The most intense interest was felt by people in all ranks of society, in all parts of the country, in the approaching trial of a young, beautiful, and high-born girl, for the atrocious crime of poisoning.
All persons who could possibly leave their homes, came to Abbeytown to abide during the holding of the assizes, for the purpose of being present at the trial.
As early as the Saturday previous, the hotels, lodging-houses, and even private dwellings, began to fill with an ever-increasing crowd of visitors.
On Sunday the town was quite full. On Monday, though the multitude continued to pour in, not one disengaged room or bed was to be procured for love or money within its boundaries.
Ingle, the young law-clerk that had come up from London in attendance upon Mr. Fenton, declared that Abbeytown during these assizes, looked like Epsom in the race week.
Lord Chief Baron Elverton was on the circuit that year.
About nine o’clock in the morning, the hour of the judges’ arrival having been duly notified by telegraph, the high sheriff, with his constabulary staff, proceeded to the railway station to meet and escort their lordships to the town.
They drove from the station to the Leaton Arms, where the best suites of apartments had been pre-engaged for their accommodation, and where a public breakfast awaited them.
At about twelve at noon the whole party went in procession to the court-house, and opened the commission.
The whole of that afternoon was occupied with the preliminary business of the session.