The subsequent history of Agnes is lost in obscurity, but
since she had to procure but thirty-six compurgators who were
prepared to swear that they believed her innocent, and as she
was at liberty to choose these herself from her native village
of Winchelsea, it is probable that she escaped.*


* Cf. Thayer, as cited, supra.


Fortunately the sight of a woman, save of the very lowest
class, at the bar of justice is rare. The number of cases
where women of good environment appear as defendants in the
criminal courts in the course of a year may be numbered upon
the fingers of a single hand, and, although the number of
female defendants may equal ten per cent of the total number
of males, not one-tenth of the women brought to the bar of
justice have had the benefit of an honest bringing up and good
surroundings.




CHAPTER VIII

Tricks of the Trade


"Tricks and treachery," said Benjamin Franklin, "are the
practice of fools that have not wit enough to be honest."