Botany Bay | Page 8

'em must have been murdered."
"Do you think he could have given away this knife?" said David Weir. "To my knowledge, he had it for better than twelve years, and often have I heard him say he would not part with it for ��50."
"Give it away? Yes!" said Smith. "Didn't he give away his old saddle and bridle? Didn't he give away his old spurs? Didn't he give away a cow and a calf?"
"He was a good man, and an honest man, and a very fair dealing man, and in his latter days a very righteous and godly man, but he was not a giving-away man by any manner of means," returned old David.
"And if he gave away these boots," said Hamilton, "they were a very good fit for the man who received them."
"This man, whoever he is, was murdered, no doubt," said Mr. Smith, with the most imperturbable countenance and the coolest manner. "Just look at this crack in his skull, Mr. Cox."
"Yes, I have seen that," said the magistrate.
"And that's where poor Fisher's ghost had it," said old David.
"Fisher's ghost!" said Mr. Smith. "What do you mean, Weir?"
"Why, the ghost that I have twice seen sitting on the rail not far from the old bridge at the bottom of the hill yonder."
"Ghost! You have seen a ghost, have you?" returned Mr. Smith, giving Mr. Cox a very cunning and expressive look. "Well, I have heard that ghosts do visit those who have sent them out of this world, and I dare say Mr. Cox has heard heard the same. Now, if I had been you, I'd have held my tongue about a ghost (for ghosts are only the creatures of our consciences) for fear of being taken in charge."
"I taken in charge!" said old Weir. "No, no! My conscience is clear, and what I've seen and said I'll swear to. Wherever I go I'll talk about it up to my dying hour. That was the ghost of Mr. Fisher that I saw, and these are the remains of his body."
"If I were Mr. Cox, a magistrate," said Mr. Smith, "I would give you in charge."
"I will not do that, Mr. Smith," replied Mr. Cox. "I feel that my duty compels me to give you in custody of this police officer."
"For what, sir?"
"On a charge of wilful murder. Hamilton!"
"Yes, sir."
"Manacle Mr. Smith and take him to Penrith."
Mr. Smith held up his wrists with the air of an injured and pure- minded man, who was so satisfied of his innocence that he was prepared for the strictest investigation into his conduct and had no dread as to the result.
CHAPTER VIII.
A coroner's inquest was held on the remains found in the pond, and a verdict of "Wilful Murder" was returned against Edward Smith. The jury also found that the remains were those of John Fisher, albeit they were so frightfully decomposed that personal identification was out of all question.
The vessel in which Fisher was reported to have left Sydney happened to be in the harbour. The captain and officers were interrogated, and in reply to the question,--"Did a man named John Fisher go home in your vessel?" the reply was "Yes, and on the Custom House officers coming on board, as usual, to look at the passengers and search the ship to see that no convicts were attempting to make their escape, he produced his parchment certificate of freedom, in which there was a description of his person."
"And did the man answer exactly to that description?"
"Yes, making allowance for his years, on looking at the date of the certificate. If he had not, he would have been detained, as many convicts have been."
"And during the voyage did he talk of himself?"
"Frequently. He said that he was a farmer near Penrith; that after he had served his time he went to work, earned some money, rented a farm, then bought it, and by industry and perseverance had made a fortune."
"Did he ever mention a Mr. Smith--a friend of his?"
"Often. He said he had left everything in Mr. Smith's hands, and that he did not like to sell his property till he saw how he should like England after so long an absence. He further said that if he did not come back to the colony he would have all his property sold off, and join some trading firm in his own country."
The solicitor who had prepared the power of attorney, and witnessed it, said that a person representing himself as John Fisher, of Ruskdale, in the district of Penrith, came to them and gave instructions for the deed; and after it was duly executed, took it away with him and requested that a copy might be made and kept in their office, which was done accordingly. In payment of the bill, twenty dollars