The Templar affirmed, that the
poor fellow was non compos; and exhorted the justice to discharge
him as a lunatic. -- 'You know very well (added he) that the
robbery in question was not committed by the prisoner.'
The thief-takers grinned at one another; and Mr Justice Buzzard
replied with great emotion, 'Mr Martin, I desire you will mind
your own business; I shall convince you one of these days that I
understand mine.' In short, there was no remedy; the mittimus was
made out, and poor Clinker sent to prison in a hackney-coach,
guarded by the constable, and accompanied by your humble servant.
By the way, I was not a little surprised to hear this retainer to
justice bid the prisoner to keep up his spirits, for that he did
not at all doubt but that he would get off for a few weeks
confinement -- He said, his worship knew very well that Clinker was
innocent of the fact, and that the real highwayman who robbed the
chaise, was no other than that very individual Mr Martin, who had
pleaded so strenuously for honest Humphry.
Confounded at this information, I asked, 'Why then is he suffered
to go about at his liberty, and this poor innocent fellow treated
as a malefactor?' 'We have exact intelligence of all Mr Martin's
transactions (said he); but as yet there is not evidence
sufficient for his conviction; and as for this young man, the
justice could do no less than commit him, as the postilion swore
point-blank to his identity.
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