Have been acquainted with Mrs. P. 30 years her general character was
most respectable, she was beloved by her neighbours, and no one could
have any suspicion she would ever do any thing dishonorable.
JOHN GRANT, EXAMINED BY Mr. JEKYLL.
He has known her 26 years, she bore a most remarkable good character,
and they were look’d upon in the neighbourhood as the most affectionate
pair in it, and I really conceive there was not a neighbour in all that
country, who could have any suspicion that she was capable of doing a
dishonorable action; they had an ample fortune.
Mr. WISE, EXAMINED BY Mr. PELL.
Vicar of Wargrave has known them 17 years, I have had frequent
opportunities of seeing Mrs. P.—no people ever attended church more
punctual; I always believed her a most respectable woman, and that she
and Mr. P. were an example to the parish of moral & religious duties,
and by no means capable of being guilty of any dishonest action.
Rev. Mr. WAKE, EXAMINED BY Mr. BOND.
I am curate of the parish in which they live at Bath, have been
acquainted with them 8 or 9 years, from the time I became curate I have
been pleased and surprized at their constant attendance at church, and
have always admired the religious habits and conversation of Mrs. P.—if
I had been desired to name a person capable of a deed so foul as that
imputed to Mrs. L. P. she would have been the last person.
WINTHORPE BALDWIN, ESQ. EXAMINED BY Mr. DALLAS.
I have been well acquainted with both several years, I have always
heard the best of characters of her, as most affectionate to her
husband, free from levity, vanity and extravagance, and incapable of
committing a crime of this sort.
W. H. WINSTONE, ESQ. EXAMIN’D by Mr. JEKYL.
I have known Mrs. Leigh Perrott five years, she always has appeared a
woman of the highest honour, and the last person I should suspect of an
accusation of this kind.
Dr. MAPLETON, EXAMINED BY Mr. PELL.
I have known her near 30 years, she has always been a most respectable
character, I, as well as numbers of my friends have known her to be
such.
Mrs. WINSTONE, EXAMINED BY Mr. BOND.
I have known her 4 or 5 years; I know not a more respectable woman, &
if I had not thought so, I should not have appeared here in this public
manner. _NOTE.—Mrs. W. was at the bar with the prisoner._
Miss CHOLMONDELEY, EXAMINED BY Mr. DALLAS.
I have known her 40 years, she is a person who has always borne the
most respectable character for religion, and in every other respect: I
have been in great intimacy with her.
Mr. T. COWARD, EXAMINED BY Mr. JEKYLL.
I am a linen draper, and live at Bath; have known her 8 or 10 years,
have always thought her a woman of the strictest honor, she has been a
customer of mine, and I have never had a doubt of her honesty.
W. LONSDALE, EXAMINED BY Mr. PELL.
I live at Bath and am a silk-mercer, I have known her 4 years, she is a
woman of the highest honor.
Mr. WRIGHT, EXAMINED BY Mr. BOND.
I am a jeweller and perfumer at Bath, have known her 5 years, have had
the highest opinion of her, she is very honest and very strict.
JUDGE LAWRENCE went through the evidence most ably, in the course of
which he observed that the character given her was the very best; that
if the Jury had any doubt, her character ought to weigh in her favor,
but that this would depend on their consideration of the facts; that if
they believed Filby, they must pronounce her guilty, for the facts he
had stated proved the offence, but that still there was a material fact
in her favor, the circumstance of her returning to Bath-Street so soon,
when she might have gone home and concealed the lace; the case however
was left with them.
_The Jury deliberated near half an hour, and returned a verdict of NOT
GUILTY._