Mrs. Preedy left the witness box in a state of great agitation, amid the tittering of the spectators.
Mr. Goldberry, addressing the Bench, said that he saw in the Court three of the constables who had been instrumental in arresting the prisoner, one being the officer who had first observed the prisoner in Great Porter Square. It was well known that the prisoner had declined to put a single question to one of the witnesses called on behalf of the Treasury. He asked to be allowed to exercise the privilege of cross-examining these constables, and he promised to occupy the court but a very short time.
No objection being raised, Police-constable Richards entered the witness box.
Mr. Goldberry: Before you helped to arrest the prisoner in Great Porter Square, had you ever seen him before?
Witness: It’s hard to say.
Mr. Goldberry: It is not hard to say. You would find no difficulty in replying to such a question if it were to tell against the prisoner instead of in his favour? I must have an answer. Had you ever seen him before that night?
Witness: I can’t call to mind that I have.
Mr. Goldberry: Do you know anything of him, in his favour or against him, at this present moment?
Witness: I do not.