him until I had that proof."
"And pray, Sir Richard, when did you consider you had that proof?"
"When the surgeon was able to swear to a portion of the remains of Francis Thornhill."
"Oh, then I am to understand that you rest the case for the prosecution upon a bone?"
"I do not prosecute."
"But you took the prisoner into custody, sir; and am I to believe that you did so solely on account of the finding a bone in some of the vaults of St. Dunstan's?''
"You can conclude so."
"Oh, I can conclude so? Very well then. Gentleman of the jury, it appears that the whole case against the prisoner at the bar, my worthy and exemplary

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THE STRING OF PEARLS.

557

identically like the one in the shop, in which I had so frequently sat, and in a
moment the whole truth burst upon me. The plank upon which the shaving
chair rested, turned upon a centre, and could be so made to turn by a simple
contrivance above, so that any unfortunate person could be Jet down in a mo-
ment, and the vacant or supplementary chair would come up and take the place
of the one that had been above.

II Prosecuting my researches, I found the skeleton of many persons in the
vaults, and much putrid flesh, which fully accounted for the odour in St.
Dunstan's Church. I found likewise tbat no meat from any butcher or salesm
ever found its way to the pie-shop in Bell Yard. So upon research actuated an
that fact, I found that the supply of flesh was human, and that was the way by
prisoner at the bar got rid of a great portion of his victims. the

l< Measures were taken to prevent any more murders, by some persons in mv
pay always following any one into the shop ; and then, when the evidence was
all ready by the finding and identification of Mr. Francis Thornhili's leg bone,
I took measures to apprehend the prisoner at the bar. I shall ,of course, be happy
to answer any questions that may be asked of me."

The Attorney- General then spoke, saying —

" Have you found out by what means the shaving-chair in the shop of the
prisoner was prevented from falling at the moment any one sat in it V*

" Yes. By a simple piece of mechanism which communicated with the parlour,
he could release the swinging board or keep it firm at his pleasure. I have had
a model of the whole of the apparatus and building, which will be laid before the
jury. It is here in the hands of an officer/*

" Here you is," said Crotchet, coming forward with a large parcel m his hands,
which, upon being taken from its case, was found to be an accurate representa-
tion of Todd's house, with the diabolical contrivances he had got together for
the purpose of murder.

The model was handed to the jury, and excited immense and well deserved
commendation.

" I have no further questions to ask of you, Sir Richard," said the Attorney-
General ; " but I am sure the court and jury cannot but feel much indebted to you
for the very lucid manner in which you have given your evidence.'*

" One moment, Sir Richard, if you please," said Tdgdd s counsel as the magistrate
was about to ltfave the witness box. H I will not detain you for long.*'

II I am quite at your service, sir," said Sir Richard Blunt.

14 How was it then that after you felt convinced of the guilt of the prisoner at
the bar, as you state that you were, although I think upon very insufficient
grounds, that you did not at once arrest him ? Does it not seem very strange
that you permitted him for some weeks to go on just as usual?"

" 1 did not permit him to go on ju^t as usual. I took every precaution to
prevent him from adding to the list of his offences. It is well known that a
person in my situation must not act upon his own convictions of the guilt of any
party. It was absolutely necessary that I should be able to bring satisfactory
proof before a jury of the guilt of the prisoner at the bar, and it would have been
quite premature to arrest him until I had that proof."

" And pray, Sir Richard, when did you consider you had that proof ?"

" When the surgeon was able to swear to a portion of the remain
Francis Thornhill."

<f Oh, then I am to understand that you rest the case for the prosecution upon
a bone?"

" 1 do not prosecute."

" But you took the prisoner into custody, sir ; and am I to believe that you
did so solely on account of the finding a bone in some of the vaults of St.
Dunstan's?''

" You can conclude so."

" Oh, I can conclude so ? Very well then. Gentleman of the jury, it appears
that the whole case against the prisoner at the bar, my worthy and exemplary

2^