All the inculpated parties were speedily in custody; and the body of Mrs. Thorndyke having been disinterred, it was discovered that she had been destroyed by bichloride of mercury, of which a considerable quantity was detected in the body.  I was not present at the trial of Thorndyke and his accomplices—­he for murder, and Headley for perjury—­but I saw by the public prints that he was found guilty, and executed:  Headley was transported:  the woman was, if I remember rightly, admitted evidence for the crown.

Mary Woodley was of course put into immediate possession of her paternal inheritance; and is now—­at least she was about four months ago, when I dined with her and her husband at Dale Farm—­a comely, prosperous matron; and as happy as a woman with a numerous progeny and an easy-tempered partner can in this, according to romance writers, vale of grief and tears expect to be.  The service I was fortunately enabled to render her forms one of the most pleasing recollections of my life.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

In the second year of my connection with the Northern Circuit, when even junior briefs were much less numerous than acceptable, I was agreeably surprised, as I sat musing on the evening of my arrival in the ancient city of York upon the capricious mode in which those powerful personages the attorneys distributed their valuable favors, by the entrance of one of the most eminent of the race practising in that part of the country, and the forthwith tender of a bulky brief in the Crown Court, on which, as my glance instinctively fell on the interesting figures, I perceived that the large fee, in criminal cases, of fifty guineas was marked.  The local newspapers, from which I had occasionally seen extracts, had been for some time busy with the case; and I knew it therefore to be, relatively to the condition in life of the principal person implicated, an important one.  Rumor had assigned the conduct of the defence to an eminent leader on the circuit—­since, one of our ablest judges; and on looking more closely at the brief, I perceived that that gentleman’s name had been crossed out, and mine substituted.  The fee also—­a much less agreeable alteration—­had been, I saw, considerably reduced; in accordance, doubtless, with the attorney’s appreciation of the difference of value between a silk and a stuff gown.

“You are not, sir, I believe, retained for the prosecution in the crown against Everett?” said Mr. Sharpe in his brief, business manner.

“I am not, Mr. Sharpe.”

“In that case, I beg to tender you the leading-brief for the defence.  It was intended, as you perceive, to place it in the hands of our great nisi prius leader, but he will be so completely occupied in that court, that he has been compelled to decline it.  He mentioned you; and from what I have myself seen of you in several cases, I have no doubt my unfortunate client will have ample justice done him.  Mr. Kingston will be with you.”