His Lordship having taken his seat, the Prisoner was immediately
put into the dock, and addressed by the Clerk of Arraigns in the
following terms:
John Jasper, the charge against you is that you did feloniously,
wilfully, and with malice aforethought, kill your nephew, Edwin
Drood, in the City of Cloisterham, on the night of the 24th of
December, 1860. Are you guilty, or not guilty?
THE PRISONER: Not guilty.
THE CLERK OF ARRAIGNS: Will the gentlemen of the Jury please
rise, and sit down as I call their names? Mr. George Bernard Shaw,
Sir Edward Russell, Dr. W. L. Courtney, Mr. W. W. Jacobs, Mr. Pett
Ridge, Mr. Tom Gallon, Mr. Max Pemberton, Mr. Coulson Kernahan, Mr.
Edwin Pugh, Mr. William de Morgan, Mr. Arthur Morrison, Mr. Francesco
Berger, Mr. Ridgwell Cullum, Mr. Justin Huntly McCarthy, Mr. William
Archer, Mr. Thomas Seccombe—you shall well and truly try the Prisoner
at the Bar, John Jasper, for the murder of Edwin Drood, and a true
verdict give according to the evidence.
Mr. George Bernard Shaw was elected Foreman.
MR. WALTERS: I appear for the prosecution, my Lord.
JUDGE: Mr. Cuming Walters, I think, for the prosecution. Is
there anyone with you?
MR. MATZ: I am with him, my Lord.
MR. CECIL CHESTERTON: I appear for the defence, my Lord.
JUDGE: Mr. Chesterton, I think, for the defence. One s, I
think. Is anyone with you?
MR. CROTCH: I am, my Lord.
[THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION.]
Mr. Matz then proceeded to open the case for the prosecution in the
following speech: