rk_ took a
candle, and examined all the room in search of blood, but found none;
and lucky it was for me that neither of our noses happened to bleed in
the fray, though mine was subject to bleed on any trifling occasion. He
then went to the window, where he found a broken piece of a saucer, and
asked what it was? I said, I did not know; but recollected afterward,
that it was what I fed my squirrel in; though I know not how it came
broke; it was whole that day.
"From thence I was taken to the _Compter_, and the public are already
acquainted with the proceedings on my trial: when I was condemned for
the supposed fact.
"I am informed that the next morning they found a pair of small
watchmaker's plyers bloody in the window, which were then considered as
a great proof of my guilt. These plyers were what I have mended my
squirrel's chain with whenever he broke loose, which was sometimes the
case. How they should be bloody, as God is my Saviour, I cannot answer;
but as no wound was perceived on the body, they were not produced as
evidence against me. However, when my wife was brought up from the
street, it is said she was blooded, and that the bason was put in the
window where these plyers were found. It is therefore possible that, in
such confusion, a drop or two might accidentally be spilt upon them;
more especially when we consider the tumult of a morning's exhibition of
the dead body, for penny gratuities, by the unprincipled mother of it.
"In the course of my trial, the coroner laid some stress on the absence
of _Charles Hilliard_, the lodger under my room; but Mr. _Hilliard_
appeared however before the sessions were concluded, to save his
recognizances: he then deposed before the judges, all he knew relative
to the accident; which being materially the same with the evidence he
gave at the coroner's inquest, and as I have no reason to wish it
suppressed, I made it my business to request Mr. _Hilliard_ to recollect
the whole of it, which he was kind enough to give me in writing; and
here it is.
"_Charles Hilliard_ gave evidence before the coroner as follows.
"That Mrs. _Daniels_ came into his apartment about eight o'clock in the
evening to light her candle, and then went up to bed: that about ten Mr.
_Daniels_ came home, and knocked at the door, calling _Sally_, two or
three times: that not being admitted, he broke the door open: that then
he thought he heard a knocking to make good the breach, after which some
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