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The season of the assizes approached. I had already been three

months in prison, and although I was still weak and in continual

danger of a relapse, I was obliged to travel nearly a hundred

miles to the country town where the court was held. Mr. Kirwin

charged himself with every care of collecting witnesses and

arranging my defence. I was spared the disgrace of appearing

publicly as a criminal, as the case was not brought before the

court that decides on life and death. The grand jury rejected the

bill, on its being proved that I was on the Orkney Islands at the

hour the body of my friend was found; and a fortnight after my

removal I was liberated from prison.