Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 02.pdf/293

 266

He then accompanied him back to Mr. ask if he had come back. He answered Harrison's court-gate, where William Reed that he knew his master had not come left him, and he then remained for some home because there was a light in his bed time standing outside the gate. While he room, which was never to be seen there so was waiting there, a man named Pearce late when he was at home. Notwithstand passed by. As he knew this person, he ing the plausible manner in which Perry went with him a little way along the fields, accounted for the way in which he had spent and then returned with him to his master's the night, it was not thought advisable to gate, where they parted. As he was ashamed liberate him from custody until further search to go into the house and tell the servants the had been made for the body of the missing cause of his return, he went into the hen-roost man. He therefore continued in custody for and lay down. Here he remained for about about a week, during which time he was an hour, but was unable to sleep. While stay again examined, but no further information ing here, he heard the clock strike twelve. could be obtained. It having been rumored that during his re He then determined to go again in search of his master. He had gone some way towards straint he had told some who pressed him on Charringford, when, a great mist arising, he the subject, that his master had been killed missed his way, and therefore lay down for by a tinker, and that he had said to others the rest of the night under a hedge. When that he had been robbed and murdered by the day broke, he proceeded to Charringford, a gentleman's servant who had hidden his corpse in the bean-rick at Campden, further to the house of Edward Plasterer, and in quired for his master. Plasterer told him search was made there, but with no result. that his master had called on him on the At length Perry declared that if he were afternoon of the previous day, and that he again examined before the justice, he would had then been paid three-and-twenty pounds disclose a secret, which he would tell to no for rent, but that Mr. Harrison did not stay one else. On being again brought before long after he had received the money. He the justice who had previously examined him, then went to inquire of William Curtis, who he confessed that his master had been mur lived near the same place. Here he was told dered, but he denied having done the deed. that his master had called on Curtis the day The justice then told him that if he knew before, but as Curtis had not been at home that his master had been murdered, he must Mr. Harrison had left without seeing him. know by whom the deed had been done. At last Perry confessed that he did know. It being then about five o'clock in the morn ing, he retraced his steps towards Campden, On being further urged to reveal everything and on the way back had met his young he knew about the matter, he declared that master, as has been previously related. On the murder had been committed by his own Reed, Pearce, Plasterer, and Curtis being mother and brother. On hearing this, the examined, they confirmed everything that justice cautioned him to consider well what Perry had stated about them. Perry was he said; assuring him at the same time that then asked by the justice how it was that he feared that it was Perry himself who was guilty of his master's murder, and at the he was afraid to go in search of his mas ter at nine in the evening, when he was same time warning him that he ought to be bold enough to go at midnight. To this careful not to draw more innocent blood on he replied that at nine it was dark, but his head, for what be had said might cost that at twelve it was moonlight. He was his mother and brother their lives. But the then asked how it was that, on returning prisoner continuing to assert that he spoke home twice after he had been sent to meet nothing but the truth, the justice desired his master, he did not go into the house to him to declare how and where the deed was