THE CHIEF BARON--I cannot do that. I cannot have a letter of
that character read in open court.
HALPIN--Am I entitled to get the letter to have it destroyed,
or is Price to have it, to do with it as he pleases?
THE CHIEF BARON--I can make no order in the matter.
HALPIN--Then Price is something like Robinson Crusoe--"Monarch
of all he surveys;" monarch of Kilmainham; and when I ask if
he is to be controlled, I find there is no law to govern him.
THE CHIEF BABON--you have now no property in these letters,
being a convict.
THE PRISONER--I will very soon be told I have no property in
myself. I claim to have been arrested on the high seas, and
there was then no case against me, and the Crown had to wait
four months to pick up papers and get men from Stepaside, and
arrange plans between Mr. Price and his warders to fill up any
gap that might be wanted. I was arrested out of the _habeas
corpus_ jurisdiction, without authority, and detained four
months in gaol until the Crown could trump up a case against
me. Have I not a right to complain that I should be consigned
to a dungeon for life in consequence of a trumped-up case? I
am satisfied that your lordships have stated the case as it
stands, but I am not satisfied that I have been convicted
under any law.
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