THE PALL MALL GAZETTE PROSECUTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2130, 27 October 1885, Page 2

THE PALL MALL GAZETTE PROSECUTION.

A correspondent, describing the scene at Bow-street when the accused were brought up for examination, saysßowstreet was looking muegy and miserable as two cabs drove up to the door of the celebrated police court this morning, emptied the loads on the slimy pavement and departed, leaving several defendants in the Armstrong case to push through the throng of excited people into tho building. Bow-street'has changed since Dickens described it and little Olivor stood in the dock, quaking at the sight of the dreadful old gentleman on the Bench who was to judgo him. Bow-street is now palatial and modern, In challenges comparison with Covent Garden, across the way. The terrible Judgment Chamber is as cold and stately as the Bank of England, and Mr Vaughan, the respectable stipendiary who dispenses justico inside, might easily be taken for a kronet, 'or even an ex-Lord Mayor. When Mr Vaughan entered at eleven o'clock to-day the Court was packed to suffocation, Several reporters had found accommodation behind the Bench, and "Policeman X"was having a hard job out in the road to keep back the surging mass which was trying to force its way to fret a glimpse at Mr Stead, the editor of the Pall Mall Gazette, and Rebecoa Jarrett, in whom public interest is evidently centered. A minute later six defendants —three male and three female—were ushered in, Mrs Jarrett, who was escorted by policeman "66 E," took up her quarters in the dock, where she at once beoame an object of interest both painful and hostile, She was not a pleasant Bight to look upon. Her sallow and vulgar face spoke more of the sins she had forsaken than of the repentance whioh had led to her conversion. She woreaoheap brown ulster, and a very battered hat, adorned with a faded green feather. Ab she sat down she kissed her hand jauntily to some one in the crowd; but hor easy manner did not last, and during most of the afternoon she was plunged in silent prayer, which did not seem to comfort her. Just in front of; the dock, facing Mr Vaughan, sat five other defendants, First was Bramwell Booth,

cadaverous arid thoughtful, with bushy black whiskers hiding the silver "8. S." on the collar of his Salvationist uniform Next came Mr Stfcad, very neat, but very nervous. He is a small, spare man, with a red beard and whiskers. He has a high, but rather receding forehead, and an earnest look in his eyes. During the hearing of the case he showed little of his usual restlessness, but aii occasional twitching of his delicate fingers told one plainly that he felt he was sitting on a nasty mine, and might be hoisted any moment with his own petard. Now and then he turned to his neighbour on the •'right, Mr. Jacques,' the Pall,:. Mall Gazette' sub-editor, or exchanged' notes with Mra. Jarrett. Mr Jacques is an elderly, but by no means a ■ venerable' person, who, from his appearance, with a sensuous smirk, a gray ■ complexion, and dirty fingor nails, seemed to r share liis editor's anxiety. "'E'sanice party to come a - teaching us morality!" was the comment' passed on him by the .rough and ready customer at my elbow, Next came Mrs Coombe, a lank pale female,, of the familiar hallelujah pattern, wearing the Salvation Army poke bonnet, and Mrs Mourey, the keeper of a disorderly house,a shabby person, who had decked her bonnet with red, blue, and yellow, and seemed to invite rather than to shun inspection—doubtless regarding, the whole affair as a good advertisement. The defendants were greeted with hisses and angry exclamations as they entered, but the manifestation was instantly suppressed. As Mr Poland, the public prosecutor, rose to charge the prisoner Jarrett and her fellow defendants with sundry offences, chief among them being the abduction of Eliza ■ Armstrong, aged under thirteen years, one might have heard a pin drop, and in his usual deliberate manner Mr Poland delivered himself of his speech. When he had finished, Eliza Armstrong was called, and, amid much excitement, a .very vulgar girl, dressed in a brownish jacket, was shown to a seat at the table just under the nose of the respectable Mr Vaughan and facing Mr Poland. Eliza may have been under thirteen a year ago, but she looks very like sixteen now. She has a long nose, a i'ed, course complexion, wears her hair plaited and tied behind with blue ribbon, and hides her maidon modesty under alarge black hat. She gave her evidence without hesitation. " All, she's been well schooled, she has," Baid an indignant Salvationist standing near me. Schooled or not, she had her story pat, and if it can be suktantitaed, it should go hard with the sainted Rebecca and the worthy Mr Stead—though Rebecca declares that she is beatifically clear about the state of her soul, and feels that God is with her,, and Mr Stead still vows his campaign was prompted by pure and holy motives.