rown did produce all the witnesses I asked for--your lordship
seemed to be under the impression that I did not produce him because
he might not be able to say I was not in his house that night. Now,
the fact is that, as my attorney learned the moment Mr. Curtin was
brought to town, he knew nothing whatever about the circumstance, as
he was not in his own tavern that night at all. That was why I did
not produce the evidence. But I solemnly declare I never was in
Curtin's public-house in my life till last summer, when I went in
with a friend on two or three occasions, and then for the first time.
That must have been in June or July, after the trials were over in
Dublin. So that everything Corridon said in connection with my being
there that night was absolutely false. I solemnly declare I was never
there till some time last summer, when I went in under the
circumstances I have stated. In conclusion, my lord, though it may
not be exactly in accordance with the rules of the court, I wish to
return your lordship my most sincere thanks for your fair and
impartial conduct during this trial. If there was anything that was
not impartial in it at all, I consider it was only in my favour, and
not in favour of the crown. This I consider is the duty of a judge,
and what every judge should do--because the prisoner is always on the
weak side, and cannot say many things he would wish, while the crown,
on the other hand, have all the power and influence that the law and
a full exchequer can give them. I must also return my sincere and
heartfelt thanks to my able and distinguished counsel, who spoke so
eloquently in my favour. As for Mr. Collins, I feel I can never
sufficiently thank him. He served me on my trial at a great sacrifice
of time and money, with noble zeal and devotion, such as might be
more readily expected from a friend than a solicitor. There are many
more I would like to thank individually, but as this may not be the
proper time and place to do so, I can only thank all my friends from
the bottom of my heart. I may mention the name at least of Mr. Joyce,
who, in the jail, showed a great deal of kind feeling and attention.
And now, my lord, as I have already stated, I am ready for my
sentence I feel rather out of place in this dock [the prisoner here
smiled gently]. It is a place a man is very seldom placed in, and
even if