Part 23 (1/2)

HATSELL, BARON--What o'clock was it then?

J. GURREY--I reckon eleven of the clock when they came in.

HATSELL, BARON--Did you observe in what condition Mr. Marson was in?

J. GURREY--I did not observe, only that he was hot, and put by his wig; I see his head was wet, and he said he was just come from London, and that made him in such a heat.

JONES--Had he shoes or boots on?

J. GURREY--I did not observe that.

JONES--What did they do the next day?

J. GURREY--The next morning I heard this party was in the water; I sat up all night, and was fain to wait till my daughter came down to look after the shop; and then I went to see her, and she removed into the barn, and they were wiping her face, closing her eyes, and putting up her jaws; and as I came back these persons were walking, and I met Mr. Marson and Mr. Stephens, and told them the news; said I, this person has come to a sad accident: say they, so we hear; but nevertheless we will be as good as our word, and go and see her. I went with them and overtook Mr. Rogers; and Marson said we are going to see Mrs. Stout. 'O landlord!' said Rogers, 'you may take up that rogue' (pointing at Mr. Marson) 'for what he said last night'; but I did not think, they speaking so jocularly, that there was any suspicion of their being concerned in the murder.

A second time I went, the barn-door was locked; I knocked, and they opened it, and let us in, and they uncovered her face to let me see her, and I touched her; and looking about for them they were gone, and I cannot say they see her or touched her: Then Mr. Marson and they were consulting how to send a great-coat to London, and I directed them to a coachman at the Bell-inn; but I did not hear he went to enquire after the coachman; then they went to your lords.h.i.+p's chamber, and I went home; and about eleven o'clock I saw Mr. Marson and Mr.

Stephens coming down with Mr. Spencer Cowper.

MARSON--I did not go out that night after I came in.

JONES--No; we agree that. Did you see Mr. Cowper and these gentlemen together?

J. GURREY--Only at eleven o'clock on Tuesday noon, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Marson, and Mr. Stephens were coming down to the market place.

JONES--Did not they take their leave of you when they went away from you that forenoon?

J. GURREY--No; only in the morning they told me they would send me word at noon if they intended to lodge there.

MARSON--I desire to know of Mr. Gurrey, if his sister was not in the room when we came in?

J. GURREY--She was in our house that day; but whether when they came in I cannot tell.

COWPER--Pray, have you not had some discourse with your sister, the widow Davis, concerning some suspicion that you had of Sarah Walker, that hath been produced as a witness?

J. GURREY--I do not remember any such.

COWPER--Then did not you say these words, We must not concern ourselves with Sarah Walker, for she is the only witness against the Cowpers?

J. GURREY--I cannot remember any such thing.

HATSELL, BARON--You may answer according to the best of what you remember; if you say you have forgot when you have not, you are forsworn.

COWPER--If your lords.h.i.+p pleases to give leave to Mr. Gurrey to recollect himself, I ask him, Whether he did not talk with his sister Davis about some suspicion his wife and he had about Sarah Walker, the maid-servant of the deceased?

J. GURREY--I believe there might be some talk of a person that was seen to go into the churchyard at some distance with Sarah Walker.

COWPER--Did your wife say that she did suspect that person?

J. GURREY--Yes.