"I must have this confirmed by herself" he said in reply to Nell's
disclosure, "otherwise I shall be much more inclined to consider you the
thief than O'Rorke, whose character has been hitherto unimpeachable and
above suspicion."
He then beckoned the woman over to his desk, and after having first
inquired if she could write, and being replied to in the affirmative,
he placed a slip of paper before her, on which was written--"Is that
unhappy woman called Nell M'Collum, your mother?"
"Alas! she is, sir," replied the female, with a deep expression
of sorrow. The magistrate then appeared satisfied. "Now," said he,
addressing O'Rorke, "state, fairly and honestly what you have to say in
reply to the charge brought against you."
"Please your worship," said the young man, "you hear the woman say that
she brings no charge against me; but I can prove on oath, that Nell
M'Collum and her niece, Nanse M'Collum, along with two men that I don't
know, except that one was called Rody, met at Franklin's gate, with an
intention of robing, an' it's my firm belief, of murdering this woman."
He then detailed with great earnestness the incidents and conversation
of the preceding night.
"Sir," replied Nell, with astonishing promptness, "I can prove by two
witnesses, that, no longer ago than last night, he said he would take to
the high-road, in ordher to get money to enable him to marry Ellen Neil.
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