On the calling of the case, the magistrate inquired if the accused man was still undefended, and the police replied that no one appeared for him. The answer was scarcely given when Mr. Goldberry (of the firm of Goldberry, Entwistle, and Pugh), rose and said that he was there to represent the accused.
Mr. Goldberry: No, your worship. A couple of hours ago I endeavoured to confer with the prisoner, but the police refused me permission to see him.
Inspector Fleming explained that when Mr. Goldberry sought an interview with the prisoner, the prisoner was asked whether he wished to see him; his answer was that he wished to see no one.
Mr. Goldberry: Still, it cannot but be to the prejudice of the prisoner that he should be unrepresented, and I am here to watch the case in his interest.
Magistrate: Perhaps you had better confer with him now.
A few minutes were allowed for this purpose, at the end of which Mr. Goldberry said, although it was impossible to obtain anything like satisfaction from the accused, that he did not object to the appearance of a solicitor on his behalf. "He seems," added Mr. Goldberry, "to be singularly unmindful as to what becomes of him."
The witness presented herself, and was sworn.
Mr. White Lush: Your name is Anna Maria Preedy?
Witness: Yes, sir, worse luck. 'Is name was James, poor dear!
Mr. White Lush: You live at No. 118, Great Porter Square?
Mr. White Lush: How long have you occupied your house?
Witness: Four and twenty year, come Michaelmas.
Mr. White Lush: What kind of a house is yours?
Witness (with spirit): I defy you or any gentleman to say anythink agin its character.
Mr. White Lush: You keep a lodging-house?
Witness: I'm none the worse for that, I suppose?
Mr. White Lush: Answer my question. You keep a lodging-house?
Mr. White Lush: Do you remember the night of the 9th of last month?
Witness: Two of my lodgers run away without paying their rent.
Mr. White Lush: That circumstance fixes the night in your mind?
Witness: It'd fix it in yours if you kep' a lodging-house. (Laughter.)
Mr. White Lush: No doubt. There were other circumstances, independent of the running away of your lodgers, which serve to fix that night in your mind?
Mr. White Lush: How and at what time did you become aware that your lodgers had run away?