id that the tablecover had been _cut_ into strips to
accomplish their purpose; and it was clear that a penknife had been
used, for one was found on the floor. Suddenly my attention was called
to the fact that _two_ penknives, which no one had hitherto noticed,
were produced. They belonged, not to the prisoners, but to the
deceased man, and were usually placed on the shelf in the kitchen. But
it came out in evidence, quite, as it seemed, accidentally, that they
had been taken from that place, and were found on the floor where
the cutting up of the tablecover had been performed, at some little
distance from one another; but each knife _by the side of and not far
from the deceased man_. They were at my wish handed to me; I also
asked for some of the shreds which had bound the dead man. Upon
examination it seemed that these were the knives that had been used to
cut the tablecloth into shreds, and if so, the jury might well assume
that _each_ prisoner had used one of the knives for that purpose, for
one man could not at the same time use two.

The tablecloth had jagged or hacked edges, which satisfied the jury
that the knives had been used hurriedly, and that each man had been
doing his share of the cutting. It was thus clearly established that
both the men were engaged in the murder and equally guilty, and so the
jury found by their verdict.

Whilst they were considering, the bigger of the two, a very powerful
man, made a murderous attack upon the other, whom he evidently looked
upon as his betrayer, and tried to kill him in the dock. The struggle
was a fearful one, but the warders at last separated them.

They were both sentenced to death and hanged.

[The fact of these men making a noise in entering the house was
strongly against them on a question of intent. Burglars work silently,
and at the least noise decamp, as a rule. In the present case, there
being only one old man to contend against, it was easy to silence him
as they did, and as they doubtless intended, when they went to the
house.]

CHAPTER XXXIX.

SEVERAL SCENES.

I think I have said that I had a favourite motto, which was, "Never
fret." It has often stood me in good stead and helped me to obey it.
I was once put to it, however, on my way to open the Commission at
Bangor on the Welsh Circuit. The Assizes were to commence on the
following day. It was a very glorious afternoon, and one to make you
wish that no Assize might ever be held again.