Caroline Norton

“ The only witness, nevertheless, who deposed to a sinful intimacy, was a groom of the name of John Fluke; who had been discharged two or three years before,—by Mr Norton himself,—for drunkenness and street-riot, on the occasion detailed in his evidence. I give those portions of his cross-examination which decided the case: (as far as his credibility was concerned) . He was cross-examined by Sir Frederick Thesiger at great length: I give extracts —
"Are you a married man?" "I am." ”

“ The fact is, about making amends, I do not understand at all myself, what amends a man can have for speaking the truth."
"Did you not say to Sly, that you intended to take care of yourself?" "To take care of myself! I hope I shall always take care of myself" (laughter) .
"Very well. Therefore it is not unlikely you did say you intended to take care of yourself?" "If I had not looked more to others than to myself, I should not be so badly off."
"Did not you say, that most likely you would be able to leave London, and retire to the country after this trial?" "No." ”

“ He then went to Sloane-street, sold the cab, and then took a cellar in Monmouth-street, where he set up as a dealer in old clothes, where he remained until he was ready to sell himself as a witness; and a glorious day it was for him when he was discovered. From such evidence as this, was the plaintiff's case made up! Fluke said he expected to be paid, because 'does not every man expect to he paid?' He (the Attorney-General) had a great curiosity to know if he did not expect 500l. ”

“ But had he performed that promise? ...... All the witnesses had not been called; the evidence had been garbled; and those witnesses alone had been called, who had previously been tutored as to the evidence they were to give." ******* The witness Fluke, was the one who boasted he was the principal witness against the Premier of England, and said, 'if all went well he should make 600l., and spend the rest of his days in ease in Scotland.' It seemed he had been a soldier, and fought at Waterloo. When he came into the service of Mr Norton he had a cab, a gig, and a fly. ”

“ Another witness having also deposed to receiving money, and remaining resident, with all her family, at Wonersh, for some weeks before the trial, the Attorney-General commented on these extraordinary admissions in his reply. He said—
"His learned friend (Sir William Follett) had promised the jury to call before them all the persons who had been in the service of Mr and Mrs Norton. ”

“ You have put a very heavy question."
"But on a moderate computation?" "Why, some people carry a little so well, that you can't tell when they've got a drop too much. I can't answer your question."
"Did it not happen generally in the afternoon?" ”

“ We are all alike for that, masters and servants" (great laughter) .
"Did not Mrs Norton complain that you had drunk too much V "Mrs Norton never complained of that, because I was a good servant, though I did take a drop too much; a very good servant, and you know gentlemen do the same sometimes." ”