[Illustration]
1. _Memorandum by Mr. Henderson._
We now come to that portion of Mrs. Anderton's[1] history which
embraces the period between her marriage and the commencement of her
last illness. For this I have been compelled to have recourse to
various quarters. The information thus afforded is very complete, and
taken in conjunction with what we have already seen in Miss B----'s
correspondence of the previous life of this unfortunate lady, throws
considerable light upon two important points to be hereafter noticed.
The depositions, however, unavoidably run to a greater length than at
this stage of the proceedings, their bearing on the main points of the
case would render necessary, and I have therefore condensed them for
your use in the following memorandum. Any portion, not sufficiently
clear, may be elucidated by a reference to the originals enclosed.
Mr. Anderton was a gentleman of good origin, closely connected with
some of the first families in Yorkshire, where he had formed the
acquaintance of Miss Boleton, while staying at the house of her great
aunt, Miss B----. He appears to have been of a most gentle and amiable
disposition, though unfortunately so shy and retiring as to have formed
comparatively very few intimacies. All, however, who could be numbered
among his acquaintance seem to have been equally astonished at the
charge brought against him on the death of his wife, with whom he was
always supposed, though from his retired habits little was positively
known, to have lived upon terms of the most perfect felicity. As
the event proved, the case would in effect never have come on for
trial; but, had it done so, the defence would have brought forward
overwhelming evidence of the incredibility of such a crime on the part
of one of so gentle and affectionate a disposition.
During the four years and a-half of their married life there does not
appear to have been a cloud upon their happiness. Mrs. Anderton's
letters to her great aunt, Miss B---- (to whom I am indebted for
almost the whole of the important information I have been able to
collect respecting the family) are full of expressions of attachment
to her husband and instances of his devotion to her. Copies of several
of these letters are enclosed, and from these it will be seen how
unvarying was their attachment to each other. Throughout the entire
series, extending over the whole period of her married life, there is
not a single expression which could lead to any other conclusion.
It is, however, evident that the delicate health with which Mrs.
Anderton had been afflicted from her birth, still continued, and in two
instances we have indications of the same mysterious attacks noticed
in the letter of Mrs. Vansittart, before quoted. These, however,
appear to have been but very slight. They had for some years been of
more and more rare occurrence, and from this date, (October, 1852), we
have no further record of anything of the kind. Still Mrs. Anderton's
general health continued very unsatisfactory, and almost everything
seems to have been tried by her for its improvement. Among the enclosed
correspondence are letters dated from Baden, Ems, Lucca, Cairo, and
other places to which the Andertons had, at different times, gone for
the health of one or other, Mr. Anderton being also, as stated in Mrs.
Ward's letter of the 14th June, 1851,[2] extremely delicate.
Of this gentleman all accounts agree in stating that the chief
ailment was a constitutional nervousness, mental as well as physical.
The latter showed itself in the facility with which, though by no
means deficient in courage, he could be startled by any sudden
occurrence however simple; the former, in his extreme sensitiveness
to the opinions of those about him, and his dread of the slightest
shadow of reproach on the name of which he was so justly proud. In
the accompanying documents you will find instances of both these
idiosyncrasies.
In the summer of 1854 Mr. Anderton's attention seems to have been
drawn to the subject of Mesmerism. They had been spending some weeks
at Malvern, where this science seems particularly in vogue, and had
there made acquaintance with several of the patients at the different
water-cure establishments, by some of whom Mr. Anderton was strongly
urged to have recourse to mesmeric treatment both for Mrs. Anderton and
himself.
The constant solicitations of these enthusiastic friends seem at length
to have produced their effect, and the favourite operator of the
neighbourhood was requested to try his skill on these new patients.
On Mr. Anderton the only result seems to have been the inducing
of such a state of irritation as might not unreasonably have been
expected from so nervously excitable a temperament, in presence of the
"manipulations" to which the votaries of mesmerism are subjected. In
the case of Mrs. Anderton, however, the result was, or was supposed
to be, different. Whether from some natural cause that, at the time,
escaped attention, or whether solely from that force of imagination
from which such surprising results are often found to arise, I cannot
of course say; but it is certain that some short time after the
mesmeric "séances" had commenced, a decided though slight improvement
was perceptible. This continued until the departure of the operator for
Germany, which country he had only recently left on a short visit to
England.
Notwithstanding the worse than failure in his own case, the certainly
curious coincidence of his wife's recovery seems to have entirely
imposed on Mr. Anderton, whose susceptibility of disposition appears
indeed to have laid him especially open to the practices of quacks
of every kind. So great was now his faith in this new remedy that
he actually proposed to accompany the Professor to Germany rather
than that his wife should lose the benefit of the accustomed
"manipulations." He had proceeded to London, for the purpose of
making the necessary preparations, when he was induced to pause by
the remonstrances of several of his friends, who represented to him
that a winter in the severe climate of Dresden--the place to which the
Professor was bound--would probably be fatal to one of Mrs. Anderton's
delicate constitution.
His medical adviser also, though himself professing belief in
mesmerism, gave a similar opinion, while at the same time he obviated
the difficulty respecting the mesmeric treatment of Mrs. Anderton, by
offering an introduction to "one of the most powerful mesmerists in
Europe," who had recently arrived in London, and who eventually proved
to be the so-styled Baron R**.
This introduction appears to have finally decided Mr. Anderton
against the Dresden expedition; and, after a brief experience of
his manipulations, Mrs. Anderton herself seems to have derived, in
imagination at least, more benefit from them than even from those of
her late attendant. So thoroughly were they both impressed with the
beneficial results of the Baron's "passes," &c., that Mr. Anderton, who
had now resolved to settle in London for the autumn and winter, went so
far as to take a ready-furnished house at Notting Hill, for the express
purpose of having his new professor in his immediate neighbourhood.
Here the _séances_ were continued often twice or three times a day,
and though, of course, no one in his senses could really attribute
such a result to the exercises of the Baron, it is certain that, from
some cause or other, the health of Mrs. Anderton continued steadily to
improve.
Matters had continued in this position for some weeks, when objections
were raised by some of Mr. Anderton's relations to what they not
unnaturally considered the very questionable propriety of the
proceeding. There seems to have been a good deal of discussion on this
point in which, however, Mr. Anderton's constitutional susceptibility
finally carried the day against his newly conceived predilections
with respect to, a practice so obviously calculated to expose him to
unpleasant comment. The Baron, however, was not disposed so easily
to relinquish a patient from whom he derived such large and regular
profits. On being made acquainted with the decision respecting the
cessation of his visits, he at once declared that his own direct
manipulations were unnecessary, and that, if considered improper
for one of the opposite sex, they could easily be made available at
second-hand.
Having once swallowed the original imposition, any additional absurdity
was of course easily disposed of, and it was now determined to
avoid all occasion for offence; Mrs. Anderton should henceforth be
operated upon through the medium of a certain Mademoiselle Rosalie, a
_clairvoyante_ in the employment of the Baron, who, after being placed
"_en rapport_" with the patient, was to convey to her the benefit of
the manipulations to which she was herself subjected by the operator.
Into the precise _modus operandi_ I need not now enter, but will
only remark upon the fresh instance of the extraordinary powers
of imagination displayed in the still more rapid improvement of
Mrs. Anderton under this new form of treatment, and the marvellous
"sympathy" so rapidly induced between her and the Baron's "medium."
Mademoiselle Rosalie was a brunette rather below the medium height,
with a slight but beautifully proportioned and active figure, sallow
complexion, and dark hair and eyes. The only fault a _connoisseur_
would probably find with her person would be the extreme breadth of
her feet, though this might perhaps be accounted for by her former
occupation, to be noticed later on. It is necessary for our purpose
that this peculiarity should be kept in mind. In appearance she was
at that time about thirty years old, but might very possibly have
been younger, as the nature of her profession would probably entail
a premature appearance of age. Altogether she formed a remarkable
contrast to Mrs. Anderton, who was slight but tall, and very fair,
with remarkably small feet, and notwithstanding her ill-health, still
looking a year or two less than her age. Between these very different
persons, however, if we are to credit the enclosed letters, such a
"sympathy" sprang up as would, on all ordinary hypotheses, be perfectly
unaccountable. Mrs. Anderton could feel--or imagined that she felt--the
approach of Mademoiselle Rosalie even before she entered the room; the
mere touch of her hand seemed to afford immediate benefit, and within a
very few weeks she became perfectly convalescent, and stronger than she
had ever been before.
At this point I must again refer you to the depositions themselves,
that of Mr. Morton, which here follows, being of too much importance to
admit of condensation.
2. _Statement of Frederick Morton, Esq., late Lieutenant, R.A._
My name is Frederick George Morton. In 1854, I was a lieutenant in the
Royal Artillery, and was slightly wounded at the battle of Inkermann,
on the 5th of November of that year, the day after my arrival in the
Crimea. It was before joining the battery to which I was appointed. I
have since quitted the service, on the death of my father, and am now
residing with my mother at Leeds. I was an old school friend of the
late Mr. William Anderton, and knew him intimately for nearly fifteen
years. I was present at his marriage with Miss Boleton, in August,
1851, and have since frequently visited at their house. During the
time I was at Woolwich Academy, I spent every leave-out day with them,
and frequently a good portion of the vacations. My father encouraged
the intimacy, and I was as much at home in their house as in our own.
My father was junior partner of one of the large manufacturing firms
in Leeds. The Andertons generally lived in London, when they were not
abroad; and on one occasion I went with them to Wiesbaden. I saw very
little of them in 1854, as they were away the earlier part of the
year, first at Ilfracombe, and then at Malvern, but I spent the 13th
of October with them. I particularly remember the date, as I was on my
way to the Crimea, where I was afterwards wounded, and the order had
come very suddenly. When it came I had just gone to a friend's house
for some pheasant-shooting, and I remember I was obliged to leave the
second morning, and I spent the night at Anderton's, and embarked the
next morning. I was to have gone for the first, but could not get
away, and I lost the shooting altogether. It was on a Saturday that I
embarked, because I remember we had church parade next day. That was
the last time I saw Anderton. I was in Italy all that winter with my
wound and rheumatic fever; and in the summer of 1855 I was sent for to
my father, who was ill for several months before he died, and after
that I could not leave my mother. We only took in a weekly paper, and
I did not hear of his having been taken up till three or four days
after. I started to see him immediately, but was too late. It was not
on account of any quarrel that we had not met. Quite the reverse. We
were as good friends as ever to the last, and I would have given my
life to serve him. I was on the most friendly terms with Mrs. Anderton.
He was dotingly fond of her. I used to laugh, and say I was jealous of
her, and they used to laugh too. I never saw two people so fond of one
another. He was the best and kindest-hearted fellow I over knew, only
awfully nervous, and very sensitive about his family and his name. The
only time we ever quarrelled was once at school, when I tried to chaff
him by pretending to doubt something he had said: it made him quite
ill. He often said he would rather die than have any stain upon his
name, which he was very proud of. On the day I speak of--13th October,
1854--I telegraphed to them at Notting Hill that I would dine and sleep
there on my way out. I found Mrs. Anderton better than I had ever seen
her before. She said it was all Baron R**'s doing, and that since
Rosalie came she had got well faster than ever. She wanted to put off
the Baron for that night, that we might have a quiet talk, but I would
not let her; and, besides, I wanted to see him and Rosalie. They came
at about nine o'clock, and Mrs. Anderton lay on the sofa, and Rosalie
sat on a chair by her side, and held her hand while the Baron sent her
to sleep. It was Rosalie he put to sleep, not Mrs. Anderton. The latter
did not go to sleep, but lay quite still on the sofa, while Anderton
and I sat together at the farther end of the room, because he said
we might "cross the mesmeric fluid." I don't know what he meant. Of
course I know that it was all nonsense; but I don't think Rosalie was
shamming. I should go to sleep myself, if a man went on that way. When
it was over, Mrs. Anderton said she felt much better, and I couldn't
help laughing; then Anderton sent her up to bed, and he and I and the
Baron sat talking for an hour and more. I never saw Mrs. Anderton
again, for I went away before she was up, but I used to hear of her
from Anderton. What we talked of after she was gone was mesmerism. Of
course I did not believe in it, and I said so; and Anderton and the
Baron tried to persuade me it was true. We were smoking, but Rosalie
was there, and said she did not mind it. She always seemed to say
whatever the Baron wanted, but I don't think she liked him. She did not
join in the conversation. She said--or at least the Baron said--she
could not speak English, but I am quite sure she must have understood
it, or at all events a good deal. I have learned German, and sometimes
I said something to her, and she answered; and once I saw her look up
so quickly when Anderton said something about "Julie," and the Baron
said directly, in German, "not your Julie, child." I asked her, as
she was going away, who Julie was, and she had just told me that she
was her great friend, and a dancing girl, when the Baron gave her a
look, and she stopped. That was as they were leaving. Before that,
Rosalie was doing crochet, and we three were talking about mesmerism.
They tried to make me believe it, and the Baron was telling all sorts
of stories about a wonderful _clairvoyante._ That was his Julie, not
Rosalie's. Of course I laughed at it all, and then they got talking
about sympathies, and what a wonderful sympathy there was between
twins, and the Baron told some more extraordinary stories. And when I
wouldn't believe it, Anderton got quite vexed, and reminded me about
the twin sister his wife had had, and who had been stolen by gipsies.
And then the Baron asked him about it, and he told him the whole story,
only making him promise not to tell it again, because they were afraid
of her being reminded of it, and that was why it was never spoken of.
The Baron seemed quite interested, and drew his chair close in between
us. We were speaking low, that Rosalie might not hear. I remember the
Baron said it was so curious he must take a note of it, and he wrote it
all down in his pocket-book. He took down the dates, and all about it.
He was very particular about the dates. I am sure Rosalie could have
heard nothing of all this; not even if she had understood English. We
had gone to the window, and were too far off. Besides, we spoke low.
Afterwards the Baron seemed thoughtful, and did not speak for some
time. Anderton and I got to mesmerism again, and he got a number of
some magazine--the "Zoist," or something of that sort--to prove to me
something. He read me some wonderful story about eating by deputy, and
when I would not believe it, he called the Baron and asked if it was
not true, and he said perfectly, he had known it himself. He started
when Anderton spoke to him, as if he had been thinking of something
else, and he had to repeat it again. I know it was something about
eating by deputy, because afterwards, when I was wounded and had the
fever, I used to think of it and wish I could take physic that way.
You will find it in the "Zoist" for that month--October, 1854.[3] I
remember saying at the time, that it was lucky for the young woman that
the fellow didn't eat anything unwholesome, and Anderton laughed at
it. The Baron did not laugh. He stood for ever so long without saying
a word, and looking quite odd. I thought that I had offended him by
laughing. Anderton spoke to him, and he jumped again, and I saw this
time he had let his cigar out. I remember that, because he tried to
light it again by mine, and his hand shook so he put mine out instead.
He said he was cold, and shut the window. He would not have another
cigar, but said he must go away, for it was late. Anderton and I sat
smoking for some time. I tried to persuade him to give up mesmerism,
and he said Mrs. Anderton was so well now, he thought she could do
without it, and that she would give it up in a few weeks. I heard from
him afterwards, in November, that the Baron had left town for some
weeks. When I was ill at Scutari, after my wound, I wrote to ask him
to meet me at Naples, and he started with Mrs. Anderton in December,
but was stopped at Dover by Mrs. Anderton's illness. I have had several
letters from him since, and am quite ready to give copies of them;
all but the bits that are private. I have read over this statement,
and it is all quite true. I am quite ready to swear to it in a court
of justice, if required. I wish to add, that I am quite certain poor
Anderton had nothing to do with his poor wife's death. I will swear to
that.
3. _Statement of Julie._[4]
"Manchester, 3 Aug., 1857.
"DEAR SIR,
"In compliance with your instructions of the 11th ult., I forward
deposition of Julia Clark, _alias_ Julie, _alias_ Miss Montgomery, &c.,
at present of the Theatre Royal, duly attested.
"Dear Sir,
"Yours faithfully,
"WILLIAM SMITH."
"I am a dancer, and my name is Julia Clark: I have performed under the
name of Julie, and other names. I am at present called Miss Montgomery.
I knew the girl called Rosalie. She was my particular friend. We were
for several years together in Signor Leopoldo's company. I forget how
many. She did the tight-rope business, and had ten shillings a week and
her keep. In our company she was called the 'Little Wonder.' Her real
name was Charlotte Brown. She was about ten years old when I joined
the company. I do not know her history. She did not know it herself.
She often told me so. She would have told me if she did. She passed
as the niece of old Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Brown was the money-taker. She
took Lotty's money and found her in clothes. Lotty is Rosalie. Some
of our ladies said she had been bought from a tramp. Of course I did
not believe it. They said it out of spite. Lotty did the tight-rope
business for about five years after I knew her. She was a beautiful
figure, only her feet were very broad.[5] All tight-rope dancers
are. The rope spreads them. Otherwise her figure was perfect. She was
nervous. Not very, but rather. She used to tremble before she went
on. It was not from fear. She was ill sometimes. Not often. Sometimes
she caught cold from sitting on the damp ground to undress when she
was hot with dancing. She got stronger as she grew up. Sometimes she
felt ill, and did not know why. She had bad headaches. When she was
in that way physic was no good, only brandy. Brandy took away the
headaches. She used to drink brandy sometimes, but not like some of
our ladies. I never saw her the worse for liquor. Her headaches were
not from drinking. Certainly not. They came and went away again.
Brandy took them away. I only know of once that she has been ill since
she left the company. She wrote and told me of it. I have the letter
still. It is not dated, but there was an extract from a newspaper in
it about her which is dated some time in October, 1852.[6] The day of
the month is cut off. She gave up the tight-rope business because of
a fall. That was from being nervous. She was not drunk. She had not
been drinking. She was nervous. A glass drop fell from the chandelier
and frightened her. That was all. She was very much hurt. One foot was
sprained, and the doctors at the hospital said she must never go on
the wire again. She was two months there. When she came out the circus
was shut up. The company was all dispersed except her and me and Mr.
Rogers, and the gentleman who did the comic business. Mr. Rogers was
Signor Leopoldo. He took a music-hall. I think it was in Liverpool. He
got another singing lady and gentleman, and we gave entertainments.
Every evening Mr. Rogers gave a short lecture on mesmerism, and Lotty
was his subject. She was very clever at that. Of course she was not
really asleep. One night she stopped in the middle. The manager was
very angry. She tried to go on, but she fainted, and had to be carried
off. She said some gentleman in the stalls had done it. Next morning
the gentleman called and took her away. He gave the Signor 50_l_. He
was the Baron R**. I knew it from Lotty. She has written to me several
times. These are her letters. They are rubbed at the edges. It is from
keeping them in my pocket. I do not think she ever left the Baron, but
I do not know. The last letter I ever had from her was from his house.
It was in the first week of November, 1854. I got it in Plymouth.
It was the only week I was there before I went to Dublin for the
pantomime. She said she was going to be married, but must not tell me
who to just yet. I never heard from her since. I have written several
times, but my letters have been returned. I have no idea who she
married. It could not have been the Baron. She disliked him too much.
She stayed with him because he paid her well. Partly that, and partly
because she said she couldn't help doing what he told her. She said he
really did mesmerise her, and that she could see in her sleep. She did
not live with the Baron as his wife. Only as his medium. If she had
she would have told me. I am quite sure she would. I am quite certain
there was never any connection between her and the Baron except what I
have said. Of course I cannot swear she did not marry him, but I should
think it very unlikely. Why should she when she disliked him so much?
All this is true. I believe Signor Leopoldo is now somewhere abroad.
(Signed) "JULIA CLARK, _alias_ JULIE."
Read over to the deponent, and signed by her in the presence of William
Burton, J. P.
2nd August, 1857.
4. _Statement of Leopoldo._
N.B.--This statement was obtained with some difficulty, and only on an
express promise of immunity from any legal proceeding, in respect of
the deponent's relations with the girl Rosalie, _alias_ Angelina Fitz
Eustace, _alias_ the "Little Wonder," _alias_ Charlotte Brown. The
statement was enclosed in the following note:
"Signor Leopoldo, tragedian, &c., &c., &c., presents his compliments to
R. Henderson, Esq., and in consideration of the assurance that 'what is
done cannot be now amended,' I have the honour to forward the required
information, in confidence that you will not keep the word of promise
to the ear and break it to the hope, and thus 'my simple truth shall be
abused.'
"Sir, your most humble servant,
(Signed) "THOMAS ROGERS."
Deposition of Signor Leopoldo, Tragedian; Professor of Fencing and
Elocution; Equestrian, Gymnastic, and Funambulistic Artiste; Sole
Proprietor and Manager of the Great Olympian Circus, &c., &c., &c.
"I, Signor Leopoldo, Tragedian, &c., &c., &c., do hereby depose
and declare that the girl, Charlotte Brown, commonly known as the
celebrated 'Little Wonder,' was transferred by me to my celebrated
Olympian Company in the month of July, 1837, at Lewes, in the county
of Sussex, where the celebrated Olympian Circus was at that time
performing with great success and crowded houses. And this deponent
further maketh oath and saith that I, the said Signor Leopoldo,
tragedian, &c., &c., &c., did in consideration of the services of the
said Charlotte Brown, commonly known as the celebrated Little Wonder,
pay to a certain person or persons claiming to be the parent or parents
of the said Charlotte Brown, commonly known as the celebrated Little
Wonder, the sum of five pounds (5_l_.), which person or persons were of
the tribe or tribes commonly known as gipsies or Egyptians. And this
deponent furthermore maketh oath and saith that I, Signor Leopoldo,
tragedian, &e., &c., &c., cannot tell whether the said Charlotte Brown,
commonly known as the Little Wonder was really the child of the person
or persons, gipsy or gipsies aforesaid, or that her name was Charlotte
Brown, or any other of the particulars hereinbefore stated and deposed,
but only that her linen was marked C. B., which initials do set forth
and represent the name of Charlotte Brown.
"Witness our hand and seal this 4th day of January, in the year of
grace, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
(Signed) "THOMAS ROGERS."
5. _Statement of Edward Morris, Cleric in the Will Office, Doctors'
Commons._
"My name is Edward Morris. I am a clerk in the Will Office at Doctors'
Commons, and my duty is to assist those who wish to search wills
deposited in our office. On the 14th October, 1854, Baron R** came
to the office and searched in several wills. One was the will of a
Mr. Wilson, copy of which is herewith enclosed. I remember this will
particularly, because I had an altercation with the Baron respecting
his wish to copy parts of it. He wished to make extracts, and I told
him it was not allowed; only the date and the names of the executors.
He persisted, and I said I must report it. He then laughed and said
it did not matter, and he tapped his forehead and said he could make
a note of it there. He read parts of the will over two or three times
and gave it back to me. He then said, 'You shall see, my friend,' and
laughed again, and he made me follow him while he repeated several
pages of the will by rote. He laughed again when he had done, and
asked if he might copy it now. I said no; and he laughed again, and
wrote for some time in his note-book, looking up at me every now and
then and laughing. I was angry, partly because he laughed, and partly
because he kept me there when I wanted to get away. I had leave for a
week to go to the Isle of Wight and see my aunt. I wanted to get there
that night because the next day was my birthday. He made me miss the
train, and as the next day was Sunday, I did not get there till late.
That is how I remember the date. I am sure of the year because my aunt
only went to the Isle of Wight the November previously, and died in the
spring of 1855. I am quite sure it was the Baron. I should recognise
him anywhere. He is a short, stout man, with a rather florid complexion
and reddish hair, rather light. He has large fat hands, white and well
kept, and an immense head. He dresses all in black, and wears large
spectacles of light blue. I don't think it is because his eyes are
weak. I am sure it is not; for when he takes off his spectacles I never
saw such extraordinary eyes. I can't describe them, only that they are
very large and bright. I never could look at them long enough to make
out the colour, but they are very dark, I think black, and they put
one out to look at them, otherwise there is nothing very remarkable
about him. I recognised him that day from having seen him before at a
mesmeric lecture, when I asked his name."
6. _Memorandum by Mr. Henderson._
I enclose the will of which the following is an abstract:
"Mr. Wilson, of the firm of Price & Wilson, Calcutta, who died in 1825,
leaves the sum of 25,375_l_. three per cent. consols, to his niece,
Gertrude Wilson (afterwards Lady Boleton), and to her children, if
any, or their heirs in regular succession, whether male or female.
In default of any such heirs, the money to be made over to trustees
selected by the Governor General of India for the time being, from
among the leading merchants of Calcutta, for the purpose of founding,
under certain restrictions, an institution among the hills for the
children of those who could not afford to send them home to England."
The will also provides that should any female taking under it die
during her coverture, the husband shall retain a life interest in the
property.
[Footnote 1: The late Miss Boleton.]
[Footnote 2: Section I. No.12.]
[Footnote 3: An extract from the magazine here quoted will be given
later on in the case.]
[Footnote 4: The difficulty of tracing this witness, from the slight
clue afforded by Mr. Morton's statement, occasioned considerable delay.]