The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 173: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

146 THE COURT OF LONDON as an accessory after the fact in respect to the murder of Grumley; but he took it upon himself to assure her that the contrition which she now manifested and her desire to aid the purposes of justice would not be lost sight of on the day of trial. To these observations Harriet replied that she was not ignorant of the peril to which she exposed herself when resolving to come forward and confess everything she knew, and her mind was evidently much relieved by the course which she had thus adopted. But the murderess, Mrs. Brace, the once fashionable milliner, — she who had been the paramour of the Prince of Wales and of the handsomest and gayest nobles of the West End, — this wretched woman was completely overwhelmed by the presence of Harriet and the testimony she had given. Every ray of hope — even the last and faintest — had now disappeared. ‘The crime was brought fully home to her, and with an awful shuddering that shook her frame to the innermost confines of her whole being, did she perceive that her fate was sealed. The magistrate ordered the milliner and the lady’s-maid to be both committed for trial, — the former on the charge of a double murder, and the latter as an accessory after the fact in respect to one of those crimes. The prisoners were now removed to separate cells pre- paratory to the arrival of vehicles to convey them to New- gate. But ere the bolt of the massive door was drawn upon Mrs. Brace, she requested to speak to Mr. Crawley. This functionary was accordingly fetched from the court, and the milliner said to him, ‘‘ Have you any objection to allow me to see the anonymous letter which was spoken of just now? ” “None at all,’ answered Crawley. ‘“‘ You would be entitled to a copy of it in the depositions. Here it is.”’ ‘“ That is the handwriting of Caroline Walters,” exclaimed the milliner, the moment she glanced over the billet; and a fiendish expression of vindictive malignity settled for a few moments upon her countenance, already so ghastly and changed. “Caroline Walters? ” echoed the constable. ‘“‘ I should know that name.” “The young woman who murdered Mrs. Lindley, the midwife of Fore Street,’”’ said Mrs. Brace. ‘““ Ah! and who escaped from the custody of Peter Grum- CORUIEOOOKS (E(0)