for non-violent drug

That, these lists could not beproved to be in the prisoner's handwriting; but that it was all thesame; that, indeed, it was rather the better for the prosecution, asshowing the prisoner to be artful in his precautions. That, theproof would go back five years, and would show the prisoner alreadyengaged in these pernicious missions, within a few weeks before thedate of the very first action fought between the British troops andthe Americans. That, for these reasons, the jury, being a loyal jury(as he knew they were), and being a responsible jury (as they knewthey were), must positively find the prisoner Guilty, and make anend of him, whether they liked it or not. That, they never could laytheir heads upon their pillows; that, they never could tolerate theidea of their wives laying their heads upon their pillows; that,they never could endure the notion of their children laying theirheads upon their pillows; in short, that there never more could be,for them or theirs, any laying of heads upon pillows at all, unlessthe prisoner's head was taken off. That head Mr. Attorney-Generalconcluded by demanding of them, in the name of everything he couldthink of with a round turn in it, and on the faith of his solemnasseveration that he already considered the prisoner as good as deadand gone.

When the Attorney-General ceased, a buzz arose in the court as ifa cloud of great blue-flies were swarming about the prisoner, inanticipation of what he was soon to become. When toned down again, theunimpeachable patriot appeared in the witness-box.

Mr. Solicitor-General then, following his leader's lead, examinedthe patriot: John Barsad, gentleman, by name. The story of his puresoul was exactly what Mr. Attorney-General had described it to be-perhaps, if it had a fault, a little too exactly. Having releasedhis noble bosom of its burden, he would have modestly withdrawnhimself, but that the wigged gentleman with the papers before him,sitting not far from Mr. Lorry, begged to ask him a few questions. Thewigged gentleman sitting opposite, still looking at the ceiling of thecourt.

Had he ever been a spy himself? No, he scorned the base insinuation.What did he live upon? His property. Where was his property? He didn'tprecisely remember where it was. What was it? No business ofanybody's. Had he inherited it? Yes, he had. From whom? Distantrelation. Very distant? Rather. Ever been in prison? Certainly not.Never in a debtors' prison? Didn't see what that had to do with it.Never in a debtors' prison?- Come, once again. Never? Yes. How manytimes? Two or three times. Not five or six? Perhaps. Of whatprofession? Gentleman. Ever been kicked? Might have been.Frequently? No. Ever kicked downstairs? Decidedly not; once received akick on the top of a staircase, and fell down-stairs of his ownaccord. Kicked on that occasion for cheating at dice? Something tothat effect was said by the intoxicated liar who committed theassault, but it was not true. Swear it was not true? Positively.Ever live by cheating at play? Never. Ever live by play? Not more thanother gentlemen do. Yes. Ever payhim? No. Was not this intimacy with the prisoner, in reality a veryslight one, forced upon the prisoner in coaches, inns, and packets?No. Sure he saw the prisoner with these lists? Certain. Knew no moreabout the lists? No. Had not procured them himself, for instance?No. Expect to get anything by this evidence? No. Not in regulargovernment pay and employment, to lay traps? Oh dear no. Or to doanything? Oh dear no. Swear that? Over and over again. No motivesbut motives of sheer patriotism? None whatever.