she stands accused(她是被告)-第20章
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meant that order could be given for his exposure in an open place near the
prison； extended naked； and to have weights laid upon him in increasing
amount； he being kept alive with the ‘‘coarsest bread obtainable and water
from the nearest sink or puddle to the place of execution； that day he had
water having no bread； and that day he had bread having no water。'' One
may imagine with what grim satisfaction Coke ladled this out。 It had its
effect on Weston。
He confessed that Mrs Turner had promised to give him a reward if he
would poison Sir Thomas Overbury。 In May she had sent him a phial of
‘‘rosalgar；'' and he had received from her tarts poisoned with mercury
sublimate。 He was charged with having； at Mrs Turner's instance； joined
with an apothecary's boy in administering an injection of corrosive
sublimate to Sir Thomas Overbury； from which the latter died。 Coke's
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conduct of the case obscures just how much Weston admitted； but； since it
convinced the jury of Weston's guilt； the conviction served finely for
accusation against Mrs Turner。
Two days after conviction Weston was executed at Tyburn。
The trial of Anne Turner began in the first week of November。 It
would be easy to make a pathetic figure of the comely little widow as she
stood trembling under Coke's bullying； but she was； in actual fact； hardly
deserving of pity。 It is far from enlivening to read of Coke's handling of
the trial； and it is certain that Mrs Turner was condemned on an indictment
and process which to…day would not have a ghost of a chance of surviving
appeal； but it is perfectly plain that Anne was party to one of the most
vicious poisoning plots ever engineered。
We have； however； to consider this point in extenuation for her。 It is
almost certain that in moving to bring about the death of Overbury she had
sanction； if only tacit； from the Earl of Northampton。 By the time that
the Great Oyer began Northampton was dead。 Two years had elapsed
from the death of Overbury。 It would be quite clear to Anne that； in the
view of the powerful Howard faction； the elimination of Overbury was
politically desirable。 It should be remembered； too； that she lived in a
period when assassination； secret or by subverted process of justice； was a
commonplace political weapon。 Public executions by methods cruel and
even obscene taught the people to hold human life at small value； and
hardened them to cruelties that made poisoning seem a mercy。 It is not at
all unlikely that； though her main object may have been to help forward
the plans of her friend the Countess； Anne considered herself a plotter in
high affairs of State。
The indictment against her was that she had comforted； aided； and
abetted Westonthat is to say； she was made an accessory。 If； however；
as was accused； she procured Weston and Reeves to administer the
poisonous injection she was certainly a principal； and as such should have
been tried first or at the same time as Weston。 But Weston was already
hanged； and so could not be questioned。 His various statements were
used against her unchallenged； or； at least； when challenging them was
useless。
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The indictment made no mention of her practices against the Earl of
Essex； but from the account given in the State Trials it would seem that
evidence on this score was used to build the case against her。 Her
relations with Dr Forman； now safely dead； were made much of。 She and
the Countess of Essex had visited the charlatan and had addressed him as
‘‘Father。'' Their reason for visiting； it was said； was that ‘‘by force of
magick he should procure the then Viscount of Rochester to love the
Countess and Sir Arthur Mainwaring to love Mrs Turner； by whom she
had three children。'' Letters from the Countess to Turner were read。
They revealed the use on Lord Essex of those powders her ladyship had
been given by Forman。 The letters had been found by Forman's wife in a
packet among Forman's possessions after his death。 These； with others
and with several curious objects exhibited in court； had been demanded by
Mrs Turner after Forman's demise。 Mrs Turner had kept them； and they
were found in her house。
As indicating the type of magic practised by Forman these objects are
of interest。 Among other figures； probably nothing more than dolls of
French make； there was a leaden model of a man and woman in the act of
copulation； with the brass mould from which it had been cast。 There was
a black scarf ornamented with white crosses； papers with cabalistic signs；
and sundry other exhibits which appear to have created superstitious fear
in the crowd about the court。 It is amusing to note that while those
exhibits were being examined one of the scaffolds erected for seating gave
way or cracked ominously； giving the crowd a thorough scare。 It was
thought that the devil himself； raised by the power of those uncanny
objects； had got into the Guildhall。 Consternation reigned for quite a
quarter of an hour。
There was also exhibited Forman's famous book of signatures； in
which Coke is supposed to have encountered his own wife's name on the
first page。
Franklin； apothecary； druggist； necromancer； wizard； and born liar； had
confessed to supplying the poisons intended for use upon Overbury。 He
declared that Mrs Turner had come to him from the Countess and asked
him to get the strongest poisons procurable。 He ‘‘accordingly bought
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seven： viz。； aqua fortis； white arsenic； mercury； powder of diamonds； lapis
costitus； great spiders； cantharides。'' Franklin's evidence is a palpable
tissue of lies； full of statements that contradict each other； but it is likely
enough； judging from facts elicited elsewhere； that his list of poisons is
accurate。 Enough poison passed from hand to hand to have slain an
army。
Mention is made by Weldon of the evidence given by Symon； servant
to Sir Thomas Monson； who had been employed by Mrs Turner to carry a
jelly and a tart to the Tower。 Symon appears to have been a witty fellow。
He was； ‘‘for his pleasant answer；'' dismissed by Coke。
My lord told him： ‘‘Symon； you have had a hand in this poisoning
business''
‘‘No； my good lord； I had but a finger in it； which almost cost me my
life； and； at the best； cost me all my hair and nails。'' For the truth was that
Symon was somewhat liquorish； and finding the syrup swim from the top
of the tart as he carried it； he did with his finger skim it off： and it was
believed； had he known what it had been； he would not have
