eral of the jury, however, I am bound to admit, had no idea that
Judge North would inflict upon us such infamous sentences, and they
were quite shocked at the consequences of their verdict. Four of them
subsequently signed the memorial for our release. A fifth juryman
vehemently declined to do so. "No," he said, "not I. I'm a man of
principle! They got off too easy. Two years' hard labor wouldn't have
been a bit too much." This pious gentleman is a publican in Soho, and
bears the name of a famous murderer, Wainwright.

But to return. Mr. Ramsey and I were represented this time on all legal
points by counsel. Mr. Cluer watched our interests vigilantly, and
performed a difficult task with great courage and judgment. He bore
Judge North's insults with wonderful patience. "Don't mind what you
think about, it, Mr. Cluer," "I don't want you to tell me what you
think;" such were the flowers of courtesy strewed from the bench upon
Mr. Cluer's path. Our counsel's colleague in the case was Mr. Horace
Avory, who represented Mr. Kemp. He also had a somewhat onerous duty to
perform.

There is no need to deal with the technical evidence against us. It was
of the usual character, and we merely cross-examined the witnesses as
a matter of form. One thing was brought out clearly. Sir Henry Tyler's
solicitors were aiding Sir Thomas Nelson, and their clerks were produced
as witnesses against us.

Judge North's reception of evidence was peculiar. Knowing that there was
no Court of Criminal Appeal, he set the rules of procedure at defiance.
Any tittle-tattle was admitted, and postmen and servants were allowed to
swear as to the directions on unproduced documents alleged to have been
addressed to me. When, several weeks later, I was tried a third time
in the Court of Queen's Bench, I heard Lord Coleridge rebuke the
prosecuting counsel for attempting to put questions against which Judge
North would hear no objection. I understand now how much prisoners
are at the mercy of judges, and I feel how much truth there was in the
remark I once heard from a prisoner in Holloway Gaol, that "it's often a
toss up whether you get one year or seven."

Let me here also ask why Mr. Fawcett, the late Postmaster General,
allowed his letter-carriers to be employed as detectives in such a
case. It was proved in evidence that a policeman had called at the
West-Central Post Office, and obtained an interview with the manager,
after which the letter-carriers were