Old Sins Long Shadows (49 page)

‘
Some of you may know me. I was Lady Brockenshaw’s maid. I am now married to Daniel Kellow. He has been wrongly arrested for the murder of Zachariah Trebilcock. Zachariah was not murdered. He fell from a ladder and it was a terrible accident, but it was not murder. Tomorrow my husband is being brought before the magistrate court in Bodmin who will assess if he is to go to trial. I am looking for people who are willing to testify to Daniel’s good character.’  Someone laughed in the congregation. ‘Daniel is a good man,’ Janey persisted. ‘I know his start in life was difficult, but he is a fine man and does not deserve such treatment.’  It was not going well; the people sitting in the pews were looking everywhere but at her. Janey spied the shopkeeper, ‘Mr Jones, Daniel has been true to his word regarding reliability and quality of your cheese and butter orders.’ Arthur Jones nodded in agreement. She turned to the vicar. ‘Vicar, Daniel mended your wall, without being asked or requiring payment.’

‘
Indeed he did, when half the congregation had walked by without so much as an offer.’ he replied, looking accusingly at his flock.

‘
Mr Wills, I understand Daniel saw your lame horse last winter and offered his advice.’

The old man nodded,
‘Indeed he did, and when I eventually followed that advice it worked. The horse has been well ever since.’

‘
And didn’t Daniel help a number of villagers by leading their horses to safety when the roads became icy at the beginning of the year?’  A few more nodded in reluctant agreement. ‘Daniel is a good man. Is there anyone here who will stand up for him?’  No one answered or volunteered. She could understand their reluctance, it would be a day away from their work, it would mean travelling the twelve miles to Bodmin and it would mean entering an alien world of the judicial system. Janey realised she would have to use another tactic. She turned to the vicar and in a voice that carried across the pews, she played her last card. ‘Thank you, Reverend Smith. I had hoped for help, however the Methodist service is about to begin so I will seek help from the preacher and his congregation down the road. I understand they are quite vocal in standing up for what they believe in and they have a good strong sense of what is right and wrong. I thank you for allowing me to speak. Good day.’

As Janey left the church she could hear the murmur grow behind her
. If there was one thing that could rile up a congregation it was competition from another church or chapel. Janey stepped out into the sunshine and headed for the Methodist’s chapel down the hill.

Reverend Smith slammed the pulpit with his palm
. He felt anger at his congregation’s lack of support and anger that the Methodist congregation may not be so resistant in theirs.

His body shaking in rage he thundered,
‘Why do you judge your neighbour?  Why do you set against your brother?  We shall all stand before Christ on judgement day.’  He shook his fist with rage at the stunned faces looking up at him, ‘Every one of you shall account for yourself before God. We must not judge this man anymore. We must not hinder his redemption and cast him out any longer.’
Janey heard his thundering rhetoric from the other side of the road, his passion renewed hers and she quickened her step.

For a second night Janey did not sleep well but the drive that gave her energy to prove Daniel’s innocence had not left her. She rose at six o’clock and together with David and Molly, fed the animals and milked the cows. Churns of milk were already waiting when Matt arrived with his sisters an hour later. The kitchen seemed crowded as Janey finished wrapping Hope warmly in a shawl and once more strapped her to her body. She was still nursing the baby and could not leave her behind for long periods, besides Molly and David had insisted on accompanying her to the court.

As she thanked Matt and his sisters for taking over the duties on the farm while they were away the door opened and
in walked Edna. Janey looked at her in horror as she realised Edna was not dressed for the court appearance. In fact, she didn’t even seem to notice the amount of people standing around her as she made her way across to the sink and began to wash the eggs as she did every morning - except on Sundays.

‘Edna!’ Janey cried, ‘Why aren’t you dressed?  We are about to leave for Bodmin and you aren’t ready.’

Due to her arthritic neck Edna
looked about her with some difficulty. For the first time she noticed that the room was crowded and Janey, David and Molly were dressed in their sunday best.

‘
What’s going on ‘ere then? Ain’t anyone got a ’ome to go to?’

‘
Edna, didn’t you get my note?  I knocked on your door yesterday but received no answer, so I pushed a letter through your door.’ Edna returned to washing the eggs.

‘
You should know better than that maid,’ she said, ‘I don’t answer my door to people and I don’t read anything but for the Bible on a Sabbath.’

‘
It’s Daniel, he has been arrested for the murder of Zachariah. He’s up before the magistrate this morning. You are to be a witness for his defence!’

The old woman dropped an egg
and it smashed in the kitchen sink, its golden yolk ruptured and slid from sight down the plug hole.

‘
Who would think a thing like that?  Daniel wouldn’t kill Zachariah, he thought of ‘im like a father.’

‘
It’s been village gossip for years that he did. Didn’t you know?’

The old woman turned
pale, ‘Don’t you know me at all maid?  I don’t talk to no one. I had no idea. He never mentioned it to me.’

‘
He didn’t want to worry you, Granny Thom.’ Hearing Molly’s frightened voice beside her Janey put an arm around her. Edna dried her hands on her apron.

‘Well it ain’t what I look like that matters but what comes out of my mouth. If I’m going to be forced to leave this village I’d rather go for a good cause and save Daniel’s neck than for any other reason. The eggs can wait. Come on you lot or we’ll be late.’

After the initial euphoria of Edna agreeing to be a witness, by the time they reached Bodmin town Janey had begun to question whether it had been a wise decision to ask her. Matt took them all to the train station at Brock Junction where they would catch a train to Bodmin town. When the train arrived, with its billowing steam and noisy engine, Edna ran for cover and had to be reassured it was safe to board. During the journey Edna succeeded in insulting four fellow travellers, a ticket collector and a luggage handler. Janey moved her to a quieter carriage but she still felt a sense of relief when the train finally pulled into the centre of the town. They were finally able to stretch their legs and walk the quarter of a mile to the Guild Hall.

As they approached, a man at the door told them the Justices of the Peace would be sitting at the Shire Hall County Court in the main square due to unforeseen circumstances. When questioned why the magistrate court was now being held in the main County Court building the doorman told them that one of the cases had caused much interest and a crowd had started to gather outside. As the Guild Hall was sited on the main road through the town there was a very real danger the road would become blocked. They were, therefore, using the Shire Hall County Court which was more suitably sited and could cater for the larger numbers. Frustrated and anxious Janey, Hope, David, Molly and Edna headed for the County Court building which was not far away. Before it came into view they heard the murmuring of the crowd that had gathered in the square before the front entrance.

‘
Who do you think they have come to see?’ asked David looking worried.

‘I don’t know,’ Janey replied, ‘I hope there won’t be a riot.’

A number of const
ables were lined up outside. On informing them who they were, they were escorted in through the main entrance. Just as Janey was guided through the heavy doors she managed to take one last look at the crowd outside. She couldn’t help a gasp escape from her lips when she recognised two heads in the midst of the bodies that were becoming more and more familiar to her.

‘
What is it?’ asked Molly, ‘Who did you see?’

‘
It’s all right Molly, everything is fine,’ she reassured her through a forced smile as she ushered her on ahead. She couldn’t quite believe what she had just seen or indeed what it all meant, so she could hardly explain it to Molly. In the midst of the crowd she had recognised Reverend Smith, from the church at the top of the village and Preacher Jago, from the Methodist chapel at the bottom, each fronting their own congregations and appearing to be arguing with one another. Oh Lord, thought Janey, what have I done?

Daniel had already been transported to the Shire Hall County Court and was locked up in the holding cells below ground level. The row of cells in the dark, damp holding area, lined one wall. Each one was just big enough for a man to stand or sit down in, and each cell held a prisoner transported from the lock-ups of the surrounding villages and towns. Their crimes were varied, ranging from theft and bastardy, to drunkenness, assault and begging. The windowless cells echoed with the clanking of handcuffs and leg shackles. The air was polluted with the smell of sweat from the prisoners and faeces thanks to the cell set aside at the end of the row for an earth pit latrine. Unlike the gaol the prisoners were able to speak and the noise of their talk echoed and doubled in loudness as it bounced off the wet walls. Only Daniel remained quiet waiting his turn.

‘It seems the magistrates want you up before them first, Kellow,’ said the warden. ‘They hope that the crowd outside will disperse if they deal with the murderer first.’

Daniel stood,
‘I am not a murderer,’ he ground out as the door to his cell opened.

‘
Let’s hope, for your sake, the magistrates think the same,’ came the reply. Daniel was led up the enclosed, narrow, stone steps that took prisoners from the holding area directly to the court room. It was a cheerless and dark route which was not used or known about by the public. At the top of the steps, worn in the centre by desperate prisoners over the years, was an open door. Daniel paused, took a deep breath, and then stepped through it into the courtroom itself. Suddenly everything was bright and ornate, crowds of people sat around watching him as he was shown to his seat and a hush descended in the room.

He had not slept for two days and not been able to wash
. He felt dirty and his wrists hurt from the shackles around them. He looked around him at the surrounding faces, feeling like a slave in a market waiting to be bought. They were already sizing him up and forming their opinions about him. He braced himself for what was to come and then he saw
her
and took strength in her presence.

Janey had also seen him and turned Hope around so he could see her face too
. Although he looked tired he stood tall and proud, dwarfing the constables at his side. She saw him half smile at her and she returned it with a trembling smile of her own to give him courage. As if to reassure her, or perhaps remind her of another time, he winked, just as he had done two years before when he caught her staring at him through the kitchen window at Bosvenna Estate. Her smile became wider at the memory.

At the bench sat three Justices of the P
eace. The longer serving of the three, and therefore the main speaker, was William Menhennit, a wealthy property owner who made his fortune through his mines. He ordered that there should be quiet and for everyone to be seated.   Outside the crowd had begun to sing hymns but unfortunately the two congregations had chosen to sing different hymns and were in competition with one another. Rather than sounding tuneful it grated on the ears, causing Mr Menhennit some concern. He beckoned a clerk over.

‘
What’s that noise outside?’ he asked

‘
It’s the crowd, your worship, they are here to support the defendant and want their voices heard.’

‘
Their singing voices are not fit for a pig to hear. I hope they sing better on a Sabbath for it sounds like hell is outside at the moment.’  He addressed the people in the room. ‘May I remind all who are present that this is not a trial of the defendant. We are here today to assess the evidence. If I, and my colleagues, feel there is no case to be answered then the defendant will be discharged. If, however, we feel that there is enough evidence that the defendant may have caused an indictable offence we will commit him to be tried before a judge and jury at the Assizes. While awaiting his trial the defendant will be held in Bodmin gaol.’  He looked around the court room. ‘Defendant please stand.’  Daniel stood up. ‘You have been brought before us charged with the murder of Zachariah Trebilcock. How do you plead?’

‘
Not guilty, your worship.’ Daniel’s voice was strong and steady and Janey couldn’t help but feel proud of the courage he was showing.

‘
Sit down Mr Kellow.’  He turned to the constable, ‘Bring forth the witnesses for the prosecution.’

The office clerk called in the first witness and Molly and David had to grab Janey’s arms to stop her from standing up in rage
. Entering the court room was a smartly dressed man, carrying a top hat and gold tipped walking cane. His black boots shone as he walked confidently into the court room and took his place before the magistrates. The man looked across at Daniel and smiled. Placing his hand on a Bible, he took an oath to speak the truth when giving his evidence and then braced himself for questioning. She did not need to see his face. She knew instantly by his dress and how he conducted himself who the man was. Standing before them, sober and smart, was Brockenshaw, and he had revenge on his mind.