Mr. Alderman Wood advanced to Thistlewood, and said, “Thistlewood, I wish you to give me an answer to two or three questions.”
Mr. Sheriff Rothwell—“Mr. Alderman, I must interfere. I am sure you have had quite experience enough of magisterial duties to know, that on a solemn occasion of this kind, you ought not to interfere with a prisoner on the point of death.”
Mr. Alderman Wood—“You prevented me, Mr. Sheriff, from entering Newgate yesterday, to obtain the information I am now about to seek. You have no authority to prevent me from now having it, as the gaol is this day under the superintendence of Lord Sidmouth; and I must persist in obtaining answers to my questions, if the prisoner chooses to give them.”
Mr. Sheriff Rothwell—“I cannot suffer you to disturb the quiet of this unhappy man’s mind at this awful moment, Mr. Alderman. I must, by virtue of my office, interfere, and prevent you from doing any thing which can have a tendency to distract the mind of a man in his awful situation—one who is indeed dead in law.”
Mr. Sheriff Parkins—“I must insist on the Worthy Alderman’s being permitted to put any question he pleases, unless the prisoner objects. I now authorise Alderman Wood to put whatever questions he wishes.”
Mr. Sheriff Rothwell—“Well, I must again object. I think it highly improper.”
Mr. Alderman Wood—“I have the questions here written down, and I’ll put them to you. Thistlewood, when did you first become acquainted with Edwards?”
Thistlewood—“About June last.”
Mr. Alderman Wood—“Where did you become acquainted with Edwards?”
Thistlewood—“At Preston’s.”