“My brother magistrates and myself think you are exceeding the limits which ought to circumscribe an advocate in a preliminary examination. It has nothing to do with the charge against the prisoner, and the fact of the witness having one or more admirers or suitors is matter altogether irrelevant. Good taste ought to guide you, and prevent any undue reference to subjects which must necessarily be painful to dwell upon or even to refer to.”
“My object is to elicit the truth, my lord. The questions I have to put are perfectly relevant. You must pardon the observation, but I claim to be best judge in respect to my line of defence. The witness has already admitted that she received—I will not say encouraged—the attentions of Charles Peace, who at the present time is a convict undergoing a term of penal servitude.”
“That is admitted.”
“That being so, I have one or two other questions to put to the witness, which, in the interest of my client, I am constrained to ask.”
“Proceed, sir,” said Lord Ethalwood, haughtily.
“Pray, Miss Fulford, may I ask you if you are aware that the man Peace and the prisoner had a hostile encounter?”
“I believe they had.”
“Oh, you believe so; you are not certain?”
“I was told so.”
“By whom?”