Great Porter Square: A Mystery. v. 1
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CHAPTER V.
CONTAINS FURTHER EXTRACTS FROM THE "EVENING MOON" RELATING TO THE GREAT PORTER SQUARE MYSTERY.
Yesterday the inquiry into the Great Porter Square mystery was resumedat the Martin Street Police Court, before Mr. Reardon. The court wasagain crowded, and the prisoner, Antony Cowlrick, was brought inhandcuffed. His appearance was, if possible, more forlorn-looking andwretched than on the previous occasions, and his face bore the marksof a scuffle. Mr. White Lush again appeared for the Treasury, and Mr.Goldberry for the prisoner. As a proof of the public feeling respectingthe conduct of the police in this case we have to record that duringhis progress down Martin Street towards the Magistrate's Court, Mr.Goldberry, who has so generously come forward on behalf of the prisoner,was loudly cheered.
Mr. White Lush rose, and stated that he was not prepared to offer anyfurther evidence, in consequence of the inquiries of the police notbeing concluded. He applied for another adjournment of a week.
A buzz of astonishment and indignation ran through the court, which wasquickly suppressed.
Mr. Reardon: I was not prepared for this application. It is my duty todo everything in my power to assist the course of justice, but I cannotshut my eyes to the fact that the prisoner has now been brought beforeme six times, and that on the occasion of every adjournment the policehave promised to produce evidence affecting the prisoner which up to thepresent moment is not forthcoming. If it is my duty to further the endsof justice, it is equally the duty of the police to see that it does notlag. A suspected person--suspected with cause and reason--should not beallowed the opportunity of escape; but some protection must be given toa man who is presumably innocent. Since last week I have carefully goneover and considered the evidence presented in this court with respect tothis awful and mysterious murder; and I am hardly inclined to allow theaccused to remain any longer in prison on this charge. What has Mr.Goldberry to say?
Mr. Goldberry: I am glad--as I am sure the public will be--to hear theexpression of your worship's sentiments in the matter. It is not mywish to excite false sympathy for the prisoner, but I would draw yourworship's attention, and the attention of the police, to the reasonablepresumption that while they are wildly hunting for evidence against aninnocent man, the criminal is being allowed every opportunity to escapethe hands of justice. It would almost seem--far be it from me to assertthat it is so, for I am sure it would be untrue--but it would almostseem as if they were playing into the hands of the real criminal. Theonly excuse that can be found for the police is, that a murder havingbeen committed, somebody had to be arrested and charged with itscommittal, and, with this end in view, Cowlrick was indiscriminatelytaken up and so charged. Zeal is a fine quality, but, when misapplied,frequently leads to grave consequences. In my defence of the prisoner Ihave had great difficulties to contend with. He has not assisted me inthe slightest degree. It is no breach of professional confidence to saythat, in my interviews with him, he has doggedly refused to give meany information concerning himself; but as I have before asserted thatpoverty and wretchedness were not to be accepted as marks of guilt, so Inow declare that the prisoner's strange reticence concerning himself isalso no crime. Nor is eccentricity a crime. I have had no opportunityof conversing with the prisoner this morning, or of seeing him beforeI entered the court a few minutes since, and I have to ask the meaningof those marks upon his face--to which I direct your worship'sattention--and of his being handcuffed.
The police explained that on his way to Martin Street police court theprisoner had attempted to escape, and that a struggle had taken place,during which a constable and the prisoner had received several blows.
Mr. Goldberry asked if the constable who had been struck was present,and the answer was given that he was not; he was on duty in anotherplace.
Mr. Goldberry: I will not comment upon the occurrence; in the marks uponthe prisoner's face, and in the absence of the constable who is saidto have been struck, it speaks for itself. I strenuously oppose theapplication for a remand, and I demand the prisoner's discharge on theplain grounds that there is no evidence against him.
Mr. White Lush: In the interests of justice, I ask for a further remand.
Mr. Reardon: Am I to understand that if I remand the prisoner until thisday week, you will be prepared to bring forward evidence which willjustify not only his present but his past detention?
Mr. White Lush: I am informed that such evidence will be forthcoming.
Mr. Reardon: Upon that understanding the prisoner is remanded until thisday week.
[Decoration]