Page:Henry Northcote (IA henrynorthcote00snairich).pdf/233

 necessity, in spite of all that it cost you, to help the police in obtaining one of those 'convictions' which they consider so necessary to their own well-being?"

"Yes, sir."

"One of those 'convictions' which mean an extra stripe on the arm, and the addition of a few shillings a week to the pay of one or two of these natural enemies of yours, of whom you and your friends stand in constant dread?"

"Yes, sir."

"And so, Mrs. Walsingham, these enemies of whom you stand in such great fear having, in the first instance, caused you in your weakness to affirm that which was untrue, in order that the liberty of an unhappy man, whom you had never met, might be taken away from him, they cause you now to come again into this court to swear away, not the liberty, but the life, of a poor friend, whose only fault, as far as you know, is that occasionally she drank a glass more than was good for her?"

"Yes, sir."

"Mrs. Harrison often spoke to you of this Mr. Barron?"

"Yes, sir."

"Of late Mrs. Harrison had complained to you of Mr. Barron being unkind to her?"

"Yes, sir."

"She told you that he had even threatened to leave her altogether?"

"Yes, sir."

"When you first knew her, Mrs. Harrison seemed attached to him?"

"Yes, sir."