"You know the
Old Bailey, well, no doubt?" said one of the oldest of clerks to Jerry the messenger.
As I wanted a trial scene in the
Old Bailey, I chose the period of 1700 for my purpose; but being shamefully ignorant of my subject, and my husband confessing to little more knowledge than I possessed, a London bookseller was commissioned to send us everything he could procure bearing on
Old Bailey trials.
All the time he was jerking out these phrases he was stumping up and down the tavern on his crutch, slapping tables with his hand, and giving such a show of excitement as would have convinced an
Old Bailey judge or a Bow Street runner.
To these it is so far from being sufficient that their defence would acquit them at the
Old Bailey, that they are not even contented, though conscience, the severest of all judges, should discharge them.
They had called a constable, and he stood in the shop as my jailer; and in talking with the constable I inquired where he lived, and what trade he was; the man not apprehending in the least what happened afterwards, readily told me his name, and trade, and where he lived; and told me as a jest, that I might be sure to hear of his name when I came to the
Old Bailey.
As they happened to be near the
Old Bailey, and Mr Dennis knew there were turnkeys in the lodge with whom he could pass the night, and discuss professional subjects of common interest among them before a rousing fire, and over a social glass, he separated from his companions without any great regret, and warmly shaking hands with Hugh, and making an early appointment for their meeting at The Boot, left them to pursue their road.
Fagin laid great stress on the fact of his having taken Oliver in, and cherished him, when, without his timely aid, he might have perished with hunger; and he related the dismal and affecting history of a young lad whom, in his philanthropy, he had succoured under parallel circumstances, but who, proving unworthy of his confidence and evincing a desire to communicate with the police, had unfortunately come to be hanged at the
Old Bailey one morning.
But, if I run away with her afterward, and if you are there, aiding and abetting me, we are guilty of Abduction, and we may stand, side by side, at the bar of the
Old Bailey to answer for it!"
(bless their gentle hearts!) and see visions of
Old Bailey trials and halters as the only possible outcome of such reckless dissipation; and the prediction of his first school-master, that he would come to a bad end, assumes the proportions of inspired prophecy.
'Why, what do you mean?' said Sam; 'you don't think he's a-goin' to be tried at the
Old Bailey, do you?'
well bowled, Johnson!" cries the captain, catching up the ball and sending it high above the rook trees, while the third Marylebone man walks away from the wicket, and
old Bailey gravely sets up the middle stump again and puts the bails on.
The professional gentleman who had given Kit the consolatory piece of information relative to the settlement of his trifle of business at the
Old Bailey, and the probability of its being very soon disposed of, turned out to be quite correct in his prognostications.