"The Homestead,
August 3d, 9 P. M.
"My Dear Alexander,--You made me promise to send you the full account of
this day's proceedings, or I do not think I should attempt it, when you
may be so sadly engaged. Indeed, I should hardly have gone to Avoncester
had the sad intelligence reached me before I had set out, when I thought
my sudden return would be a greater alarm to my mother, and I knew that
dear Fanny would do all she could for her. Still she has had a very
nervous day, thinking constantly of your dear sister, and of Rachel's
alarm and inexperience; but her unlimited confidence in your care
of Rachel is some comfort, and I am hoping that the alarm may have
subsided, and you may be all rejoicing. I have always thought that, with
dear Rachel, some new event or sensation would most efface the terrible
memories of last spring. My mother is now taking her evening nap, and
I am using the time for telling you of the day's doings. I took with me
Fanny's two eldest, who were very good and manageable, and we met Mr.
Grey, who put us in very good places, and told us the case was just
coming on. You will see the report in detail in the paper, so I will
only try to give you what you would not find there. I should tell you
that Maddox has entirely dropped his alias. Mr. Grey is convinced that
was only a bold stroke to gain time and prevent the committal, so as
to be able to escape, and that he 'reckoned upon bullying a dense old
country magistrate;' but that he knew it was quite untenable before a
body of unexceptionable witnesses. Altogether the man looked greatly
altered and crest-fallen, and there was a meanness and vulgarity in his
appearance that made me wonder at our ever having credited his account
of himself. He had an abject look, very unlike his confident manner
at the sessions, nor did he attempt his own defence. Mr. Grey kept on
saying he must know that he had not a leg to stand upon.
"The counsel for the prosecution told the whole story, and it was
very touching. I had never known the whole before; the sisters are so
resolute and uncomplaining: but how they must have suffered when every
one thought them ruined by their brother's fraud! I grieve to think how
we neglected them, and only noticed them when it suited our convenience.
Then he called Mr. Beechum, and you will understand better than I can
all about the concern in which they were embarked, and Maddox coming to
him for an advance of £300, giving him a note from Mr. Williams, asking
for it to carry out an invention. The order for the sum was put into
Maddox's hands, and the banker proved the paying it to him by an order
on a German bank.